Whitby Youngster Writes Winning Story

12-year-old Erin Cooper from Whitby has been selected as one of 17 winners in a national writing competition, and will see her futuristic story about monsters published in a brand-new book.

In autumn 2021, learning company Pearson invited children and young people between the ages of 4–19 to put pen to paper and write their own stories and poems of the future, compiling the winning entries in a brand-new book: My Twist on a Tale: Our Tomorrow, alongside a collection of audio stories which has just been launched.

Erin’s work, The Day the Monsters Came, was chosen alongside 16 other fantastic stories and poems written by children across the country.

Erin’s story recalls the day the monsters came, after which 21 people disappear in seven months. Young or old, no one feels safe. Her vivid tale describes how the attacks become more common and more vicious. People board up their houses and stockpile food as the monsters, disguised as humans, seem intent on devouring the human race.

It comes to light that the first humans to disappear, who the community thought of as victims, are actually a part of the monsters themselves. Security footage captures people walking and disappearing into the monsters before them. There is news of further investigations, denial and coverups, but the truth becomes impossible to ignore: that the creatures hunting humans down were once people just like them.

Erin, who attends Caedmon College in Whitby, said:

‘I'm really proud that my story got chosen. It was a concept I thought of because apocalypse stories are really interesting, but the idea that everyone would be suspicious of each other and that no one could ever be sure they were safe seemed like it could present a lot more twists and challenges.’

Over 1,200 school, sixth-form and college students entered the competition, unleashing their fortune-telling skills. 17 winning entries were picked across categories including KS1 through to KS5, and all regions in the UK. The resulting book, My Twist on a Tale: Our Tomorrow, is available to download on Pearson’s website, with all budding authors receiving their very own hard copy as part of their prize. Audio versions of each story have been made available too!

Lindsay Nadin, Director of Primary Learning Service and Direct to Learner at Pearson, said:

‘Erin should be extremely proud of the story she has written. Her creativity and writing skills make her a worthy winner, alongside the 16 other young authors whose stories and poems ranged from earthlings zipping around on hoverboards, to the need for new laws to keep people safe.

‘At Pearson, we are committed to empowering schools to give their students different opportunities to excel, and develop essential skills needed for their futures. My Twist on a Tale allows us to encourage and excite young children with writing, motivating them to create work that represents their own perspectives of the world in which we live, and find joy in the written word. Everyone who submitted a story should be very proud of their creation.’

Fay Lant, Head of School Programmes at the National Literacy Trust, who was one of the My Twist on a Tale judges, said:

‘The action in Erin's story felt like it was being reported by a journalist throughout. The effect of this was that the dystopian future felt more closely connected to our present. Erin showed creativity in the development of the 'monster' characters, at the same time, adding to the sense of mystery. Great job Erin!’

The competition was supported by a range of partners including The Reading Agency, National Literacy Trust, Love Reading, Authors Aloud, Parentkind, Governor Cymru Services, Book Love, Bookmark, Gingerbread, Heady Mix and Coram Beanstalk.

To find out more about Pearson’s My Twist on a Tale: Our Tomorrow, and to download a copy of the book visit go.pearson.com/OurTomorrow