In a year of pandemic, war, corruption and climate crisis, it was no surprise that 2022’s range of entries reflected the somewhat uncertain and dystopian feel of current times. Nevertheless, amidst the dark themes were whispers of love, bravery, hope, vulnerability and humour. Evocative language and controlled narrative arcs made this year’s judging very satisfying.

Congratulations to all who entered: your stories will help start important conversations in the classroom about the challenging issues we face.

Click on the images and links to explore this year’s collection of stories.