Scholastic Award Winner: Still by Emmeline (G9) Still Silver Key in Flash Fiction By EmmelineGrade 9 Enjoy this thrilling flash fiction piece, writing by 9th grade VSA student during our 2025 Scholastic Writing Workshop, which earned a Silver Key in the 2026 Scholastic Reading and Writing Awards. For more information about our Scholastic Writing Workshop, click here. Everyone blinks. It’s one of […] Read More
The Lottery Paints a Picture of a Desensitized Society by Reena Cheng (G8) The Lottery Paints a Picture of a Desensitized Society By Reena Cheng Grade 8 Winning the lottery is a coveted dream for many. Winning this specific lottery would crush that dream, and all your dreams for that matter. The short story, “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson is a chilling tale that describes villagers in a town who […] Read More
Naruto: My First Hero and Role Model by Kemin Zhang (G9) Naruto: My First Hero and Role Model By Kemin Zhang Grade 9 Two shinobi stand facing each other on gigantic stone statues, eyes grim. They’ve been rivals since they were kids, the distance between them spreading farther and farther each time they meet. One aspires to be Hokage, the village leader, and the other seeks revenge […] Read More
Why Make a Student’s Day Harder?: On Fewer Statewide Tests by Jessica Xu (G9) Why Make a Student’s Day Harder?: On Fewer Statewide Tests By Zi Han (Jessica) Xu Grade 9 Imagine sitting in class, staring dumbfoundedly at the unsatisfactory test score the teacher just returned to you, which makes you so ashamed. There are also other upcoming tests, and so when you return home, you are studying so […] Read More
The Dark Symbolism of Tradition in “The Lottery” by Ava Kuang (G8) The Dark Symbolism of Tradition in “The Lottery” By Ava Kuang Grade 8 How can communities blindly follow traditions without questioning their use and origin? Shirley Jackson’s short story “The Lottery” is a shocking example on how ordinary people can participate in “crimes” as tradition. At the first glance, the story takes place in a […] Read More
The Health Benefits of Daily Reading by Mollie Wen (G7) The Health Benefits of Daily Reading By Mollie Wen Grade 7 Someone opens up a book and dives into the enchanting world of Harry Potter and the Sorceror’s Stone, or Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief. They start to relax and focus on the book instead of their worries, like someone focusing on ways to reach a goal instead […] Read More
