A group of students across the North Shore can now say they are published authors as their work and creativity are celebrated in a local library Teen Writing Contest. The North Vancouver District Public Library and North Vancouver City Library announced the five winners of the contest earlier this month, ranging from students Grades 7 to 12, with each piece tying into the theme “echos of the past.” Each winning story was professionally bound and added to the collections for people to borrow.
Amelia Horwood won first place in the Grades 7 to 9 category for her piece, Timeless Lessons and Forgotten in Flames. Cates Rios received honourable mention for the story Forgotten in Flames . Rachel MacDonald-Lin won in the Grades 10-12 category for Once There Were Dragons, while Olivia Garnett’s piece The Potatoes claimed the honourable mention spot.
But there was also a title for overall winner. Grade 10 Collingwood School student Cynthia Yu said she started jumping around her house when she received an email letting her know that she was the overall winner for her short story, Cherry . “It feels so amazing, because I’m finally taking the steps to pursue what was my hobby and is now becoming a dream come true,” Yu said.
“It’s just a huge step that I feel like I finally accomplished something to what I hope can be my career to continue writing.” Cherry follows the story of a 14-year-old girl in Middle Ages China who was chosen to be one of many empresses at the imperia.