About the Inklings Book Contest
Each year, the Inklings Book Contest celebrates youth writers in grades 3–12. Winners revise their stories with a professional mentor and are published in our annual anthology. Finalists receive editorial letters with revision guidance and are featured on our Inkwell platform.
This post offers a sneak peek at several finalist pieces. Click through to read each story on the Inkwell, where young writers are encouraged to share their voices and connect through storytelling.
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Inklings Book 2025 Finalist Spotlight
Chapter Three: Friendship and Flaws
The stories in this third chapter of our Inklings Book 2025 Finalist Spotlight showcase the emotional highs and lows of friendship. These pieces feature flawed characters and these youth writers dive into the minds of their characters, exploring how these imperfections affect their lives and their relationships with others.
The True Story of Richard Nixon
by Leonardo DeBord
(6th grade)
Hi, my name is Richard Nixon, and I’m one of the most misunderstood presidents in U.S history.
Now, I know what everyone says. That I ordered some of my men to break into the Democratic headquarters to spy on them and see what they were doing for the election. I know that everyone says that I wiped the recordings of me talking about the heist, and then was forced to give the actual tapes to the police. I know that everyone says I resigned before I could get impeached.
But that’s not the real story. There’s no reason to keep quiet anyway, so there’s no reason not to tell the world. Not that anyone’s going to believe me, but I might as well.
For All the Summer Days
by Gigi Hebert
(3rd grade)
As I walked out of school, I saw my friend Christine waiting for me in front of all the kids.
“Hey Emily,” Christine said, nudging me.
“Hi Christine, what are we going to do for this WHOLE summer?” I asked.
“Oh…umm…Emily…”
“What?” I asked, turning to Christine.
“Well…okay, since you are my best friend, I’ll tell you.” Christine hesitated and then closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I am moving in two days.” Tears sprang to her eyes.
Serendipity
by Katelyn Keyes
(11th grade)
The sun rose in Riverend, North Carolina, as it did every day, over the thatched roofs and green grass and the early birds there to enjoy it. Chase Letting certainly did. He sat in his backyard with his cup of tea, as he did every morning since he turned sixty, figuring he’d spent enough of life doing things and it was time to settle down. He couldn’t have picked a better place, the last news on the town bulletin board was that Loretta was hosting a sewing circle and Maggie needed a new dress, which came together rather nicely.
Chase took a sip of his tea, enjoying the diluted flavor.
“Mr Letting! Mr Letting!!”
He reluctantly put down his mug. “I’m around back.”
Cassidy Myers came around the corner, and at the sight of him, went into a tizzy. “Oh Mr. Letting, it’s horrible! Just horrible!”
Chase looked at her, amused. “Why, whatever is the matter?”
“It’s Maggie! She—”
“Ah, little Maggie Porter. Did she rip her dress? Is that it?” he asked with a hint of a smile.
Cassidy blew a red curl out of her face in frustration. “No! She’s missing!”
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