Stories Our Stories Tell

This book is an anthology of winning writings from teenage authors. The 2025–26 edition of the Pen to Paper writing contest, organised by EduPeer, received submissions from around the globe. The top 30 finalists were then paired with best-selling authors to refine their personal interpretations of the theme, ‘Stories Our Stories Tell’. This collection of diverse essays, short stories, and poems offers a unique window into the subjects and concerns currently occupying the minds of today’s teenagers.

Author Mentors: Andaleeb Wajid, Anita Nair, Anuja Chandramouli, Dilip D’Souza, Gargi Rawat, Rachna Bisht Rawat, Radhika Iyengar, Sahana Ahmed, Sejal Mehta, Vinitha

‘Young people need age-appropriate spaces where expression is encouraged and also supported. Where voice is amplified without being exploited. Where silence is allowed alongside speech. Ergo, learning when to speak, what to write, when to listen, and when to pause and reflect, is as crucial as learning how to be heard. 

‘This book represents what becomes possible when that balance is struck. It shows us creativity rooted in thoughtfulness. It gives us expressions grounded in reflection. And the storytelling is shaped by responsibility. And most interestingly, these are not performances for an algorithm. They are conversations and dialogues with the deeper self, that are generously shared with others.’
— Anita Karwal, IAS (Retd.), Former Secretary, School Education, Government of India