Madison Reporter

MADISON, WI – Six young writers from Madison were recognized on Thursday as the winners of Madison Public Library and Forward Madison FC’s third annual WE READ Youth Voices Writing Contest.

The overall winners include:

- Grand Prize Winner: Grace Huang, 17, a senior at Madison West High School, for "Speak English"

- Runner Up: Nora Irene Moran, 11, a sixth-grader at Immaculate Heart of Mary School, for "A Spark"

- Runner Up: Ash Gartler (pen name A.G.), 14, a freshman at Madison West High School, for "there are no stars here"

The winners were presented with Forward Madison FC gear and recognized during halftime at Forward Madison's game on Thursday, August 29. They will also receive cash prizes from the Madison Public Library Foundation: $500 for the Grand Prize Winner and $250 each for the Runners-Up. Additionally, three other youth writers were acknowledged in their respective age groups and will receive $100 each:

- Elementary School Age Group Finalist: Ellis Biller, 9, a fourth-grader at Gompers Elementary School, for "The Snake and the Hamster"

- Elementary School Age Group Finalist: Sofie Tregre, 10, for "Moon"

- Middle School Age Group Finalist: Lily Nguyen, 11, a sixth-grader at Core Knowledge Charter School, for "Saving Strangers"

Grace Huang's award-winning story "Speak English" aligns with the contest’s theme of Celebrate Small Heroes by narrating an act of kindness that significantly impacted her life. Huang shared that she faced language and racial barriers in her childhood but found acceptance through one classmate's friendship. All six winning stories are available online at madpl.org/youthvoices.

“I think [the contest is] a great way to get your perspective and story out there,” said WE READ Youth Voices Writing Contest Youth Ambassador Diya Dhawal. “Everyone has a very different mind. Everyone has a different perspective. Getting something out there and writing something is a great accomplishment. You don’t have to win. It’s just a huge accomplishment to even submit to it.”

The contest received 130 submissions from children aged 5 to 18. The entries were reviewed by judges including:

- Diya Dhawal

- Award-winning author Pat Zietlow Miller

- Forward Madison FC goalkeeper Martin Sanchez

- Laura Bird

- Bianca Martin

Although only six stories won prizes, fifty youths will see their work published both online and in print in the WE READ Youth Voices Anthology this fall. The print version will be available at all Madison Public Library locations and all Madison Metropolitan School District library locations.

Featured youth authors can pick up physical copies of the anthology on Saturday, October 19th in the Children’s Area on the lower level of Central Library during the Wisconsin Book Festival Fall Celebration. The festival will also host a short reception honoring these authors at 9:30 a.m., where they can read their work and participate in a Q&A session.

"One of my absolute favorite memories from last year's Fall Celebration was the WE READ Youth Voices Writing Contest reception,” said Wisconsin Book Festival Director Jane Rotonda. “The energy and excitement were a perfect reminder of the powerful impact books, reading, and writing can have no matter what your age."

Families are invited to stay after the reception for additional youth-centered events.

The WE READ program is funded by several foundations including Steve Stricker American Family Insurance Foundation.

Madison Public Library has promoted education and literacy in Madison for nearly 150 years.