authentic voice
— A young writer celebrates the simple pleasures of a family camp by a lake—sailboats, loons, hammocks, and the feeling of being protected from the world.
— A family's failed miniature golf outing becomes an unplanned beach walk, leading to a realization about the perfection found in spontaneous moments versus carefully planned ones.
— Two cousins fight to survive after a storm wrecks their uncle's tourist ship, leaving them adrift in a lifeboat that eventually sinks, forcing them to float until rescue arrives.
— A poem cataloging moments of joy and freedom — from fireside reading to summer swimming — before an alarm clock shatters the dream.
— A girl flying alone for the first time finds courage through recorded messages from her parents on her iPod, transforming fear into pride as the plane prepares for takeoff.
— Two friends share their last summer night together, walking under stars and seeing a shooting star before saying goodbye until next year.
— A 12-year-old encounters hundreds of college students dressed as Santa flooding the NYC subway during an annual flash mob tradition, much to her embarrassment and her family's delight.
— A girl terrified of dogs after being bitten rescues an injured stray, only to discover he belongs to someone else, leading to an unexpected friendship.
— A child who once wished on stars for fun now wishes for more time with someone dying, then takes back the wish to end their suffering.
— At summer camp, a girl encounters a bully who unexpectedly shares a beautiful poem with her one night on the beach, revealing hidden depths before reverting to cruelty.