Life in L.A.: Stories from Language Arts Class by 131 Sixth-grade Students of Berkshire Middle School

This is the fifteenth annual collection of short works by students of Berkshire Middle School. The focus remains the same as in previous volumes: With genuine effort and attention to the writing process, young authors can produce works suitable for a wide audience. Over a twelve-week period, each sixth-grade writer turned a basic premise into a fully-formed story. The changes along the way sometimes surprised even the authors themselves.

The stories in Life in L.A. span multiple categories, including fantasy, science fiction, historical fiction, realistic fiction, mystery, and nonfiction. And to those readers judging this book by its cover, keep in mind that elements of the jacket design are the result of author suggestions. In all respects, this book is the product of the writers whose names appear inside.

Daniel Fisheris a lecturer in Anthropology at Macquarie University.