loss

Poetry·Madeline Male — A child watches their old house disappear through the car window as the family drives away to a new home, capturing the moment of leaving.

Poetry·Katja Muckle Eizenberg — A sunflower narrates its life cycle from bloom to seed dispersal, watching its seeds fly away to freedom before entering winter's sleep.

Personal Narrative·Micki Mermelstein, age 11 — Alone at her family's Country House, once filled with cousins' laughter, an 11-year-old reflects on how growing up has emptied the summer gathering place of its magic.

Story·Clara Gluzdov — A cat named Ivy wishes to become human to play piano with her beloved owner Dahlia, but when her wish comes true, she discovers the painful cost of transformation and...

Story·Emily Chang — A competitive swimmer's rivalry with her perfect cousin intensifies when an injury sidelines her from the season's final meet, revealing unexpected connections between them.

Story·Sarah Iwanaga — A young wolf befriends a human boy despite pack warnings, discovers his father made the same choice years ago, and must decide between two worlds.

Story·Ellie Wang — A wizard searches for her broken wand, reconnects with her grandfather oak tree, and together they send dreams to humans to inspire forest conservation.

Personal Narrative·Gabrielle McCaskill — A girl reluctantly moves from Bellevue to New York, clinging to memories of her neighborhood, best friend, and the places that shaped her childhood.

Story·Kana Shackelford — A four-year-old befriends a dryad living in the lilac bushes, but on her eighth birthday discovers she's grown too old to see her magical friend anymore.

Story·Alexandra Steyn — A woman with failing memory navigates her empty house, discovers something terrible on her street, and forgets both the horror and that her husband is dead.