fear

Story·Christine Nichols, age 13 — A third-grader forced to sit with sixth-graders on the bus faces bullying until an older girl in a matching outfit stands up for her, turning fear into friendship.

Story·Pace Ellsworth, age 13 — A tiger stalks and kills an antelope, then discovers his cached prey has been disturbed by strange new creatures with vehicles, marking his first encounter with humans.

Story·Inci Atrek, age 11 — A young basketball player faces intense pressure during a crucial free throw, battling self-doubt and physical anxiety before finding the courage to take the shot.

Story·Vera Litvin, age 13 — A boy who dreams of conquering a tiger finds courage to face the school bully by standing his ground in the playground.

Story·Alex Chan-Kai, age 11 — A boy ignores earthquake warnings to go skateboarding with his friend, then gets trapped when a major quake hits the skate park and the building collapses.

Story·Rebekah Carbajal, age 11 — Three cousins rowing to a Maine lighthouse are caught in a sudden storm, their boat capsizes, and they barely make it to shore alive.

Story·Alissa Escarce, age 12 — A sixth-grade violinist, the youngest finalist in a school competition, plays brilliantly but doesn't place, learning to transform disappointment into determination for next year.

Story·Jill Cooley, age 13 — A young ballet dancer overcomes stage fright to perform as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, discovering that her emotional connection to dance matters more than technical perfection.

Story·Leslie Pearsall — After her sister's fatal riding accident, Dylan struggles with her mother's overprotectiveness until her own fall forces her to choose between her passion for horses and her mother's peace of...

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.