finding one's voice

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.

Poetry·Saketh Lingisetty — A vacuum becomes a metaphor for life's unpredictable forces, pulling us toward unexpected paths while dandelions spread their seeds against the current.

Poetry·Saketh Lingisetty — A young poet questions their abilities and identity through metaphors of fullness, loops, and tilting tables, ultimately affirming their excellence despite uncertainty.

Personal Narrative·Louise Johnson — Two cousins skip watching their brothers' soccer games to clean up trash from a forest stream, turning a boring morning into a meaningful adventure.

Story·Riley Killen — A teen guitarist battles stage fright through two performances, finding courage with help from family and an unexpected friend who gives her a purple guitar pick.

Story·Cecilia Hodgman — When her best friend Xavier disappears, teenage reporter Katie discovers his mother is a former spy and their chemistry teacher is the criminal who kidnapped him for revenge.

Personal Narrative·Kayla Song — A young dancer reflects on how ballet has shaped her emotional awareness and ability to express feelings that words cannot capture, celebrating dance as authentic human connection.

Poetry·Shivanshi Dutt — A speaker seeks refuge in the art room, a space where they can exist without intrusion, where silence protects solitude and there's finally room for the self.

Story·Cecilia Hodgman — A brainy fifteen-year-old plans her escape from a witch-ruled kingdom after being offered an apprenticeship she can't accept, discovering she has magic when crossing the border.

Story·Eleazar Reiner — A girl watches a mysterious violin player who controls the seasons, inherits her legacy when she dies, and years later discovers her own way to keep the music alive through...