We are excited to announce the winners and runners-up of our 2026 One Teen Story Teen Writing Contest! This year, we received nearly 900 entries from teen writers across the world, and narrowing it down was no easy feat. Each winner will receive $500 and publication on our website.

Ages 13-15 Winner: “Belonging” by Zahra Azar

“My name bent under his tongue, unfamiliar and awkward. That wasn’t my name; my name was Zoleikha, not ‘Zo-leek-ha.’ I wanted to correct him, but the words stuck in my throat. I didn’t know how to shape them in his language.”

— “Belonging” by Zahra Azar

Zahra Azar is a graduating eighth-grade writer from California whose work often explores identity, belonging, and human connection. Her writing has received multiple awards, and “Belonging” is her second published piece. Outside of writing, she participates in Model United Nations, where she has also earned several awards. In her free time, she enjoys reading and storytelling.

Runner-up: “Jamie Was Better” by Aya Chakaki

Ages 16-17 Winner: “The Quiet Under the House” by Allison Zhang

“Before Lucas disappeared, he used to crawl under the house when things got bad. Our house sat on a raised concrete foundation with a crawl space you could access from the backyard. The opening was supposed to have a metal grate, but it fell off after some big storm when I was little, and nobody bothered fixing it.”

— “The Quiet Under the House” by Allison Zhang

Allison Zhang is a Chinese-American poet from Los Angeles. Her work explores faith and inheritance. She was a finalist for the Rattle Poetry Prize, and her writing appears or is forthcoming in The Baltimore Review, ONE ART, Sky Island Journal, and elsewhere.

Runner-up: “To My Surprise, Everyone Wore a Mask” by Vidhur Thirupathi

Ages 18-19 Winner: “Elena” by Zach Miano

“After a while, I lay in bed and tried hard to remember my first ever memory in that bedroom. I couldn’t. I remembered being at the dinner table downstairs and hearing about Elena’s first concert. I remember being on the beach for Elena’s first time seeing fireworks.”

— “Elena” by Zach Miano

Zach Miano is a rising junior at Haverford College, majoring in English while pursuing a pre-med track and competing on the varsity tennis team. Born in Rome, Italy, and raised in Barcelona, Spain, Zach speaks four languages fluently and he often incorporates them into his writing, as they are a part of his voice and identity. Since he was fifteen, Zach has been volunteering with neurodivergent adults—from coaching tennis at the Fundación Emilio Sanchez Vicario and ACEing Autism, to having a leadership role at Haverford’s chapter of Best Buddies. His short story, “Elena,” was deeply inspired by these experiences.

Runner-up: “Thousand Yard” by Xi (Angela) Fang

Thanks to all who entered the contest! Our next Teen Writing Contest will take place in the fall.

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