family bonds

Story·Sol Smith — A mare discovers humans have tagged her foal for removal and escapes the stable with him, joined unexpectedly by her best friend.

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.

Personal Narrative·Talia Tarason — Discovering her great-grandfather's coin collection leads a girl to understand how objects hold memories, inspiring her to buy her own commemorative coin.

Personal Narrative·Minghan Tang — A child recalls morning reading sessions with their sister after immigrating from China, reflecting on this lost ritual as the sister prepares for college.

Poetry·Shivanshi Dutt — A girl reflects on her name change from Anusha to Shivanshi in preschool, and the various nicknames that mark different relationships in her life.

Personal Narrative·Eloïse de Larquier — A girl falls from monkey bars during backyard play, fractures her arm, and finds courage at the hospital after initial fear about getting a cast.

Personal Narrative·Viviana Perez — A girl says goodbye to her great-grandmother's apartment in Michigan, cataloging memories of family gatherings, walks to the lake, and the feeling of having a family home.

Personal Narrative·Rachel Jess Bueker — On a windy gray beach day, a girl transforms driftwood into a pirate ship, discovering sea glass and the power of imagination along the way.

Personal Narrative·Misha Joksic — A boy experiences sudden, severe stomach pain that turns out to be appendicitis, leading to an experimental treatment at NYU Langone Hospital instead of surgery.