These short stories about hope were written by young writers and explore resilience, courage and friendship. They're perfect for classroom discussion, creative writing inspiration and helping students reflect on the power of storytelling.
Teachers: feel free to use these stories in lessons or writing workshops.
​Recently, I've been concerned that creative writing has taken a back seat in education. As a teacher, I know how difficult it is to fit everything in when the school day is so short and the curriculum is so demanding. Is there still time for stories?​
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My recent creative writing competition for children aged 8–13 generated some truly wonderful short stories by very talented young writers, restoring my hope for the voices of tomorrow. In fact, the result was so inspiring that I decided to publish a collection of the winning entries and continue running the competition each year.
Short Stories About Hope for Teen Readers
Inspiring short stories about hope written by young writers for teens, teachers and classrooms.
​​​50 Short Stories of Hope – A Collection Written by Young Voices
On 8th June, I published 50 Short Stories of Hope, a collection written entirely by young writers. To my great delight, the book hurtled straight up the Amazon charts to position 2,445.
Considering there are around 32.8 million books for sale on Amazon, that's no mean feat. In fact, it places the book roughly in the top 0.0075% of all books.
More importantly, it proves something I’ve always believed: young people still want to tell stories. They still have powerful things to say about the world around them.
Creative writing should certainly remain part of the curriculum. I actually can’t quite understand why everyone doesn’t want to spend all their free time writing, but fortunately we’re not all the same — or there would be even more books on Amazon!
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Why Stories of Hope Matter for Young People
Stories about hope are not just uplifting, they play an important role in helping young people understand themselves and others.
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Creative writing helps young people to:
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Boost imagination
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Enhance communication skills
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Build self-esteem
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Develop empathy
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Improve mental wellbeing
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Strengthen academic skills
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Foster resilience
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Experience a sense of accomplishment
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When young people write stories, they are not simply completing an assignment. They are exploring emotions, testing ideas, and discovering their own voice.
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A Short Story of Hope by a Young Writer
To give you a taste of the talent in 50 Short Stories of Hope, I’ve included one remarkable story written by 13-year-old Annabel Radburn from The Royal Masonic School — a school dear to my heart, as my four daughters went there. In fact, between them they racked up a total of 50 years at RMS, but that's another story!
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Your Heart with Mine
by Annabel Radburn
Walking home with Abby made everything disappear; when it was just us, I mean, not all her popular friends. Abby was perfect; beautiful, talented and kind. She was going to win Prom Queen for sure. I was happy for her, my best friend after all. Sometimes, I just couldn't help the envy. But it would be enough to stand next to her and her prom crown, I supposed.
We reached my house, just up the road from hers.
‘Bye Bec, your heart with mine!’ Abby’s little catchphrase, as if to make me feel important. I never understood it. But her sweet voice made it special.
‘Hey Rebecca!’ Mum shouted, slightly manic, as I walked in.
‘Hey,’ I replied flatly. Something was wrong. Her voice only did that masked enthusiasm when involving Inez. Inez, my sister, younger by one year. Cardiomyopathy ruined her. Ruined me as well. She was diagnosed at the age of fourteen and is on the list for a heart transplant. I love her, but it’s taken everything. If I left, would my parents even notice?
The one fun thing I’d arranged with Mum was prom dress shopping, cancelled because Inez found a possible donor. Didn’t work out though.
‘What’s wrong Mum?’ I asked, trying to be understanding.
‘She’s worse again today.’
I knew how bad it was, of course. If Inez didn't find a donor soon, she wouldn't make it.
My safety blanket was Abby. When we talked, the problems faded. But when we chatted about prom walking to school the next morning, a shameful part of me hoped that flawless Abby wouldn’t go.
Walking along, she was looking at dresses online. She’d found a stunning red satin one.
That’s when I got what I had hoped for so selfishly.
Red Fiat car. The same colour as her prom dress. The same colour as her blood.
She stepped out.
I remember a scream, squealing car brakes, and the sound of the ambulance.
My safety blanket, so unsafe, so dead.
Not immediately. Somehow she hung on for three excruciating days, strung up like a puppet in intensive care. Heart still beating, yet no longer with mine.
But the puppeteer’s hopes were nothing but dreams.
Under my disgusting blanket, I watched Grey’s Anatomy like it would bring Abby back every time Meredith saved someone.
Suddenly Mum was there, insensitively ecstatic.
‘Inez found a donor!’
No one told me, but I wasn't surprised by that.
‘I know you're upset Rebecca,’ Mum said gently. ‘Maybe you’d like to take Inez to the prom? I’ll take you both dress shopping.’
‘Okay,’ I said, each syllable hurting my throat.
I picked a pale yellow dress with flowers around the hem.
Inez chose a red satin one.
‘Are you ready?’ she asked, as I steadied her into the car.
‘Come on,’ Inez coaxed and hugged me tight. ‘As long as we're together we’ll be fine.’
She grabbed my hand, beautiful in her blood-red satin dress.
‘Let’s do this, Bec. Your heart with mine.’
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Many congratulations to Annabel and all the other superb young writers who are now published authors.
These stories were written for young readers, teens, teachers, and classrooms looking for fiction that sparks discussion and builds emotional literacy.
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More Stories of Hope
If you’d like to explore more stories that encourage courage, resilience and imagination, you might enjoy:
You can also explore my novels for young readers, including:
For Teachers & Schools
If you’d like to use 50 Short Stories of Hope or Short Stories of Courage in the classroom, I offer:
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Signed copies for libraries and book corners
Teachers can also access my complete Scheme of Work for The Runaway Children of Chennai — a ready-to-teach unit for KS2/KS3.
I also publish the Crazy Creative Writing Courses series, practical books filled with creative writing lessons, prompts and activities for young writers.
Email: cb.boxofbooks@gmail.com
If these stories encourage even one young writer to pick up a pen and start telling their own story,
they will have done their job.
The Crazy Creatives Writing Competition
These young writers have inspired me all over again, which is why I’m delighted to continue running the Crazy Creatives Writing Competition.
Each year I invite young writers aged 8–16 to submit a short story based on a theme. The stories can be bold, funny, surprising, uncomfortable, or quietly powerful — but above all they should feel honest.
If you know a young writer who has something to say, this competition might be the perfect place to start.
