perseverance

Story·Valerie Luyckx — A swimmer experiences the sensory world of competitive racing, from the starting whistle through the underwater silence to the triumphant touch at the wall.

Poetry·Nicky Cannon, age 12 — A roller skater crashes into a puddle but celebrates the joy of the ride despite the muddy, bruised ending.

Story·Catherine Pugh, age 13 — After a botched surgery leaves her unable to walk, a former track star undergoes a second operation and fights through recovery to run again.

Poetry·Sophia Lipkin, age 9 — A young rider recalls beloved horses and the exhilarating moment of her first successful jump, feeling her heart soar as Violet leaps into the bright blue sky.

Story·Mary Jessica Woods, age 13 — A first-person account of racehorse Zenyatta's historic Breeder's Cup Classic victory, narrated from the horse's perspective as she comes from behind to win.

Story·Allison Armstrong, age 13 — Eight-year-old Suzy discovers a calico kitten at the Humane Society and works doing chores to prove she's responsible enough to adopt it.

Story·Ryan Traynor, age 12 — A boy navigates through tall grass and obstacles during an intense game of Capture the Flag, culminating in his team's victory when he grabs the flag.

Story·Téa Freedman-Susskind, age 10 — A young violinist overcomes nerves to audition with Vivaldi's Winter, wins a competition, and performs at Seattle's Benaroya Hall on the first day of winter.

Poetry·Ella Rogers, age 10 — A salmon's perspective during its final leap upstream, narrowly escaping a grizzly bear's jaws before reaching calmer waters.

Story·Namrata Ramya Balasingam, age 13 — A Sri Lankan tea plucker works through pain and betrayal to earn enough money to buy her orphaned brother a birthday cake, discovering true friendship along the way.