fear

Story·Ayla Fardin — An eleven-year-old Ukrainian girl navigates daily life during wartime, discovering her family lacks funds to evacuate while finding small ways to bring hope.

Personal Narrative·Avaline Mikhasiuta — A five-year-old Russian speaker faces her first day of kindergarten without knowing English, finds connection through a Japanese classmate who shares her language barrier.

Poetry·Ava Luangkesorn — Birds endure a devastating storm that transforms their peaceful sea home, then witness the rainbow and crystalline water that follow.

Personal Narrative·Xi Huang — After witnessing a powerful storm from her Florida deck, a young girl discovers the ocean's terrifying magnificence and gains new understanding of its dual nature.

Poetry·Mia Xu, age 11 — A child observes her father's emotional state mirroring stock market fluctuations during COVID-19, realizing she cares about stocks because they affect him.

Fox

Poetry·Jessica Xu — A speaker encounters a red fox carrying prey, observing its sharp features and alert posture before it disappears into the bushes.

Story·Natalie Yue — A daddy longlegs trapped in a shower fears death when children find him, but one girl carefully releases him outside, granting unexpected freedom.

Story·Riley Killen — A teen guitarist battles stage fright through two performances, finding courage with help from family and an unexpected friend who gives her a purple guitar pick.

Poetry·Lily Guttermuth — A student reflects on the emotional toll of wearing masks at school, feeling caged and self-conscious, ultimately ashamed of their own face.

Personal Narrative·Samuelle Torres — A nine-year-old boy cracks his head at a playground, experiences disorientation at the hospital, then recognizes the doctor who delivered him at birth.