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Winners of Madison Public Library’s 2025 WE READ Youth Voices Writing Contest Announced

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MADISON, WI -- Three young Madison writers were announced and recognized this week as the winners of Madison Public Library and Forward Madison FC’s 4th Annual WE READ Youth Voices Writing Contest.  

Forward Madison is excited to continue such a fantastic initiative with the Madison Public Library and to have the chance to celebrate this year's fabulous young writers at our match. This project is a unique way to learn about others' experiences, and we are honored to play a part in it.

—

Kyler Donovan, General Manager for Forward Madison FC

2025 WE READ Youth Voices Writing Contest Winner Ash Garler

Overall Winners: 

  • Grand Prize Winner: Ash Gartler (15) for Dear Joni 
  • Runner Up: Rowan Moran (15) for Selene and the Moon Bison  
  • Runner Up: Nina Pfeiffer (11) for Rooted to the Trees

Each winner was presented with Forward Madison FC gear at halftime of this past weekend’s match. The winners will also receive a cash prize thanks to the Madison Public Library Foundation: The Grand Prize Winner receives $500, two runners-up receive $250 each, and three semi-finalists receive $100 each.  

Semi-Finalists: 

  • Semi-Finalist: Cloe Zimmerman (13) for Nindaanikoobijiganag/Ne Tünna’a (My Ancestors)
  • Semi-Finalist: Wallace Snover (9) for Everything is Not What it Seems
  • Semi-Finalist: Adele Daugherty (8) for I Am A Root

The Grand Prize Award-winning story this year, Dear Joni, spoke to the contest’s theme of Roots by focusing on family relationships, and one character’s struggle to understand or move past painful situations that impacted them. Other stories from the top six explore themes of friendship and self-identity, multi-generational traditions, facing your fears, and fulfilling your purpose. All of the six winning stories are available to read online now at madpl.org/youthvoices. 

Our wonderful panel of community judges were truly impressed to read so many imaginative entries on the theme of Roots! While the unique epistolary format and compelling, complex, and yet clear writing of Dear Joni ultimately claimed the top honor, I’d like to personally thank all our young writers for bravely sharing their voices with us. 

—

Abigail Ryan, Youth Services Librarian and facilitator of the writing contest for Madison Public Library. 

WE READ 2025 Youth Voices Writing Contest Judges

The WE READ Youth Voices Writing Contest received 176 submissions from kids aged 4 to 18, all of which were read and carefully reviewed by a panel of community judges representing a wide swath of the literary community in Madison: 

  • Bianca Martin, City Cast Madison Podcast Host and Storyteller
  • Laura Bird, Local Author and Wisconsin Book Festival Presenter
  • Constance Roberts, Library Media Specialist at Stephens Elementary School

Anthology Unveiling at the Wisconsin Book Festival

Although only six stories won prizes, more than 50 youth will see their work published both digitally and in print in the 2025 edition of the WE READ Youth Voices Anthology later this fall. The print version of the anthology will be available at all Madison Public Library locations and at all Madison Metropolitan School District library locations.

Featured young authors will have the opportunity to come pick up their copies of the anthology on Saturday, October 25 in the Children’s Area on the Lower Level of Central Library as part of the Wisconsin Book Festival Fall Celebration. 

The book festival is honoring and encouraging these young authors with a short reception featuring light refreshments, coffee and a Q&A with the grand prize winner and two runners-up from 9-10am. 

Seeing youth and their families celebrate this accomplishment together is always a highlight of the Fall Celebration. We want to encourage and empower the next generation of writers here in Madison, and that moment when they see their work in print for the first time is truly special. Youth voices have always been an essential part of literary movements, and we know these kids are future changemakers, artists, poets, and creatives of all kinds.

—

Jane Rotonda, Wisconsin Book Festival Director 

Following the WE READ Youth Voices Anthology author reception, kids and families are invited to attend a youth-focused event hosted by the Wisconsin Book Festival beginning at 10am in the Youth Program Room on the lower level of Central Library.  

¡Quijóteres! is a bilingual, shadow puppet adaptation of Miguel de Cervantes’ lovable lunatic, Don Quijote de La Mancha. As a work interpreted by shadow puppets, it takes full advantage of imaginative settings and scenarios to emphasize the novel’s intensely comical depiction of the ridiculous, with all the clashes and crashes, valor and vomit, that have distinguished the Quijote as a funny book for more than four centuries. No registration is required for this free event. Learn more at wisconsinbookfestival.org.  

Read each of the contestants winning stories and learn more about the community judges by visiting madpl.org/youthvoices.  

The WE READ Youth Voices Writing Contest is hosted in partnership with Forward Madison FC and the Wisconsin Book Festival. It is made possible thanks to the support of the Madison Public Library Foundation, Steve Stricker American Family Insurance Foundation, Roots & Wings Foundation, the Friends of the Madison Public Library, Jane Doughty / David Wood, and David Hall / Marjorie Devereaux.

About Madison Public Library 

With more than 1.3 million annual visitors across nine library locations each year, Madison Public Library’s tradition of promoting education, literacy and community involvement has enriched the City of Madison for 150 years. Visit the library online at www.madisonpubliclibrary.org and @madisonpubliclibrary on Facebook and Instagram. 

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