The World Beneath the Tree holds light and mischief, determination and play, real imagination, and unexpected magic. Writing for young people requires an openness to possibility and a sense of idealism that difficult circumstances can discourage or even suppress. That means, at any age, we can turn to literature to help us understand and move through such circumstances—or just to entertain and delight us, which is its own reward. The stories and poems in this anthology showcase the intensive work these writers have done to hone their skills in storytelling. Witnessing the dedication, cooperation, and talent of the writers I had the privilege of instructing in Fiction for Young People this spring semester of 2026 at Virginia Tech has been a highlight of my teaching career. They know how stories are built and what makes them worth remembering. It’s been a joy to make the space for them to lead us, readers, to the worlds they’ve made in these pages. Read on for fairies, aliens, animals, and ordinary kids showing us how words can hold, wield, and offer shelter in their imaginative power.

Written by Dr. Khadijah Queen