authentic voice
— A child reading in a blanket fort is frightened by strange noises at night, tears damaging their library book before discovering it's just the wind.
— A girl with a vast imagination discovers her father is the legendary Bird of Steel and must steal his power to save Riverhaven from eternal conflict between humans and magical...
— A 10-year-old recounts the day she had to put down Cody, her elderly pet rat, six months after losing his brother Spencer.
— When humans sleep, kitchen objects come alive for nightly revelry — dancing in washcloth dresses, gossiping, playing ping-pong, and sneaking cookie crumbs before dawn signals their return to stillness.
— A girl contemplates a memorial tree in a park, questioning whether the deceased would have wanted this tribute, then waters the drought-stricken willow and later finds it transformed.
— Explorers ride metal lions on wheels down a black tongue into a mountain giant's mouth, where teeth drip saliva before darkness engulfs them.
— A 13-year-old visits an indigenous village in Ecuador's jungle and confronts the stark contrasts between their sustainable lifestyle and American consumption.
— In a genetically engineered society where roles are predetermined, a young Director-in-training discovers her forbidden passion for music during a symphony rehearsal.
— A family camping trip to Yellowstone becomes a magical adventure as siblings explore forests, witness the Grand Prismatic Spring, and create their own riverside kingdom.
— A boy constantly moving with his struggling immigrant family runs away in Brooklyn, only to realize through memories and reflection that he cannot escape his past or abandon those who...