The 5th annual Story of the Year Writing Contest, organized by the literacy nonprofit Storyshares, closed in February 2022 and attracted more than 1,500 submissions from every corner of the globe. Writers of all ages and backgrounds participated in the competition, whose aim is to develop relevant content for the millions of teen and adult readers working to improve their literacy skills.
PHILADELPHIA, April 5, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- An innovative nonprofit is taking a new look at content production – publishing hundreds of books through an annual writing contest. The organization, Storyshares, runs these contests with a unique purpose: to develop a diverse library of books that are "easy to read, but hard to put down" for emerging teen and adult readers.
Storyshares announced this year's winners on April 5th. The writing competition, which closed in February 2022, received 1,500 submissions in just four months – including an unprecedented number of diverse texts and authors. Winning stories were selected by a judging panel of professionals from the literacy, education, and publishing fields – including Sharon G. Flake, author of "The Skin I'm In," and former Scholastic executive David Goddy.
"I enjoyed reading the stories," wrote David Goddy. "Doing so reminded me of this important mission, to encourage and reach young people with stories that directly reflect their lives and situations, and to give them the chance to tell the stories that the conventional publishing world marginalizes or doesn't tell."
Contest participants share their stories for the chance to win cash prizes, to become published before a large reader audience, and to join a movement to improve literacy outcomes around the world. "Every book published to the Storyshares library can be a catalyst," says Louise Baigelman, Executive Director of Storyshares. "A spark to ignite a love of reading,"
The judges selected winners from Arizona, Benin, Washington, and Zambia among four award categories.
- Grand Prize for Diversity: "Fortunate Fayola" by Stephanie Mhango
A famine threatens the village… and Fayola will do anything to keep her son from starving. Her situation goes quickly from bad to worse. So much worse. But perhaps fortune will smile on her in the end?
The Grand Prize is awarded to Stephanie Mhango of Zambia, who crafted a twisted tale that almost unanimously won the judges' hearts. "A very clever retelling of Red Riding Hood in an African scene," wrote contest judge Valena D'Angelis, "with beautiful descriptions of landscapes and folklore, and a valuable lesson to learn at the end."
- Creative Nonfiction Award: "Born in Danger" by Pius Agbangbatin
Dulani never thought he'd grow old enough to tell his story to the world. People like him are often targeted for their differences. For their skin. To be albino in Malawi was a dangerous thing.
The Nonfiction Award goes to Pius Agbangbatin of Benin. Deemed "the most powerful story," by Scholastic's David Goddy, Born in Danger "Takes us to a new continent, shows us the conditions of a different way of life, confronts brutality, and helps us see the challenge and unfairness of color and prejudice in a way that most people never do."
"At a time where empathy and understanding are mandatory," adds Colin Seale, CEO of thinkLaw, "Born in Danger provides a deep, but instantly relatable contrast between the cruelty of treating people differently just because they are different and the kindness of caring people committed to countering that cruelty with genuine care."
- 50 States Award: "The Market at Night" by Cat Jenkins
Pike Place is one of the oldest public markets in the U.S. – drawing thousands of visitors all year long. It's a magical, colorful place. But there's another market only a few are allowed to see. One filled with strange things and even stranger people. One that only a few can find. And only if they look for it at night.
This award goes to Cat Jenkins for an intriguing teen tale about possibility and magic, situated among the glowing and mysterious underground of Seattle's Pike Place Market.
- Coming of Age Award: "5 Steps to Win Her Heart" by Natasha Lopez
Mateo's best friend Kat Nguyen broke up with him and he's far from over it. He has to win her back, but how? A 1950s book, "5 STEPS TO WIN HEART" just might be the answer he's looking for. Will the force be with him? Or will it be with his nemesis – Kat's new love interest – Josh Fowler?
The 2021 Coming of Age Award goes to Natasha Lopez, whose story is woven together with all the elements of a gripping teen tale: love, loss, self-discovery, and a heaping scoop of Star Wars references.
Eight additional titles received honorable mentions, including:
- A Night to Remember by Tara Anders
- Chance and Little Star by Joseph Legaspi
- Divided in Land and Together in Heart by Kugu Soykan
- Instructions for My Fifth Grade Self by Lisa Zhang
- Lily Azalea by Sharon Elwell
- My Dad's Secret by Mary Francis
- Sucker Stick by Stephen Leitschuh
- Transitioning by Dean Gessie
The twelve selected stories have been published to the Storyshares library, and are now available at storyshares.org. "These books are another important step towards building a world where everyone has the chance to fall in love with a book," says Angela Dell'Isola, Content Manager for Storyshares. "Congratulations to this year's winners, whose stories will go on to reach and inspire hundreds of thousands of readers."
Paperback editions will be available on May 2, 2022.
Media Contact
Angela Dell'Isola, Storyshares, 1 7742008791, [email protected]
SOURCE Storyshares
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