The Morrab Library Children’s Short Story Competition 2025
We’re delighted to announce the winners of the The Morrab Library Children’s Short Story Competition 2025. We received over 150 entries from across Cornwall.
A big thank you to all the children who entered the competition – and to everyone who encouraged them to do so!
Copies of the stories are available to read below. Copies are also available to read at the Library, just ask at the desk.
4-7 year old category
The Water Spirit and the Monster
by Harris Lyne.
‘Wonderful illustrations that enchanted the story. Fresh and empathetic.’
by Florence Buckingham.
‘Great illustrations. It made us laugh, and was unexpected , fresh and original. Loved it.’
8-11 year old category
by Astrid Shadrick
‘Very astute about creativity. Should be compulsory reading for all english teachers.’
by Denny Kaya.
‘Another story that made me want to find out what happened. I could see this as an episode of Black Mirror! Very Filmic.’
12-16 year old category
‘A very mature coming of age story, touching on themes of being accepted, friendship and being an outsider.’
Content warning: This following story includes themes of death and suicide that may be distressing to some people.
by Coby Smart.
‘One of the stories that really made the reader want to know what happened, sign of a good story. Also, the writing took you right into the place.’
by Jessica Carthey.
‘Gothically told, with an unexpected twist at the end that took us all by surprise.’
Highly Commended
The judges also decided to award two highly commended prizes, alongside the first, second and third prizes, to recognise the achievements of these budding writers.
A huge thank you to the competition judges, Annamaria Murphy, Peter McAllister, Sarah Connors and Peter Moffat. Thanks also go to our competition sponsor, for the wonderful prizes.
Thoughts from our judges
Peter McAllister:
‘It was a privilege to read such a collection of strong, confident voices. A true testament to the young talent we have here in Cornwall. This year’s stories transported me to familiar, foreign and alien worlds and with such vivid imagery, fully immersed us within them. Entrants presented fresh ideas and powerful storytelling in so many forms: poignant, humorous, experimental, and everything in between. It was a joy to read them all and a real task to choose the winners. The standard of writing this year was exceptionally high, and we commend every entrant for their dedication and craft. It’s clear that a great deal of thought and heart went into this year’s entries. Many of the stories left a lasting impression; we have no doubt some of these young voices will go on to do remarkable things.’
Sarah Connors:
“It was a real honour and privilege to serve as a judge for this year’s Young Writing Competition. I was genuinely struck by the exceptional standard of entries we received – the creativity, imagination, and originality on display were truly inspiring.
From atmospheric Gothic landscapes to vivid portrayals of mythical creatures, and everything in between, the stories transported us into entirely new worlds. What impressed me most was not only the richness of ideas but also the craft with which these young writers expressed them: inventive plots, strong characterisation, and a real sense of voice emerging in so many of the pieces. The breadth of styles and themes demonstrated the diverse talents of Cornwall’s young writers, and it made the judging process both a delight and a real challenge. Narrowing down the entries was by no means easy, but it is a testament to just how much promise and potential there is among this remarkable group of writers.”
Peter Moffat
“It was a joy and a privilege to read so many great stories from so many talented young writers. The Morrab Library is to be congratulated on running this brilliant competition.”