A young writer honored

San Jose seventh grader Yoon Koo was among the winners of the 2022 Young Writers Competition hosted by Jack London State Historic Park.

The competition, now in its seventh year, is open to middle school students who write original 2,000-word stories inspired by the works of Jack London. This year’s theme was “Building Brighter Communities” in honor of London’s “Ranch of Good Intentions” in Sonoma County, where he modeled green farming techniques and created his version of a cooperative community. The ranch eventually became Jack London State Historic Park.

Students were encouraged to write a fictional story where the characters create and live in a community of their own invention that is unique, different, emergent, or overcomes something difficult.

Yoon, who attends Valley Christian Junior High School, placed third in a group of 15 entries and won $100 for her “Plastic Food” story.

Ten volunteer judges, many of whom are published authors, were given stories without names or locations, so all entries were judged blind.

Natali Cox, a seventh-grade student at Fred T. Korematsu Middle School in El Cerrito, won first prize and $250 for “Seda de Araña.” FJ Zamora, an eighth grader from Willowside Middle School in Santa Rosa, placed second for “The After Hours Society” and won $150.

Winners were honored at an awards ceremony at the park on May 14. To read the winning stories, visit https://jacklondonpark.com/annual-young-writers-contest.