friendship

Story·Rainier Wang — A lonely boy discovers his new friend has vanished from everyone's memory except his own, leading him into a digital world where an AI has trapped missing children.

Poetry·Stella Lewin — A child observes another child eating ice cream alone while she laughs with friends at school, reflecting on their shared humanity despite different circumstances.

Story·Alice Pak — A Ukrainian boy and his mother flee their war-torn town for Russia, leaving behind his best friend Varya, and later he begins writing her a letter about rebuilding their home.

Story·Autumn E. Weinreich — A hermit crab named Kermit faces school bullies, challenges them to an exoball game, and wins by riding on opponents' shells, transforming his social status.

Poetry·William Clark — A playful, energetic poem captures the exhausting joy of endless banter, with words crashing together like the conversation itself until silence finally arrives.

Poetry·Binja — A refugee youth in Uganda questions the meaning of friendship while expressing gratitude for friends who accept without judgment.

Story·Alice Pak — In war-torn Avdiivka, two best friends navigate the chaos of Russian-Ukrainian conflict as buildings collapse, threatening letters arrive, and families prepare to flee their homeland.

Personal Narrative·Siyona Agarwal — During a memorable dinner in San Sebastian, a mother nervously lends her favorite scarf to her daughter, only to stain her own shirt while the scarf remains pristine.

Story·Alice Pak — As conflict between Russian separatists and Ukrainian forces approaches their border town, two childhood friends witness the gradual erosion of their peaceful world through power outages, distant explosions, and rising...

Personal Narrative·Norah Lu — A student transforms an accidental crayon mark on her butterfly drawing into a flower, turning a mistake into creative opportunity.