emotional depth

Story·Lucy Tantum, age 12 — A reluctant twelve-year-old discovers a beautiful conch shell at the beach with her younger sister, rekindling warm memories of childhood beach visits.

Poetry·Hayden Brame, age 13 — 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.

Story·Eliza Edwards-Levin, age 11 — 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.

Story·Lebo Molefe, age 13 — A rainbow-colored parrot is captured from the rainforest and transported through illegal wildlife trade, eventually finding a home with a lonely girl named Anne.

Poetry·Nicky Cannon, age 12 — A roller skater crashes into a puddle but celebrates the joy of the ride despite the muddy, bruised ending.

Story·Rachel Keirstead, age 12 — A girl devastated by moving from Ohio to New Jersey finds hope when she discovers an outdoor club at her new school and makes a friend who shares her love...

Story·Catherine Pugh, age 13 — After a botched surgery leaves her unable to walk, a former track star undergoes a second operation and fights through recovery to run again.

Poetry·Sophia Lipkin, age 9 — A young rider recalls beloved horses and the exhilarating moment of her first successful jump, feeling her heart soar as Violet leaps into the bright blue sky.

Story·Benet Dawn Stoen, age 11 — A girl moves to the South Pole with her scientist parents, befriends a local boy who runs away after a painful memory surfaces, then nearly dies of hypothermia while searching...

Story·Erin Riesen, age 12 — A spoiled girl hiding in a hayloft discovers old photos and dreams herself into her grandfather's wartime Dresden, returning with new understanding and respect.