By GABRIELLA BOCK | Reporter
The Palisades Branch Library was booked and brimming with young authors on Wednesday, Oct. 4, as the 2017 Children’s Summer Creative Writing Contest concluded with a live reading and awards ceremony.
The competition, in its 27th edition, was organized by the Friends of the Palisades Library in 1990 as a way to develop creative thinking and writing skills among young Palisadians.
The winners were announced in five age categories, from first through 12th grade, as dozens of hopeful entrants waited to hear if their stories would be read aloud by actors Bill Jones and Christine Kludjian.
Emerging as the first place winner for first and second grade was scribbler Riley Keston of Marquez Charter Elementary School. Keston’s entry, “This Story is Called Once I Wanted to be a Bat,” was a clever and charming tale about coming to terms with her true nature.
The winner for third and fourth grade was Palisades Charter Elementary School jotter Oliver O’Donnell, who won for his bone-chilling, buccaneer-themed legend “Jolly Roger’s Cave.”
Scrawler Hannah Lunkewitz of Calvary Christian School won first place in the fifth- to sixth-grade category with her creative nonfiction story “One Swallow Made My Summer,” which delicately details a memorable summer spent in Germany.
For grades seven and eight, scribe Emma Kate Lindgren of Berkeley Hall School took first place with her room-silencing poem “Rainy Days.”
Rounding off the competition was Vistamas High School author Andrew Schwartz, who earned top place for his politically driven poem “The Game of Life.”
And to honor all of the creative contestants, Sweet Rose Creamery delighted each entrant with a gift certificate to their Village parlor—giving this year’s writing contest one sweet ending.
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