facing fear

Personal Narrative·Kelly Chan, age 11 — During a science class discussion, Kelly's fear of speaking up becomes overwhelming when asked to explain her answer about a frozen water bottle.

Personal Narrative·Ava Cai, age 12 — A restless student escapes her classroom during reading time, only to accidentally enter the wrong room on her return, finding unfamiliar older students staring at her.

Story·Scarlet He, age 10 — A child races through a darkening Ontario forest, heart pounding with fear, until their sister jumps out playing peekaboo and the world returns to normal.

Poetry·Peter Shuster-Raizberg, age 7 — A child's urgent poem captures the terror and escape from an erupting volcano, circling back to the image of the volcano at the center of everything.

Story·Fiona Clare Altschuler, age 11 — A boy with prophetic visions flees with his uncle to escape his mother's murderous revenge, but a wolf attack forces a reckoning with forgiveness.

Poetry·Ava Espinoza, age 12 — A word discovered in a box pursues the narrator, invading their mind and triggering painful memories whenever someone speaks it aloud.

Story·Charlotte Moore, age 12 — A lonely girl exploring a castle during a field trip gets trapped in a closet and meets Jane, a mysterious servant girl who wants to be best friends forever.

Personal Narrative·Yanling Lin, age 10 — A school field trip continues despite torrential rain, leaving students soaked and miserable until they finally return to school after doing nothing but stand in the downpour.

Story·Avital Sagan, age 12 — A sentient radio watches helplessly as carnivorous moonflowers take over the island city of Floracion, turning its inhabitants into mindless carriers of the infection.

Personal Narrative·Raya Ilieva, age 10 — During California's 2020 wildfires, a girl wakes to an apocalyptic orange sky and wonders when the world will return to normal.