Congratulations to all the winners in the Wicked Young Writers Award. Now in its ninth year the awards have gone from strength to strength seeing over 4,500 entries, with an increased engagement from schools and a noticeable rise in submissions.

Michael McCabe, Executive Producer, Wicked (UK) comments: “We established these awards in 2010 with the simple objective of getting more young people engaged with, and excited by, creative writing. We are greatly indebted to all of our champions, supporters and Judges for so generously devoting their time to a cause that we all feel so passionately about. It remains a privilege, every year, to read such exceptional, imaginative stories and poems.”

Jonathan Douglas, Director of the National Literacy Trust comments on this year’s finalists’ entries: “Every year, the Wicked Young Writer Awards inspire wonderfully creative and thoughtful writing – and this year was no exception. There was an exciting element of diversity in this year’s Awards with a broad range of themes, some powerful messages, and touches of humour bursting through from the stories. Well done to everyone who took part this year and congratulations to all of the finalists. We hope the Awards will continue to give voice to your ideas and passions.”

The top four schools that submitted the most entries were also announced and have won a Creative Writing Workshop for their school for up to 30 students delivered by Wicked’s education team.

The Winners!

5-7 Age Category:

Winner: Marco Maguregi-Fleming, 7, from Poole, for “The Journey”
This is a moving story about a young refugee’s journey alone on a boat to Cornwall. The reader feels the refugee’s hunger, how fearful the journey is and the relief upon arrival ashore.

Runner-up: Leo Wiseman, 7, from London, for “White Mountains”
A mythically inspired piece of writing using an invented language, Tolkien-esque in its originality with hideous creatures from wraiths, black dragons to giant wolves.

Runner-up: Eve Robinson, 7, from Garstang, for “A Time Travelling Fossil Finder” An imaginative adventure story of a girl travelling through time who meets Mary, a fellow fossil hunter perhaps inspired by Mary Anning, the English palaeontologist.

8-10 Age Category:

Winner: Humreen Ellens, 10, from Eastbourne, for “Trapped” A chilling and sad story inspired by the Princes in the Tower, the narrator transitions seamlessly from child to ghost.

Runner-up: Kyle Morrow, 10, from Bury, for “Diary of Mr Spink” A brilliantly written tale about a mean landlord with original use of phrases such as “lie-abeds” and “no-good street urchins” reminiscent of A Christmas Carol.

11-14 Age Category:

Winner: Jennifer Allen, 13, from Blandford Forum, for “Dying Words”
A fascinating and unusual story about the daughter of “a life writer”, someone who writes the lives and deaths of mortals, Blaze decides to write new lives for all mortals by giving them control.

Runner-up: Annie McCrory, 13, from Ulster, for “The Chameleon”
A beautifully written subtle story about a creature who assumes human identities, their appearances, emotions and memories.

15-17 Age Category:

Winner: Lucy Dinning, 16, from Farnham, for “The Climb” Sophisticated allegory, a climber trekking up a vertiginous ascent, the mountain is revealed as a simile for the daily struggle facing a student with disabilities.

Runner-up: Ali Taylor, 17, from Cleethorpes, for “Love Letter to Pan”
A poem dedicated to the rustic God Pan flowing with wonderful phraseology describing the eternity of nature “It feels as old as we are, and as young as we were.”

18-25 Age Category:

Winner: Kristen Hawke, 21, from Bicester, for “In Control”
An expressive story with understated complexity of a selfless friendship in a contemporary setting.

Runner-up: Emily Collins, 22, from Chepstow, for “The Endless, Inexhaustible Rock” An uncomfortable piece of writing about oppression and enforced labour in a mine where the only reward for finding the precious gems was death.

The For Good Category:

Winner: Bethany Wilson, 19, from Macclesfield, for “The Other Version of Me”
An empowering message about how to reject the unobtainable image required on social media.

Runner-up: Hannah Hodgson, 21, from Burton-in-Kendal, for “Much More than a Building” An honest and humbling essay about living with a life limiting illness and the tremendous physical and emotional support received from Hospice staff.

Winning schools:
• The Priory Academy LSST, Lincoln
• Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School, Marlow
• St. Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School, Essex
• Devonshire House Prep School, London


The Wicked Young Writers Awards, were created by the producers of Wicked in association with the National Literacy Trust, and were set up to encourage and recognise excellence in writing and creativity, and help develop literacy and writing talent in young people. You can read more about the awards, the prizes and the judging panel here.