Table of Contents
Foreword Kenan Thompson x
Introduction 1
1 Achieving Dreams
The Turnaround Kaiwen Zhang 5
Trash Bags Are for Trash Makenzie Snyder 8
Run with It Susan Overton 13
The Back of David's Head Mary Ellyn Sandford 17
Going to the Dogs Stephanie Taylor 21
If I Could Change the World for the Better, I Would…*NSYNC and Friends 25
A Run to Remember Barbara L. Glenn 31
Shining Down, Michael Kavalinas as told Monte Stewart 33
Dreams Ryan Kelly 36
2 Friendship
The Code Word Julia Sonntag 40
School Blues Elijah LoMonaco 43
Just Trying to Fit In Frances-Amelia Spadoni 45
Coming Back to Seattle Kobe Williams 47
A Bossy Friend Kenedi Morgado 50
The Forgotten Friend Judith Burnett Schneider 52
Backfire! Lou Kassem 55
Best Friends Whitney M. Baldwin 59
My Big Solo Cynthia Marie Hamond 60
Now You See It, Now You Don't Anne McCourtie 63
3 Family
Browbeaten Kyahna Hammond 67
Accepting Change Emma Kaefer 69
A New Way to Learn Hazel Gonzalez 73
Families That Care, Care About Families Rachelle P. Castor 75
Forever Garrett Mia Hamm 78
Supper David Barbara Lage 83
Mom Apryl Anderson 86
4 Love
Bobby Lee Daphne M. Orenshein 90
Love Lives On Laurie Hartman 93
The Teacher Who Cared Courtni Calhoun 97
The Act of Love Kathy Kemmer Pyron 99
Cry When You Are Sad Jonathan Piccirillo 101
Only Love Lasts Forever Danise Rett Ackart 104
The Reason for Living Lauren Elizabeth Holden 106
5 Death and Dying
Ryan's Story Kelli Frusher 109
I'll Never Forget Him Megan Weaver 112
An Angel in Disguise Megan Jennings 114
Don't Forget to Say I Love You Nicole Fortuna 118
Grandma's Cloud Game Nadine Rogers 120
Mr. Oberley's Star Cynthia Ross Cravit 123
In Every Thought Leslie Miller 126
6 Attitude and Perspective
An Odd Name Seema Patel-Trivedi 130
A Healthy Mindset Abigail Williams 132
Big at Heart, Mark Schulle as told Bunny Schulle 135
The Best Christmas I Never Had MaryJanice Davidson 138
The Hidden Treasure, Debbie King as told Ashley King 143
The Snow Angel Christine Fishlinger 145
You'll Be Good for Him Eugene Gagliano 147
Scott David Ferino 149
Adam's Apples Kim Aaron 151
Who Said There's No Crying in Softball? Amy Severns 153
The Yellow Piece of Paper Lauren Thorbjornsen 155
Hard Work Pays Off Karl Malone 158
7 Overcoming Obstacles
I Did It! M. Eliza Hryniewicz 162
Finding My Voice Emily Andrews 166
From Freak to Friend Robin Lanehurst 168
Annie Wiggle-Do Kathleen M. Muldoon 171
Two Percent Is Enough Krissy Creager 174
The First Day of Middle School Patty Hansen 176
Perfect, I'm Not Julia Wasson Render 180
A Little Coaching Noah Edelson 183
The Power of the Pen, Arlys Angelique Endres as told Carol Osman Brown 186
Tough, Sturdy and Triumphant Elijah Shoesmith 190
8 Choices
A Meal with a Smile M.L Tarpley 193
Do What You Love Noah Ross 197
Two Tickets to the Big Game J. Styron Madsen 200
Fireplug and Dad Rusty Fischer 204
Nice Catch! Doris Conner 209
The Gorilla Syndrome Elizabeth J. Schmeidler 212
Just Desserts Beverly Spooner 217
A Chicken-Noodle-Soup Day Donna Beveridge 220
A Silent Voice David R. Collins 223
Walking with Grandpa Uncle Greg 225
9 Tough Stuff
Sleepover Sadness Nathan Berres 229
Ants Avery Watterson 231
Kelsey Shane Ruwe 233
Losing Mom Diana Carson 237
Celebrate the Good Days Leslie Beck 240
For the Best April Townsend 243
My One Regret Angelia Lee Swift 245
The Perfect Figure Nikki Yargar 247
Pale Dawn of a New Day Katherine Ackerman 249
10 Changes
The Voice Crack Donald "Trey" Brown III 253
The Orange Bike Vashti Seek-Smith 257
My Very First Kiss Patty Hansen 259
Papa, Brian Normandin as told Mary Normandin 263
Taking a Stand Irene Dunlap 267
Just Do It! Son Truong Nguyen 271
1 Love You, Lindsey Lindsey Rawson 273
My Best Friend Tamera Collins 275
You Know You're Growing Up When…Multiple Authors 277
11 Eclectic Wisdom
How My Parents Ruined My Sixth Grade Life Peyton Webb 281
Two Weeks Caleb Matthew Sperber 284
Calm and Confident Landon Dean 287
Tippy Christine Armstrong 289
Never Put Rocks in Your Mouth Shirley Barone Craddock 292
The Moment I Knew I'd Never Be Cool D. Marie O'Keefe 294
Kindness Is a Simple Gift Michael Oknefski 297
Our Christmas Secret Lori Menning 299
What I've Learned So Far, Multiple Authors 302
Afterword: The End Paige Holland 307
Meet Our Original Contributors 308
Meet Our New Contributors 322
Thank You 325
