facing fear

Poetry·Jane Trina, age 10 — A young performer transforms stage fright into confidence, tracking the physical sensations of fear giving way to the moment when words finally 'start to fly.'

Story·Lena Boesser-Koschmann, age 11 — A girl encounters a bear while riding her pony, watches in horror as a neighbor shoots it, and struggles with anger and grief over the senseless killing.

Story·Diane Duboise, age 11 — A Navajo boarding school student is haunted by visions of an angry gorilla until a traditional medicine man reveals the source and performs a healing ceremony.

Story·Corina Castillo, age 12 — A Navajo girl witnesses her grandfather, a medicine man, heal her mother from witchcraft by finding and burning a buried bear paw placed by a malevolent neighbor.

Story·Ted Nelson, age 11 — A young swimmer battles nerves at a championship race, wins unexpectedly, then faces the pressure of defending his position in the finals for a medal.

Poetry·James Lindbloom, age 5 — A boy secretly rides a magical winged sheep that flies to heaven, then falls and transforms grotesquely before dying.