Grades 11-12

Submissions from youth in grades 11-12 demonstrated creativity and skill. Six stories were selected for the final round in this grade category. First place went to Fen Hendren’s “The Many Sounds of Words,” a story about a person in a language-less society who finds their voice. Second place went to the creative and memorable story about trauma manifesting itself as literal monsters in “The Monster Under the Bed” by Sophia Acord. Third place went to “Angel of Death” by Kathryn Downs, a fast-paced and horrifying tale of a battle to the death in a dystopian arena.

The honorable mentions include a sci-fi action piece called “Awakening” by Valomi Lewis, the gorgeously descriptive “Painted Leaves” by Megan Nguyen, and The Eternal Party” by Lizzie Elsenpeter, a chilling, twisty mystery.