school

Story·Ariana Kralicek, age 12 — A girl navigates the birth of her baby brother, student council elections, and self-discovery while trying to become popular by imitating her perfect classmate.

Personal Narrative·Happiness Neema, age 11 — A refugee girl from Tanzania navigates teasing about her weekly hairstyle at her Chicago school, finding resilience through friends' support and creative problem-solving.

Story·Ariana Kralicek, age 12 — Swifty navigates hip-hop classes, failed auditions, a new baby brother, and friendship drama while discovering drums and cutting her hair for charity.

Story·Allison Sargent, age 11 — A Black girl struggles with accepting her natural hair as beautiful while navigating classmates who treat it as exotic and touchable.

Poetry·Ikran Mohamed, age 11 — A young refugee uses nature metaphors to describe feeling different and new at school — a red bird among blue birds, a fish out of water.

Story·Ariana Kralicek, age 12 — Swifty Appledoe, jealous of perfect classmate Stella, decides to become just like her by taking violin and ballet lessons, with disastrous but ultimately triumphant results.

Story·Analise Braddock, age 8 — Four short fables explore consequences: a classroom prank gone wrong, a misdirected letter, celestial bodies in conflict, and a girl's persistent belief she can fly.

Story·Rose Fischer, age 12 — A girl's birthday wish for a puppy and amazing drawing skills comes true when her drawings literally come to life, creating chaos at school.

Personal Narrative·Asher Jenvey, age 10 — A boy recounts his journey through bullying and unsupportive schools in second grade to finding real friends and better teachers by fifth grade.

Story·Olivia Rhee, age 9 — A poor farm girl discovers money in an abandoned house, uses it for school, and starts a newspaper that leads to an unexpected friendship with a rival.