The Locked Drawer

Lexile: 890 | Grade: 6

Passage

Lena had walked past the dusty hallway cabinet at her grandmother’s house a hundred times, but she had never paid it much attention—until the day one of the drawers caught her eye.

It wasn’t like the others. Its tiny brass keyhole gleamed, even in the shadows. Lena tugged the handle. Locked.

That night, while helping her grandmother clean the attic, Lena spotted something small and shiny under an old rug. She picked it up—it was a tiny key. Her heart quickened.

Later, when no one was looking, Lena slipped back down to the hallway. The key fit perfectly into the locked drawer.

Inside, she found a stack of yellowed letters, tied with blue ribbon, and a worn leather notebook. On the first page, in faded ink, was her grandmother’s name—and the words, *“Summer, 1964: The Truth About the Island.”*

Lena’s breath caught. What truth? What island?

Footsteps echoed down the hall. Lena quickly closed the drawer and slid the key into her pocket. She didn’t have answers yet—but she was sure of one thing: this summer was about to get interesting.