Youth Writing Contest 2023 Winners Announced

Surrey Libraries congratulates the winners of the 2023 Surrey Libraries Youth Writing Contest. The winners were acknowledged at an Awards Gala on Wednesday, October 11.

The Youth Writing Contest is an annual writing competition for youth aged 12-18. Since launching the contest in 1987, Surrey Libraries has received close to 8,000 entries. It is free to enter, and young writers submit entries to one of four categories. Categories include short stories, poems, and comics. There is also a random category for other types of writing such as essays, screenplays, or lyrics.

This popular program is organized by the dynamic staff at Surrey Libraries. It is made possible through the generous support of our sponsors. Champion sponsors include:

• Khalsa Credit Union
• Kwantlen Polytechnic University
• Surrey International Writers' Conference

An anthology of the winners’ work will be available to borrow or to purchase for $8.00 in early November.

Winners  

Junior Short Story

First Prize: Henry Wheeler by Rishabh Gandhi

Second Prize: The Throne by Feifan Wang

Third Prize: Altan's Revenge by Haider Athar Ansari

Honourable Mention: A Day in a Cat's Life by Jia Lu Hai

Honourable Mention: To Be Heard by Lucy Prior                                              

Senior Short Story

First Prize: Mother Tongue by Sharon Yang

Second Prize: Childish Indulgence by Kristy Tran

Third Prize: It's Eating Me Alive by Alyana Amadeo

Honourable Mention: Conversations We Forget by Kirat Saran                                              

Junior Poetry

First Prize: To Conquer the Darkness by Lucy Prior

Second Prize: An Ode to Childhood by Isabelle Fan

Third Prize: My Saviour by Landon O'Brien

Honourable Mention: Secrets by Eden Taillefer

Honourable Mention: Broken and Crumpled Up Flower by Alice Su                                               

Senior Poetry

First Prize: Carnage by Carolyn Hu

Second Prize: brown sugar/the grandmothers by James Enns

Third Prize: Hidden by Ruby Parker

Honourable Mention: The Dictionary of Deception by Clary Chow

Honourable Mention: Porcelain Pity by Basma Mangat                                              

Comics

First Prize: Once Upon A Time... by Hui Shwen Neo

Second Prize: The Death of a Hero by Sophia Ng

Third Prize: Nobody Would Remember My Name by Shenelle Villacorta

Honourable Mention: Love, Aro by Esther  Park

Honourable Mention: Introvert by Annis Seo                                               

Random

First Prize: On Righting by Teagan Chow

Second Prize: Rust (Driving Away) by Reagan Jaymes

Third Prize: rings, et al by May Chee

Honourable Mention: The Grinding Gear by Rehn Clyde Tan

Honourable Mention: Faith by Aadil Sood

Finalists

Alicia Kardos

Amanda Kwan

Amethyst Lee

Annika Montiel Jorgensen

Annika Gill

Ayla Hamilton-James

Breanna Yang

Camden Batenburg

Divya Sondhi

Donovan Lin

Elayna  Robert-Gebert

Ellie Winship

Emmanuella Umar

Gurleen Virk

Gurmahek Athwal

Gursukhmani Basra

Gurvir  Muker

Hassan Ahmad

Hayden O'Brien

Japneet Kahlon

Jessica Bhandal

Karina Song

Landon O'Brien

Madison Lee

Manha Khan

Maya Sidhu

Meher Sohi

Mei Ming

Michelle Masood

Moneet Gill

Naomi Wilton-Jenkinson

Naseha Samreen

Natalie Kyon

Navkiran Sandhu

Nita Su

Olivia Kim

Pearl Jakhar

Rachael Le

Rianna Hayre

Rodlee James De Villa

Selah Phommaviset

Shanaya Loi

Shruthi Banka

Sienna Chow

Sofia Sutton

Sonya Ushakova

Sophie Liu

Sowon Kim

Tanushka Sharma

Vennex Hasler

Woorim Choi

Zaden Hasler

Zara Thandhi