justice

Story·Ashwin Cohen — A retired cop visiting the Louvre discovers the Mona Lisa has been replaced with a forgery and must identify the thief among five suspects using clues and fingerprints.

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.

Poetry·Trevor M. Burns, age 10 — A young poet confronts political corruption through wordplay, contrasting kleptocracy with democracy while invoking patriotic imagery turned ironic.

Poetry·Connor Kiggins, age 12 — A 12-year-old rails against school as an 'American monarchy' where teachers are dukes, principals are kings, and students are powerless peasants denied basic freedoms.

Story·King Hey Chan, age 14 — A student questions the effectiveness of detention after witnessing a near-theft, then successfully advocates to the principal for replacing punishment with counseling and reflection.

Personal Narrative·Ryan Behr, age 11 — A second-grader's excitement about presenting a class panorama project turns to dread when a strict teacher punishes him for moving a tiny Lego boat.

Poetry·Avery Lakomy, age 12 — A young poet questions why we divide the world into regions when their eyes see only one unified place where all people belong together.

Poetry·Parwana Amiri, age 16 — A refugee teen's defiant catalog of what takes courage — building schools, welcoming the homeless, staying human — versus what's easy: destroying, hurting, closing your eyes.

Story·Steven Cavros, age 9 — In future Orlando sewers, sentient creatures made from garbage attempt to form a government, leading to chaos, tyranny, and one night of freedom above ground.

Poetry·Suhani Pandya, age 12 — A girl questions the restrictions placed on her body and freedom—bound feet, hidden face, denied education—ultimately rejecting beauty that consumes a life.