Two budding young authors from Berkhamsted have won a national writing competition.
In the autumn of last year, digital media learning company Pearson encouraged young people aged four to 19 to write a story based on what they believe is being left out of literature today.
Last month, Ashlyns School students Sophia Branch, 13, and Ella Kingston, 12, were announced as the Key Stage 3 winners in the national competition with their touching tale, No Such Thing as Normal.
Sophia and Ella’s illustrated story follows two pupils: Echo, who is non-binary and neurodivergent, and Lizzie, their best friend who has ADHD and OCD. Throughout the story, Echo and Lizzie are exposed to very negative experiences in school, driven in large part by a lack of awareness and acceptance.
Sophia said: “I am over the moon that we have won. I am very glad that people can read our story and better understand what it is like being neurodivergent and non-binary.”
Ella added: “Many people in the world are not aware of neurodiversity, or the ways it can affect people. We are so grateful to have won because now our story can help educate people.”
No Such Thing as Normal, along with the 17 other winning entries across the age groups, has been published in Pearson’s anthology My Twist on a Tale: Represent!
To download a copy of the book, please visit go.pearson.com/represent
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