truth and honesty

Story·Jag Michael Stephens, age 10 — A feared substitute bus driver called 'No Mercy Mercer' turns out to be a gentle grandfather who uses his tough reputation to maintain order on the bus.

Story·Kevin Zhou, age 13 — A Cuban immigrant dominates the Little League World Series with perfect games until guilt over lying about his age forces him to confess, sacrificing his baseball dreams.

Story·Natalia M. Thompson, age 13 — In Tehran, a teenage girl joins her mother's secret political group that meets under the guise of Friday tea gatherings while the men are at prayer.

Story·Brigit Pierce and Sam Hinton and Hannah Feren — In a dystopian dome where citizens' memories are erased through food, Drew discovers her grandmother has vanished and uses her voice-mimicking talent to expose the truth.

Story·Grace McNamee, age 13 — An eleven-year-old girl travels from Ohio to Pennsylvania with the father she hasn't seen since age two, slowly uncovering the truth about their separation.

Story·Hannah Fern Pollard, age 13 — A boy finds his rival's lost championship kite before a competition and must decide whether to return it or keep it to ensure his own victory.

Story·Tatum Schutt, age 12 — At summer camp, a girl lies about her grandmother's earrings to avoid teasing, loses them, and discovers her new friend stole them out of misguided kindness.

Story·Mathew Thompson, age 11 — A boy accidentally breaks a window playing baseball, chooses to tell his mother despite a friend's advice to hide it, and learns about honesty and taking responsibility.

Story·Naomi Wendland, age 12 — A daughter breaks her mother's precious clay pot while fetching water, lies about it, then confesses. Together they remake the pot from its broken pieces.