Stone Soup Magazine

Story·Sarah Shissler, age 12 — A writer recalls her first trip to Alaska ten years ago, where she befriended a pack of wolves—Lakota, Pike, and Kepa—and witnessed their struggles to survive through a brutal winter.

Story·Jason Lee, age 13 — A nervous 13-year-old rappels down a 200-foot cliff, transforming from panic to exhilaration as he discovers the beauty of the panoramic view and his own courage.

Story·Kirsten Moon, age 13 — A girl visits her mother's grave before moving across the country, bringing roses and struggling to say goodbye until a mysterious breeze brings comfort.

Story·Nikki Morse, age 12 — A girl tries to steal a golden model dog from a country store but is stopped by a persistent puppy who becomes her real treasure instead.

Story·Emily Taylor, age 11 — Two girls discover a hidden stamp collection from 1943 in the woods, track down its elderly owner, and learn why he hid it during World War II.

Story·Ann Pedtke, age 12 — A Tae Kwon Do student struggles with self-doubt while attempting to break her first board, finally succeeding when she visualizes victory and commits fully.

Poetry·Elizabeth Sughrue, age 7 — A child resists bedtime, drawn to the night sounds of peepers, owls, and frogs, until finally answering their mother's last call.

Story·Isabel Gottlieb, age 11 — Two childhood friends bond over horses, drift apart when one gets her own horse and wins competitions, then reconcile years later when one finds their shared toy horse while moving.

Book Review·Janet Tashjian, Reviewed by Lauren Porter — Multiple Choice by Janet Tashjian; Henry Holt and Company: New York, 1999; $16.95 “I wish my brain were a toaster.” That’s how Monica Devon feels about the way she obsesses...

Story·Annie Strother, age 13 — A thirteen-year-old reflects on her nomadic life in her parents' van, arriving in their thirty-second town while longing for the stability of a real home.