"From the very first sentence, I was right there with the narrator, experiencing her overwhelming hunger alongside her fierce devotion to her friend," said Guest Judge Megan Tady about the winning piece of our 2026 Short Story Competition, in which teenage writers expressed devastating heartbreak, earthly imagery, and even humor to capture our world in a piece of 400-1000-word fiction.
There is much to celebrate about their work: read on to discover the guest judge's breakdown of her wonderful selections.
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Winner:
“Half a Mango,” by wallflower. (India)
“Half a Mango” is a transportive, impressive piece of fiction. From the very first sentence, I was right there with the narrator, experiencing her overwhelming hunger alongside her fierce devotion to her friend. The sensory details are rich and compelling without being overdone—just enough to bring the world vividly to life, as with the “rough clump of coconut husk.” This subtle yet powerful line immediately filled me with dread, revealing the narrator’s naivety while signaling something devastating to the reader: “What could have Rukhsana taken with her?” And this line hit me in the gut, conveying so much without over-explaining: “...but her mother just sat there, covering her face.” I could feel the mother’s grief and despair, mourn the loss of the girl with her flapping hair, and understand that the narrator’s world had irrevocably shifted. It's a remarkable achievement to convey so much emotion with such restraint. Congratulations!
Runner-Up:
“Lilith,” by AlinaC (India)
Pairing heartbreak with humor is no easy feat, but that’s exactly what the author of “Lilith” has accomplished. I adored the choice to tell the story from the perspective of a cat waiting for her owner to return, and I was impressed by how quickly the author establishes the premise with this opening: “It has been nineteen hours and thirty-five minutes. My human, Lilith, was still not home.” I laughed out loud at the cat’s observations of the human world, like her distaste for knitting: “I call it a nightmare. Poking two giant spikes around a piece of yarn.” The use of repetition—each paragraph marking the passage of time—is a clever narrative device that provides structure and builds a growing sense of dread. The reader begins to understand what the cat cannot: Her beloved owner is never coming home. The ending is beautifully poignant. A wonderful balance of wit and tenderness. Bravo!
Best Peer Review:
Review of “Queen of the Funeral Pyre” by Cantabile (Australia)
Your peer review was excellent! When you highlighted moments that shine in the story, you took care to explain why they work. I also appreciated how you encouraged the writer to dig deeper and lean into specificity, especially because you offered concrete, actionable suggestions, like giving the husband a nickname or revealing more about the brother’s motivations. It’s not easy to balance encouragement with constructive criticism, but you struck just the right balance, offering thoughtful praise while helping the writer see opportunities to strengthen the story.
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Piece Finalists:
“Goldfish Blues,” by grhm.mr (United States - Arizona)
Absolutely beautiful! I was struck by the narrator's powerlessness in an adult world, as in "I don't want to fish, but I don't think he'd like to hear that." You've written some truly stunning lines, pushing yourself to reach beyond the typical phrasing: "Silence curls around us in the camp chairs." And your use of repetition—"loves you the best he/she can"—is powerful and heartbreaking. This piece will stay with me.
“Home of A Survivalist,” by Alexei (Thailand)
I see that you've said this is your first short story. Wow! Keep going. You've got a gift for crafting vivid, thrilling, dramatic scenes. My heart was thumping as I read your piece!
“Mr. Crow,” by riley!! (United States - Florida)
I've continued to think about your piece long after I first read it, which means your work has staying power. I was particularly taken with your restraint as the narrator attempts to make sense of her own world, and I enjoyed the repetition of 1, 2, 3. A strong contender. Keep writing, please!
“Sickle and Scythe,” by Noya bou (Israel)
What a gorgeous, heartbreaking story. I found myself wanting to shout warnings to Ilia and his mother—a true testament to how you brought them vividly to life.
“Take the Blame!” by Dan B. (Canada)
Thank you for writing this piece. I was drawn in by the tension between the narrator and the girl friend and their opposing needs. And, I immediately looked up Louis Riel!
“Through the Eyes of Arlo,” by Addison Pittmann (United States - Indiana)
I was truly moved by this piece. Thank you for writing it!
Peer Review Finalists:
Review of “Breathe” by Tasha 🌟 (Pakistan)
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