courage

Poetry·Nirali Yedendra — A young writer explores the complexity of emotions, from broken courage to unnamed feelings, concluding that our thoughts and experiences belong to us forever.

Story·Amrita Iyer — A bored village boy seeks a legendary magical harp in Madagascar's forests, solving riddles and overcoming obstacles to bring music to his silent village.

Poetry·Analise Braddock, age 9 — A young poet captures the Revolutionary War through fragmented images of muskets, roses, and soldiers' faces molded by fear and braveness.

Story·Sarah Süel, age 10 — A girl and her pet mouse climb the dangerous Mt. Treacherous, facing rockslides and bears before triumphantly reaching the summit and returning home as heroes.

Poetry·Parwana Amiri, age 16 — A refugee teen's defiant catalog of what takes courage — building schools, welcoming the homeless, staying human — versus what's easy: destroying, hurting, closing your eyes.

Poetry·Analise Braddock, age 9 — A young poet confronts fear as a physical presence, describing its effects on body and mind before declaring victory through direct combat.

Poetry·Juliet Del Fabbro, age 11 — A young person stands at the edge of a swimming hole, heart racing with summer adrenaline, before finally dropping into the dark blue water below.

Story·Elizabeth Mainardi, age 13 — A wizard named Zordex faces his enemy Yoleighwan in a standoff on a barren plain, then receives an unexpected visit from Queen Qyera seeking an alliance against dark forces.

Story·Mailyn Fidler — A German girl bullied for her old-fashioned name finds friendship with an American newcomer, then saves her from Neo-Nazi teenagers threatening her for money.

Amy

Story·Katie Fister, age 13 — A girl watches her paralyzed best friend secretly train for a year to ride again after a jumping accident, until their friendship is restored when Amy successfully jumps her horse.