Kids Corner

The Goddess of Beauty: Miranda Chen Silver Key in Flash Fiction By RichardGrade 10 The mirror used to be my friend. Now it’s my sanctuary, my confession booth, my prison. “Miranda Chen stuns at Milan Fashion Week!” The headlines blare. “Her ageless beauty continues to dominate the runway at forty-three!” Forty-three. They used to never […]

The Button, A Story of Love Gold Key in Flash Fiction By RichardGrade 10 White. That’s all I remember from before. A blinding white that seemed to seep through my eyelids, even when I tried to shut it out. When my vision finally adjusted, the edges of reality remained soft, unclear where space began or […]

Murmurs of a Forgotten Forest Gold Key in Poetry By CalvinGrade 9 The dated debut of dawn’s first flight,Stretched shadows confide keys to the night.A woodland stirs, its breath a silent sigh,Waking dreams as stars bid their byes. In dawn’s serenity, where silhouettes stay,A thicket breathes falsely of a former day.Lemon licked leaves, a dew-pecked […]

A World of Sound and Sight Silver Key in Personal Essay By AnnaGrade 8 I woke up. It’s 8:00. Early, but not too early. I get out of bed, then get my pants. They feel tight. I don’t like it. Pressure. Too tight. I get my iPad. It helps me take time to relax, to […]

The Rift Honorable Mention in Science Fiction and Fantasy By Rocco, 9th Grade Ah! I yelled as I spiraled through that mysterious portal. Strange forces consumed me as I fell into the unknown. I screamed my throat out, trying to contact someone, but to no avail. I closed my eyes, embracing myself for the worst. […]

The Heron Silver Key in Personal Essay and Memoir By Henry, 9th Grade Something about the woods attracted my father. It all started years ago when he discovered that the little creek behind our cabin was the shortcut for migrating bass. We would come every fall during Thanksgiving break to this cabin, which was tucked […]

Love and Wonder Honorable Mention in Poetry By Jenny, 8th Grade I am from toy guns, from metal monkey bars that made me feel as right as rain, from days full of play From hours spent reading under the mellow sun. I am from the West Lake, from its rich history full with mythical legends […]

In this Scholastic Writing Award-winning essay, a VSA student writes a personal essay about his first school day in the US.