fear

Story·Annika Thomas, age 11 — A shy girl misreads a sentence that spans two pages, creating classroom tension until a classmate secretly helps her discover the missing words.

Story·Simon Reis, age 11 — A boy encounters a mysterious neighbor who claims to be Beethoven reincarnated, offering musical genius in exchange for sharing his deafness and suffering.

Story·Torey Bocast, age 13 — A girl in a wheelchair faces her fear during her first therapeutic horseback riding lesson, finding hope for both physical recovery and independence.

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·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.

Story·Hana Bieliauskas — A white girl in art class gradually befriends Tammy, a Black student who faces racist bullying, culminating when she witnesses an attack and offers help.

Story·Alex Mifflin, age 12 — A 12-year-old recounts his family's devastating car crash in Australia, his role as the only uninjured member, and their long recovery together.

Story·Fiona Cull, age 11 — A mother cheetah hunts to feed her cubs, then must rescue them from a lightning-sparked grassfire that threatens their den.

Story·Ben Guarino, age 11 — A seven-year-old searching for snakes in his backyard encounters a timber rattlesnake that bites him when he moves too suddenly, leading to hospitalization.

Story·Michelle Doré Sizemore, age 13 — A twelve-year-old boy runs away on a snowy night, believing his departure will prevent his parents' divorce, only to be found by police and returned home to face the truth.