growing up

Poetry·Malini Gandhi, age 13 — A seven-year-old in New Delhi sees street children from her car window and understands for the first time what her mother meant about children dying in the world.

Story·Hayden Rasberry, age 11 — A lonely boy struggling with growing up finds an abandoned dog on the street and secretly brings him home, only to discover his parents had planned to get him a...

Poetry·Imani Apostol, age 11 — A girl discovers through blocked-out papers with one word visible—PREGNANT—that she'll become a big sister, processing excitement and new responsibility.

Story·Cameron Manor, age 11 — Two sisters navigate their relationship through midnight roof adventures, failed spy agencies, and garage sales of unwanted gifts, revealing the complex dynamics of sibling love.

Story·Cameron Manor, age 11 — Three vignettes capture the chaotic dynamics between sisters: midnight roof adventures, a failed spy agency, and a garage sale of unwanted 'gifts.'

Story·Danny Singer, age 12 — A six-year-old's dinner at Atlantic Grill for his father's 41st birthday becomes unforgettable when the family encounters Giants player Tiki Barber, leading to a cherished autographed photo.

Story·Julia Gaitley, age 12 — A girl at an aquarium loses her older brother while daydreaming about seals' freedom, then finds comfort in a wandering turtle while waiting to be found.

Story·Julia Clow and Olivia Smit, age 12 — A human baby raised by wolves discovers her true identity when hunters threaten her wolf family, ultimately choosing to live with humans while maintaining her wolf bonds.

Story·Jacob E. Gerszten, age 11 — An 11-year-old's educational vacation to Tanzania introduces him to Maasai guide Simon, local customs, and the tiny dik-dik antelope, challenging his American perspective.

Poetry·Mara Schiffhauer, age 12 — A plant watches a baby being celebrated for growing, then remembers its own unwitnessed growth from seed to tree, reaching skyward with equal pride.