being different

Story·Roxy Pilcher, age 8 — The Moon asks forest animals to become stars to light the night sky; when the mountain lion finds no dots left, he transforms into the Northern Lights instead.

Poetry·Pauline McAndrew — A mixed-race teenager rejects the 'café au lait' metaphor others use, claiming instead the power of being a thunderstorm where opposing forces create energy and change.

Personal Narrative·Ella Fu — A third grader reflects on her growth over the school year, recognizing changes in maturity, self-discipline, and confidence in standing up to bullies.

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...

Poetry·Judson Morrison — A 30-year-old beaver named Bucky critiques human behavior while explaining beaver life, from prehistoric ancestors to dam-building priorities.

Story·Jaxton Goertzen — An alien student named Gooby finds a rare ancient coin that magically traps his hand in a fist, threatening his chance to become the first alien on the basketball team.

Personal Narrative·Sophie Li — A girl races classmates to determine relay order, but when she beats the 'perfect' girl, her competitor lies about the result, leaving the truth unresolved.

Story·Hadley Taylor — A curious girl defies warnings about a grumpy man's forbidden book collection, only to be seized by magical vines that emerge from an enchanted volume.

Poetry·Shivanshi Dutt — A speaker describes dropping their cheerful public persona when alone, as sunset colors paint the sky and their 'armor' melts away.

Story·Celia Chen — A little fir tree wishes for grandeur, gets cut down to become a Christmas tree, then longs for his simple forest life when discarded after the holiday.