The Message – Amy (age 12)

“I really love this piece, it creates instant atmosphere and draws the reader into the situation - exactly what a writer aims for. More please!”

It just didn’t add up.  She must have fallen unless there was something they had missed?  Nico looked at the photo again, only to realise that something white and smudged was protruding from the corner of her cardigan as she lay; pale and lifeless, blood stained.  Ten minutes later he was galloping across the field towards the taped off area; the scene of the tragedy.  Darkness was falling now and a strange chill unsettled him because he knew that it was some sort of note; a suicide note?  A clue?  Or was it a warning?  He could not be sure…

The Circus – Alexander  (age 13)

“Good, strong original intro, which pulls you into an unnerving situation. It has all the ingredients of suspense and intrigue, and the promise to develop into a full-blown horror story!”

I could hear muffled sounds, partially audible but not enough to understand.  I was being thrown about, like a doll owned by a little girl.  Then the bag came off my head.  I saw a man standing in front of me, partially kneeling as I am very short, to look me in the eyes.  To my left and right, humongous monstrosities who’s only human like feature was the shape of the body, pinning me by my arms.  “Hello my lovely specimen!” the doctor with small fingers said.  “This is my home, it’s not much I know.  But welcome to Wonderland."

“Good impact and competent writing style which has produced a nice stand alone, dystopian theme.”

World 24 – Isobel (age 13)

If I look back, I can remember what life used to be like.  Sun, happiness, immortality.  But now?  Darkness, misery, living in fear of death every second of every day.  After the killers came, that’s when it started.  They came and the world began to die.  Nature, people, order, all cast into myth.  Now we just do what we can to survive, scavenge and fight to find what we need to get through another long and weary day.  We can hear the screams of victims every day.  They don’t shock us any more.  The killers came, and they’re never leaving.

“Great descriptive writing which allowed me to ‘see’ the game in my mind’s eye - good, original piece of work.”

James (age 13)

Sharp blue sky, graced with rainbows slicing through random clouds filled the air, not blighted with plane tails.  Green glass, greener than any I’d seen covered the ground in a prickled blanket; no dead patches nor breaks in the constant stunning colour.  I could run faster; I could jump, higher.  All my body was stronger than I knew possible allowing me to achieve unreachable goals that called for me in all directions though my time was up.  I hovered my cursor over “quit game” but quickly moved it away, immersed myself.  Why would I want to leave?