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MUSLIM HANDS Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullah Creativity truly knows no bounds. Like expert composers, your enchanting stories, captivating poems and informative feature articles were so masterfully constructed to bewilder, dazzle and excite us and this year’s panel of judges. To recognise your efforts, myself, my team of fellow trustees and the Muslim Hands staff wanted to present your work to you in printed form; this anthology in your hands is a gift from us and contains excerpts of all the shortlisted entries. We feel pride in sharing these with a wider audience, so they too can bask in the warm glow of optimism for the future generation of writers in our midst. We are grateful to the Yusuf Islam Foundation for joining us again as our Principal Partner for the fifth consecutive year, and to Islam Channel who have broadcasted our ceremonies to an international audience since our first ceremony. It was our pleasure to work with the highly acclaimed judges and we are ever grateful for their time in selecting this year’s winners. Congratulations to all the young writers who participated this year. Wassalam SYED LAKHTE HASSANAIN Chairman, Muslim Hands
YUSUF ISLAM FOUNDATION Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullah We are delighted to be sponsoring the competition again this year. As a child, whenever Albert Einstein would speak, he first whispered the words to himself, trying them out until they sounded good enough to say out loud. He did that for every sentence. So you can imagine how long it would take him to say something! Consequently, his verbal development was quite slow. He later said that this had allowed him more time to ponder the everyday things that many took for granted. And so it wasn’t until he was older that he eventually began thinking about what other adults had long forgotten since childhood – such as space and time and the wonders of the universe. The point being – take things easy. Don’t grow up too quickly. You’re only young once! Enjoy childhood for all the magic and joy it brings. To everyone involved in the awards, most of all our young writers, please accept our heartfelt congratulations. Wassalam Zafar Ashraf Executive Director, Yusuf Islam Foundation
SHORTLIST - Poetry Key Stage 1 Poetry (Ages 5-7) The Three Amigos – Umayr Khan The Jungle – Abdur-Rahmaan Razzaq Oggletrog - Umar Ibrahim My Family – Medina Abbas Midnight Adventure – Ismail Minhas Key Stage 2 Poetry (Ages 7-11) Al Mussawwir – The Artist – Fatema Zahra Mithwani The Woodland Adventure – Asma Iman Amjad The Lake – Aaliyah Ishbel Mason All Those Creatures Around Our Home – Maryam Hafsa Khan Amazing Animals - Zahra Sabeen Khan Key Stage 3 Poetry (Ages 11-14) Refugee Camp Winter – Ariana Alice Rkia Ranya Bouiri The End – Shahlena Khan Heart – Jiyaad Ali Play That Song– Amaani Khan Democracy – Faaris Haani Haque Key Stage 4 Poetry (Ages 14-16) Once She Sang a Song – Mishael Masood Ahmed Fear is like a Sword – Maryam Ebrahim The Brink of Insanity – Heena Shafi A Mother’s Love – Iman Durrah Mohammed Am I? – Hanniya Kamran
SHORTLIST - Short Story Key Stage 1 Short Story (Ages 5-7) The Marvellous Helpers from the Book World! – Aiza Zubair Tahir The Tree Kings – Umar Ibrahim The Magic Mat – Nabiha Khan The Rocket Treehouse – Mohammed Nazmuddin Lost and Found – Maryam Zaynah Ali Key Stage 2 Short Story (Ages 7-11) The Memory – Saarah Zainul-Abideen The Adventures of Super Strawberry – Haadi Siddiqui The Animal Whisperer – Syed Ayaan Shah The Sea Witch – Laila Boughaba The Resplendent Reward – Numa Tasneem Karnachi Key Stage 3 Short Story (Ages 11-14) The Escape – Maria Zahid Verily, with Hardship – Ruqayyah Ahmed Museums, Harbours and Death – Adam Islam-Medeaux Sacrifice – Jiyaad Ali Glass Dome – Aaminah Green Key Stage 4 Short Story (Ages 14-16) The Hole in the Mountain – Hussain Maki Beast – Heena Shafi Nuclear July – Sumaiya Fazal Skinning – Seher Rahman The Game – Nada El-Hammoud
Journalism Key Stage 3 JOURNALISM (Ages 11-14) A Woman’s Worth – Amiera Sharif The Crisis of the Lack of Fire Safety in Britain – Safiya Rehman We Need to Take Action – Ameerah Abike Kola-Olukotun Acid Arise! – Faria Cheepa Child Terrorism – Zaina Khan
MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE At night I was in my bed Feeling warm and cosy, Wearing blue and red slippers And a black, black cape. I climbed out of bed and suddenly I found myself in a deep forest. At the end of the forest, A tall house stood still, With sparkly steps going up to a dark, dirty house. Cold wind pushes me through the door, Cobwebs in every corner, Bats hang upside down. The stars shone bright in the sky, I climbed up those stairs and the wind pushed me inside, Onto a rotten chair, An evil witch stormed in! Š Ismail Minhas
Key stage 1 poetry
MY FAMILY I have a baby sister; she is so cute and small. When I sit and play with her, it makes me feel so tall. I am the biggest sibling, yet, in the family tree. There are a lot of cousins, who are much older than me! I have another sibling, he is my little brother We like to laugh and eat our sweets, another then another. My favourite thing, is to write and read my books all day Then family time is so much fun we all just love to play. When the day is over and it’s time to go to bed We say goodnight and do Dua, before we rest our head. Š Medina Abbas
Key stage 1 poetry
Excerpt from OGGLETROG
My fantastical name is Oggletrog I live in a cave next to the bog Each morning I munch-nibble a frog And every evening I munch-obble a hog I like whozzle-whoodling and blubber farts And I suffer from fmelly sarts Dung Fu is my martial arts And for a treat I have bumfuzzler tarts My frizzy whizzy hair is fiery red It shoots out of my nose and sides of my head I snort like an Igglehump in my bed As I’m Dum-diddly-doozled after ive fed Š Umar Ibrahim Key stage 1 poetry
THE JUNGLE The Jungle is full of trees and animals. The big, brown bear swims like a fish in the ocean waves. The soft, furry monkey hangs onto trees with his long, curly tail. The long, slithery snake swallows all his prey. The enormous, eared elephant has long, pointy ivory tusks. The curvy, pointed beak eagle flies high in the blue sky. The long, necked giraffe chews leaves like a cow in the fields. I love all the animals in the Jungle. Š Abdur-Rahman Razzaq
Key stage 1 poetry
The Three Amigos Say hello to Umayr, Amigo number one, Who is brave and fair, He is always ready for fun, Especially when he’s eating his pear, In the summer sun. Say hello to Sami, Amigo number two, Who loves playing with his toy army, Everything he wears is blue, Which drives everyone barmy And he doesn’t have a clue. Say hello to Maatin, Amigo number three, Who loves watching Mr Bean, He is kind and gives toys for free, He especially helps the poor, he is NOT mean! Everyone thinks he looks like me. © Umayr Khan
Key stage 1 poetry
Extract from Lost and Found The King and Queen took the children into a large guestroom and talked about what they should do. “I have an idea,” said the Queen. “What is it?” asked the King. “Let’s put a missing children poster in all of the morning newspapers,” said the Queen. “Your Mummy and Daddy are bound to see it and contact the Palace to come and collect you.” “That’s a brilliant idea,” added the King. They instructed the Palace Communication Team to get the poster added to the morning papers. The children waited in anticipation over the next few days to if their Mummy and Daddy come to find them. Nothing could prepare the King and Queen for what happened next. They were both amazed, as were Zaynah and Musa. They had never seen anything like it. The following morning after the poster had been printed; there was a long queue of people waiting outside the palace, claiming to be the Mummy and Daddy. “I never knew I had so many Mums and Dads,” giggled Musa as he stared at the queue of people through the Palace windows. The people had all seen the poster in the newspapers and saw it as a perfect opportunity to meet the King and the Queen. © Maryam Zaynah Ali
Key stage 1 short story
Extract from The Magic Mat
One day, there lived a boy. His name was Jaan. He was six years old and lived in a terraced house in Manchester. He was very adventurous and generous. A few ago, Jaan helped an old woman find her lost cat. To reward his kindness, she gave him a dusty box containing her gift. Jaan thanked her and ran home. The box was a decorated treasure chest. Jaan imagined there would be gold inside but there actually was a mat. However, it wasn’t an ordinary mat: it was a magic mat! It flew with Jaan to different places like Africa and Dubai. He wrote stories about his journeys, hoping to publish them later on in his life. Š NABIHA KHAN
Key stage 1 short story
Extract from THE MARVELLOUS HELPERS FROM THE BOOK WORLD!
Once there lived two poor girls, who had only each other to care for. Thus, they became good friends. One of them was Zaheen and the other was Neaha. A mattress is all they had to sleep on AND a huge pile of old books, that they treasured. One night Zaheen whispered “I have read about this marvellous medicine. Why don’t we make one too?” “What a marvellous idea! “Neaha exclaimed. The next morning, they started working on the project. Now you would be wondering where they would get their stuff from. Well there were plenty of things outside to be used. Strangely, Zaheen found the perfect liquid called “Oillio”, lying around in the house. When she was about to add the special ingredients …. George appeared. You know they had books, so it was George from the book “George’s marvellous medicine”. He had followed the sweet smell and popped out from the book world! “WHAT ARE YOU DOING AND WHAT IS THAT?” He tried to judge it from how it looked. “You need help because this is not going to work”, said George. Luckily I have a some ingredients to help improve your medicine. “Why are you putting in the spell book?” asked Zaheen. “I did that randomly”, smiled George. “Whatever I find, I put in. Look! It’s turning into a different colour. They stirred it for a long long time. Tired, they decided to rest. © Aiza Zubair Tahir
Key stage 1 short story
Extract from THE Rocket Treehouse Three days later, they explored around the treehouse. They found a stolen treasure map that belonged the mighty king of Cloud-Land. The map was very old because it was dirty and very crumbly. They put it inside a safe bag to stop it from crumbling. The kitchen in the treehouse was very tidy so much tidier than their old kitchen. One day, Khadijah and Adam made toast and banana and ate it in front of the sparkling window. Then, Khadijah accidentally pressed a hidden red button with her elbow. A voice suddenly asked, “Where do you want to go?” Adam said, “The mighty king of Cloud-Lands Palace!” The treehouse started to rumble around. Shiny, green wings came out of the tree trunk and the tree turned into a rocket. The rocket had a blue point and the body of the rocket was orange. Then, the rocket zoomed too fast for the family to handle. Khadijah and Adam fell out of another window that was open but suddenly a rope slid out and saved them. The mum and dad were happy to give the stolen map back to the mighty king. They went through white clouds that looked like yummy ice-cream. They imagined different shaped clouds. © Mohammed Nazmuddin Key stage 1 short story
Extract from The Tree Kings It was night time. The six moons washed the land in a gentle light. Dancing multi-coloured lights sparkled like the aurora Borealis and the fucia pink stars twinkled in the black velvet sky. Everything glowed. When dawn broke the sky changed to orange then red and the sun rose brightly. The aroma of jasmine, lavender, elderflower and mint wafted through the air. These plants had a spout! When you put a teacup next to them, tea starts to pour out. The radiant flowers opened up like butterflies opening their wings. Silver haired fairies flew beautifully out of the flowers. The majestic trees stood tall and proud and Usviga hung off the long wand like branches. (Usviga is the name of the most delicious chocolate in this world). This world is the origins of the legendary Tree Kings. The valiant Tree Kings are the custodians of the secrets and scripts of the ancient library of Baghdad. No-one knows what these are because the library was burnt down by the savage Mongols. Š Umar Ibrahim
Key stage 1 short story
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Excerpt from Al Musawwir – The Artist The serenity of these kingly waters, knitted mindfully with turquoise aquamarine, has tranquility holding out its hand like a bold companion A tropical wonderworld where dolphins dance and whales wander, sea turtles shift, and stingrays surround a breathtaking bounty of cradling coral Hearts sown harmoniously with threads of glorification – flora, fauna, and human alike, living to the rhythm of the Almighty’s awe-inspiring artistry © Fatema Zahra Mithwani Key stage 2 poetry
THE LAKE The sky flaming red The sun searing bright The lake breathes softly In the pale first light Cloudless azure sky Small fish leap Gently reeds sway By the lake darkly deep Sky turns light silver Sunbeams spill through Waters so peaceful Rippling blue Dark velvet blackness Stars burn so slow The lake lies dead still Sinking so low Š Aaliyah Ishbel Mason Key stage 2 poetry
The Woodland Adventure A slithering pathway leading to the mysterious, magical woodland palace of nature Pearl moon shimmering in the coal black darkness Glistening stars seeping through the golden leaves Servants of the misty breeze surround the trees Crooked fingers of branches reaching out Leaves and twigs lying under my feet, snap, crunch Evil shadows lurking around, appear- disappear- appear-disappear The wind howling Poison Ivy growing into my soul A pack of wolves chasing me as if I was only a mouse, Growling and barking at me The strong roaring wind surrounding me, stuck like a fly in a cobweb. Will I die or live for tomorrow? Š Asma Iman Amjad Key stage 2 poetry
All Those Creatures Around Our Home
Just in our garden pond There is a cross piranha, And at lunchtime, skipping down our road, We always see a llama. And sliding round the wooden fence There are a dozen snakes, And sometimes tiny sharks Are seen in nearby lakes. All the creatures around our home Are not in other places. And did I mention that the leopard Won ten dozen races? All those creatures around our home, You don’t have to believe it, But that’s the kind of street we live in And I hope we never leave it. © Maryam Hafsa Khan Key stage 2 poetry
Amazing Animals Come on don’t you have a heart? You don’t want these animals to depart Forget the X Factor and the top ten singing chart Look at the most endangered animals and the poison dart The Amur leopards, Siberian tigers and Polar bear They are all so gorgeous it is just not fair If I say their Latin names would you listen more? Oh Mr Dinsmore please don’t say it is a bore Komodo dragon by the way, Why does man have to take them away? Man you’re such a fool! Snake skin used for handbags that is just not cool! Please listen to my passion although it may not be in fashion I cannot sing it, as you might laugh But I am nine and I want these animals to last © Zahra Sabeen Khan Key stage 2 poetry
MEET THE JUDGES Ahmed Masoud is a writer and director who grew up in Palestine and moved to the UK in 2002. His theatre credits include Camouflage (London 2017), The Shroud Maker (London 2015), Walaa, Loyalty (London 2014, funded by Arts Council England), Go to Gaza, Drink the Sea (London and Edinburgh 2009) and Escape from Gaza (BBC Radio 4, 2011). Ahmed is the founder of Al Zaytouna Dance Theatre where he wrote and directed several productions which have toured Europe. After finishing his PhD research, Ahmed published many journals and articles including a chapter in Britain and the Muslim World: A Historical Perspective (Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2011). His debut novel, Vanished – The Mysterious Disappearance of Mustafa Ouda was released in 2015. An earlier version won the 2011 Muslim Writers Awards’ Unpublished Novel category, sponsored by Penguin Books.
Ahmed Jafferali Versi is the publisher and editor of The Muslim News. Ahmed has interviewed world leaders including the late President of Bosnia Herzegovina, Alija Izetbegovic, the late President Aslan Maskhadov of Chechnya, Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom, Tony Blair, David Cameron and Theresa May and the Prince of Wales. During the first Gulf War, Ahmed was part of a British Muslim delegation to Jordan, Iraq and Saudi Arabia mediating for the release of British hostages. In March 2000, Ahmed launched The Muslim News Awards for Excellence celebrating Muslim achievements. He established the Muslim Women’s Sport Foundation and was until recently Deputy President of the International Islamic Women’s Games. A regular speaker at international conferences covering Islamic issues at the local and global level, Ahmed focuses on media representation. Ahmed was awarded Honorary Doctorate of Arts in recognition of achievements as Editor of The Muslim News from University of Bedfordshire in 2007.
Allie Esiri read Modern Languages at the University of Cambridge and is now a writer, an anthologist and a curator and host of live poetry events. Allie has worked with special guest readers including Damian Lewis, Helen McCrory, and Sophie Turner. Credited with bringing poetry in to the digital age, her bestselling apps The Love Book and iF Poems feature readings by Helena Bonham Carter, Tom Hiddleston, Damian Lewis and Emma Watson and have been selected by Apple as Best Education App and Best New App. Allie’s latest anthology, A Poem for Every Day of the Year, was released in September 2017 and the audiobook featuring readings by Helena Bonham Carter and Simon Russell Beale will be released at Christmas 2017. This follows A Poem for Every Night of the Year, which won the Independent Bookshop Week Book Award 2017.
Ayisha Malik holds a BA in English Literature and Sociology and a First Class MA in Creative Writing. She worked at Penguin Random House before moving to Cornerstones where she was managing editor for five years. Her debut novel Sofia Khan is Not Obliged (Twenty7), followed by the sequel, The Other Half of Happiness (Zaffre), were met with great critical acclaim, and earned her a WHSmith Fresh Talent Pick in 2016. Ayisha is now a full-time writer and is working on her third novel, as well as being the ghost writer for Great British Bake Off winner, Nadiya Hussain.
Danny Scott is the author of Scotland Stars FC, a book series for children published by Floris Books. Set in Scotland and based on a boy’s dream to play on the school football team, Danny hopes the books will encourage reluctant readers to get back into reading. His love of sport has inspired Danny to volunteer for a social enterprise working to improve literacy levels in young football players and to work for the Scottish Book Trust - a charity changing lives through reading and writing.
David Hayward is a journalist, writer, and media consultant working with news organisations, governments, and NGOs. He designs online content, mobile journalism and crisis communications strategies. Much of his recent work has been carried out in Nigeria, Pakistan, Algeria, Turkey, Kosovo and Russia. David also runs the Channel Four MA for Investigative Journalism at De Montfort University. David was a journalist at the BBC for eighteen years, working as a reporter, producer, and senior editor in network radio, TV news, and for the BBC World Service Trust in Bosnia, Albania, Kosovo and Romania. His last role at the BBC was head of the strategic Journalism Programme, establishing masterclasses, debates, workshops, and training courses including the BBC Social Media Summits in partnership with The New York Times. David was editor of the first BBC multi-media newsroom and led the BBC’s Local TV pilot. David writes about ethics and the changing nature of journalism for several outlets, including the BBC, the Memo, The Media Briefing and Thoughts on the Media.
Elizabeth Hammill OBE is the initiator and co-founder of Seven Stories, Britain’s National Centre for Children’s Books in Newcastle. A former primary school teacher and children’s bookseller, she has lectured, judged local and national writing competitions and book prizes, written critically and is currently a Founder Patron and Collection Trustee at Seven Stories. She recently edited Over the Hills and Far Away, a unique collection of nursery rhymes from across the English-speaking world illustrated by seventy-seven international artists. She was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Newcastle University in 2006, an OBE in 2007 and an Alumnae Achievement Award by her American alma mater Mount Holyoke College in 2009.
Faye Bird is the author of My Second Life (UK: 2014, Usborne; US and Canada: 2015 Farrar Straus Giroux), her debut novel which was inspired by a conversation with her son. Her second title What I Couldn’t Tell You (Usborne) was published in May 2016. Before becoming a children’s author, Faye worked at The Agency representing film and TV screenwriters. Faye was always keen on writing and had notebooks brimming with ideas, but it was only when she left The Agency in 2012 and enrolled on a Writing for Children course at the Faber Academy that she started to take her writing seriously. Faye is currently working on a new idea. G. Willow Wilson is an American novelist and comic book writer. Her works include the Hugo Award-winning comic book series Ms Marvel (Marvel) and the World Fantasy Award-winning novel Alif the Unseen (2012, Grove Press). Her memoir, The Butterfly Mosque (2012, Atlantic Monthly), details her conversion to Islam and life in Egypt during the last years of the Mubarak regime.
Gaby Morgan is an Editorial Director at Macmillan Children’s Books. She is a founding member of the Children’s Poetry Summit, a network of people and organizations that are interested in, or who work with, children’s poetry. She has compiled many bestselling anthologies, including Read Me and Laugh: A Funny Poem for Every Day of the Year (2005, Macmillan Children’s Books), Fairy Poems – which was shortlisted for the CLiPPA Award – Poems from the First World War and A First Poetry Book (2012, Pan Macmillan) with Pie Corbett. Helen Boyle has over fifteen years of experience in the children’s publishing industry. She is a managing agent at Pickled ink, a boutique agency representing authors and illustrators. Before Pickled ink, Helen has worked as a literary scout, consultant, commissioning fiction editor and reviewer for UK book and magazine publishers. Helen also edits WRD magazine, a magazine about books for 8-14 year old readers, which is in its fifteenth year of publication. Ibtisam Barakat is a Palestinian-American poet, translator, artist, educator and an award-winning author in both English and Arabic. Her writings have been translated to many languages and her books include the critically acclaimed memoirs, Tasting the Sky, a Palestinian Childhood (2007, Farrar, Straus and Giroux; 2016, Square Fish/Macmillan) which won several best-book awards, and Balcony on the Moon, Coming of Age in Palestine (2016, Margaret Ferguson/Farrar, Straus & Giroux). Both memoirs accompany the reader into the world of a Palestinian family from the perspective of a young person. In 2001 Ibtisam was a delegate to the United Nations’ third conference on ending racism held in South Africa. She has performed as a judge in the national finals of Poetry Out Loud competitions organized by the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Poetry Foundation. In 2017, Ibtisam delivered a TEDx talk about her creative relationship with language.
Irfan Master is the author of A Beautiful Lie (2011, Bloomsbury) which was shortlisted for the Waterstone’s Children’s Book Prize 2011 and Branford Boase Award 2012 for debut authors. His novel for young adults, Out of Heart was published by Hot Key Books in April 2017 and has been nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2018. Recently, Irfan has been published in an anthology of original and diverse stories, Lost and Found, on the theme of home by Leicestershire writers (2016, Dhalia Publishing), a story for a graphic novel anthology, This Side, That Side: Restorying Partition (2013, Yoda Press), a radio play, For the Love of Something (2015, Leicester University) and a short story, Once Upon a Time, for Booktrust that was adapted into a touring show, aimed at Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Somali families.The tour visited prisons, libraries and community centres to encourage and celebrate storytelling.
Jonathan Ruppin founded The Ruppin Agency in 2017, with a focus on authors from underrepresented backgrounds. He spent nearly two decades in book retail, working for chains and independent bookstores, as well as working for publishers and literary agents. Jonathan has been a judge of numerous literary awards, including the Costa Novel Award, the Geoffrey Faber Memorial Award, the Desmond Elliott Prize and the Romantic Novelists’ Association awards. His journalism encompasses television, radio and print, including The Bookseller magazine’s Paperback Preview, and he has interviewed authors at the Southbank Centre and Foyles. He sits on English PEN’s Writers in Translation committee.
Julia Johnson is a children’s author, storyteller and performer. She has appeared on stage, TV and radio in the UK and in Dubai, has toured Theatre-in-Education productions to schools and has recorded over one hundred audio books. Julia’s stories frequently focus on the history and culture of the Arabian Peninsula. She has written over a dozen stories for children including The Camel That Got Away (2009, Jerboa Books), Ubuntu: Summer of the Rhino (2016, Medina Publishing), which was produced in partnership with Rhino Revolution, and The Turtle Secret (2014, Motivate Publishing) which won the Best International Children’s Book Award at Sharjah International Book Fair 2014. Commissions have included a story for Qatar’s National Day 2009, an interactive student pack for the Kremlin exhibition for the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, and a series of five short stories for Kraft (Middle East). She is a regular speaker at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature and her books have twice been chosen for the Chevron Readers’ Cup.
Kathryn White has over thirty books published for children of all ages. Her first picture book, When They Fight (2000, Winslow Press), was selected as a notable book for social studies by the US Libraries Association, and Here Comes the Crocodile (2004, Little Tiger Press) was shortlisted for both the Nottingham and Sheffield Children’s Book Awards. Most recently, her picture book Ruby’s School Walk (2010, Barefoot Books) was shortlisted for the Boston Globe’s Best Read Aloud Book Award in the USA. Kathryn is a regular performer at the Edinburgh, Bath and other major literature festivals and frequently holds school events on creative writing. In addition, Kathryn has been a creative writing tutor for adults at HMP Shepton Mallet and a consultant on raising literacy standards in early years’ education. She is also a qualified TESOL teacher and has run several courses for foreign language students.
Liz Brownlee is a poet and has been published in over seventy anthologies. Her first book, Animal Magic (2012, Iron Press) features poems about endangered animals. Liz’s next book Reaching the Stars, Poems about Extraordinary Women and Girls (2017, Macmillan Children’s Books), was written with Jan Dean and Michaela Morgan and is shortlisted for a North Somerset Teachers’ Writing Award. Her upcoming book, The Same Inside, (2018, Macmillan Children’s Books), is written with Roger Stevens and Matt Goodfellow, and includes poems about empathy, friendship, and tolerance. Apes to Zebras, An A-Z of Shape Poems (2018, Bloomsbury), written with Sue Hardy-Dawson and Roger Stevens, is a collection of poems about animals.
Dr. Lucy Pearson is Lecturer in Children’s Literature at Newcastle University, UK. Her research focuses on the development of British children’s literature in the twentieth century. Her monograph The Making of Modern Children’s Literature: British Children’s Publishing in the 1960s and 1970s (2013) examines the formation of the ‘second golden age’ of British children’s publishing through the lens of two publishing imprints: the dominant paperback imprint Puffin and the teenage imprint Topliner. She is currently working on a major new history of the Carnegie Medal. She works closely with Seven Stories, the National Centre for Children’s Books.
Mariam Khan is a Muslim feminist activist, diversity in books promoter and freelance writer. She blogs at helloiammariam.com, and has written for Femsplain and Sister-Hood online. She grew up in Birmingham and enjoys reading everything especially middle grade books and YA. She is currently writing her first novel.
Mitch Johnson studied English Literature with Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia. After graduating in 2014 he wrote his debut novel, Kick (2017, Usborne Children’s Books), which tells the story of an Indonesian boy named Budi who works in a sweatshop and dreams of becoming a footballer.
Mohamed Mohamed is a British-Somali poet and is founder of the (un)Heard Words, a project focused on using poetry as a tool for interfaith engagement. He often explores the topic of faith, identity, politics, and masculinity in his poems. Engaged in youth work and politics, Mohamed explores local community and global challenges in his work: his poem for climate change, I remember, was shortlisted for the Free Word’s 2015 The Time is Now Poetry Prize. A 2015 Apples and Snakes - The Writing Room poet, Mohamed has read and facilitated poetry workshops in many cities across the UK including at the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. Mohamed was also commissioned by the Free Word Centre, The Only Way Is Ethics, and Malaak Shabazz’s UK Tour amongst others.
Nabila Ramdani is an award-winning journalist, columnist, and broadcaster who specialises in French politics, Islamic affairs, and the Arab World. She is a prominent political commentator for both television and radio and she regularly appears on the BBC, Al Jazeera, CNN, Sky News and many other channels. Nabila has also produced documentaries for Channel 4 and ITV. She writes columns for The Guardian, The Observer, the Independent, and the London Evening Standard and has produced features and news stories for the Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Times amongst others. Nabila’s work has appeared in The New York Times and in the French newspapers Le Monde, Le Figaro, Le Parisien, and L’Express, as well as in Middle Eastern outlets including The National, Al Arabiya and Arab News. Nabila has interviewed world leaders including the current President of France, Emmanuel Macron, and she has held lecturing positions at the University of Oxford, University of Michigan and Paris 7 University. Nabila won the International Media Awards 2013 “Cutting Edge” Prize in journalism and was honoured with the title Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2012. Patrice Lawrence is an award-winning writer of stories for children and young adults. Orangeboy (2016, Hachette Children’s Group), her debut book for young adults, was shortlisted for the Costa Children’s Book Award, won the Bookseller YA Prize and Waterstones Prize for Older Children’s fiction and has been shortlisted for many regional awards. Indigo Donut (2017, Hachette Children’s Group), is her second book for young adults. Her books for younger children, Granny Ting Ting (2009, Bloomsbury) and Wild Papa Woodsi (2013, Pearson Education Ltd.), draw on the myths from her Trinidadian heritage.
Patricia Toht is a poet, picture book author, and school library associate. She once owned a children’s bookshop called Never Never Land, before turning a love of books into a love of writing. She is the author of All Aboard the London Bus (2017, Frances Lincoln Children’s Books), illustrated by Sam Usher, and Pick a Pine Tree (2017, Walker), illustrated by Jarvis. She has also contributed poetry to children’s magazines and anthologies.
Paul Cookson is a poet, performer and a National Reading Hero. He has worked as a poet since 1989 and since then has visited thousands of schools and performed to hundreds of thousands of pupils and staff. Paul is the official Poet in Residence for the National Football Museum, the Poetry Ambassador for United Learning and the Poet Laureate for Slade. He worked as the poet for the Everton Collection at Liverpool Library, and has had his work appear on BBC Match of The Day, Radio 5 Live, Radio 2, The World Service, CBBC, Sky Sports, Talksport Radio, and the Everton match day programme. An author of over sixty titles, Paul has sold over 750,000 books, and his poems appear in over two hundred other books. His best known collections include The Poetry Store (2005, Hodder Children’s Books), Pants on Fire (2005, Macmillan Children’s Books), The Truth About Teachers (2013, Macmillan Children’s Books), as well as the best seller, The Works (2000, Pan Macmillan) which has sold over 200,000 copies.
Robert Macfarlane is a best-selling and multi-award-winning author whose work has been widely adapted for film, television and radio. His books include Mountains of the Mind: A History of a Fascination (2003), which won the Guardian First Book Award, The Somerset Maugham Award, and The Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award, and was filmed by the BBC; The Wild Places (2007) which won the Boardman-Tasker Prize for Mountain Literature, the Grand Prize at Banff, and the Scottish Non-Fiction Book of the Year Award; and The Old Ways (2012) which won the Premio ITAS Prize for Mountain Writing, and was joint winner of the Dolman Prize for Travel Writing. Holloway (2013), with Dan Richards and Stanley Donwood, was a Sunday Times bestseller. Landmarks (2015) was a number one bestseller, won the Hay Medal for Prose and was shortlisted for the Samuel Johnson Prize 2015. He is currently writing Underland, about the lost worlds beneath our feet. He is a Fellow of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. In 2017 he was awarded the E.M. Forster Award for Literature by the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
Sabrina Mahfouz is a playwright, poet, and Associate Curator at Science Gallery London. Her work includes the plays With a Little Bit of Luck (2017, Paines Plough) and Clean (2013, Traverse Theatre; 2014, 59e59 Theater); the poetry collection How You Might Know Me (2016, Out-Spoken Press); and the literary anthology The Things I Would Tell You: British Muslim Women Write (2017, Saqi Books), which is longlisted for the Grand Prix Literary Associations Prize. She received a Fringe First Award for her play Chef (2014, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Soho Theatre) and a Sky Arts Academy Award in 2013 for her poetry work. Her children’s play, Zeraffa Giraffa (2017, Little Angel Theatre and Omnibus Theatre), was adapted from the book by Diane Hofmeyr and Jane Ray, and is nominated for Best Production for Young People at the Off West End Awards. Her work has appeared in anthologies The Good Immigrant (2017, Unbound), This Is Not a Border (2017, Bloomsbury) and Here I Stand (2016, Walker Books). She is currently working with the University of Cambridge’s Faculty of Philosophy to write poetry around consent and is the librettist for an opera adaptation of Woman at Point Zero (Royal Opera House/Shubbak/ Aldeburgh). Sarah Shaffi is online editor and producer at The Bookseller, where she has worked since 2013. Previously she worked in local newspapers across Kent and London. In 2016, she co-founded the networking group BAME in Publishing, a regular meet up for people from ethnic minorities working in UK publishing. Sarah reviews books monthly for Stylist Magazine online and regularly chairs author events. She reads widely and especially enjoys discovering new writing. Shahida Nessa Rahman is an award-winning author, writer and publisher. Her highly acclaimed historical novel, Lascar was published in 2012. Lascar was shortlisted for the Muslim Writers Awards’ Unpublished Novel Award in 2008. Her other works include The Integration of the Hijab into Police Uniforms (2009, Behind the Hijab Anthology) and The Lascar (2009, radio play). Shahida has contributed articles on a range of social issues to numerous publications, including Best of British, The Great War, Sisters magazine, Huffington Post and Asian World. Shahida won a British Muslim Award for ‘Arts and Cultural Awareness’ in January 2015. She is currently writing her second novel. Shemiza Rashid is a multi-award-winning art practitioner, producer, broadcaster, sixth form teacher, media consultant and academic mentor. She is the founder of the children’s performing arts poetry club Shining Ummah. Shemiza is a growing voice across the community and regional radio, where she presents the Flagship Urban Kube show on InspireFM and regularly features on BBC Three Counties Radio. Shemiza has also produced the celebrity cooking show For the Love of Food and presents the quirky lifestyle show Living the Life on Islam Channel. She was presented the Asian Women of Achievement Award for Public Service in 2014 and she was shortlisted for Best Female Muslim Radio Presenter and Most Innovative Radio show at the Momo Awards. She is currently an arts producer for Revolution Arts, writing and performing alongside leading spoken word poets, theatre practitioners and artists.
Sue Hardy-Dawson is a Yorkshire born poet, artist, and illustrator, and has been widely published in children’s poetry anthologies. She had worked with children for over twenty years. In 2014 she was highly commended for the Manchester Writing for Children Prize and has an Open First Class Honours Degree mostly in Creative Writing and Literature. She enjoys visiting schools and has provided workshops for the Prince of Wales Foundation for Children and the Arts. Being dyslexic, she takes a special interest in encouraging reluctant readers and writers. Her first solo collection, of illustrated poems, Where Zebras Go (2017, Otter-Barry Books) was long listed for the North Somerset Teachers’ 2017 Book Award. A new collection, Apes to Zebra (Bloomsbury) with Roger Stevens and Liz Brownlee is due out in 2018. Sufiya Ahmed is the award-winning author of the young adult novel Secrets of the Henna Girl (2012, Puffin Books), and a public speaker on girls’ rights. Sufiya regularly visits secondary schools to deliver author sessions, addressing pupils in over 130 schools, and participates in book festivals. Sufiya also discusses her previous career in the Houses of Parliament to educate and inspire pupils about the democratic process and explores how her political activism influences her writing. Sufiya is the founder and Director of the BIBI Foundation, a non-profit organisation which arranges visits to the Houses of Parliament for children from underprivileged backgrounds. She will be contributing to Picador’s new essay collection by Muslim women, published in 2019. Sufiya regularly contributes to the Huffington Post and The Independent. Sumayya Lee has worked as an Islamic Studies teacher, Montessori Directress and teacher of English as a Foreign Language. Her debut novel, The Story of Maha (2007, Kwela) was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Writers Prize for Best First Book – Africa and Longlisted for The Sunday Times Fiction Award 2008. It is currently on the undergraduate curriculum at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. Her second novel, Maha, Ever After was published by Kwela in 2009. She is a mentor on the Writivism programme and has also judged the annual Writivism Short Story Prize. Currently Sumayya serves as the Writivism Mentoring and Residencies coordinator. Tim Robertson became the Royal Society of Literature’s first full-time Director in October 2015. For the previous nine years, Tim was Chief Executive of the Koestler Trust, the national charity for arts from prisons (founded in 1962 by the writer Arthur Koestler). Tim led the Trust through significant growth, as well as chairing the National Alliance for Arts in Criminal Justice. He has a First in English from King’s College London, an MA in American Literature from the State University of New York at Buffalo and spent nine years on the editorial board of Magma poetry magazine. For fourteen years he ran and managed children’s services at Camden Council, having qualified as a social worker with an MSc in Applied Social Studies at Worcester College, Oxford. Tim is a governor of Regent High School in King’s Cross.
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Extract from The Adventures of the Super Strawberry
He glanced around but nothing seemed different. Suddenly, he looked down. He was a bright red hue! Every day, a large, rumbling machine would come, with it’s four wheels running down the straight tracks either side of super strawberry. He would see two thick legs and heavy boots resting on the machine, and between them, would be a large, sharp knife, which would cut the stems of the fruit. It looked scary, and at first Super Strawberry was terrified. Even though he was lonely and miserable, being safe on the ground seemed better than facing that menacing machine. As the machine got closer, he clenched his eyes shut. He felt the rough fingers of the farmer gently checking if he was ripe. Then quick as a flash he felt a little sting and the next thing he knew he was in a basket, amongst thousands of strawberries. He tried to get up but the tractor was too fast, he was jostled and threw back down and then the next minute was covered with hundreds of strawberries. This was turning out to be even worse! He suddenly remembered what he had heard some strawberries whispering, back when he was a baby. They were talking about jam. He didn’t know what jam was but it sounded really scary. They were talking about being hit and chopped and boiled and simmered. He didn’t even know what those words meant but he was determined he was not going to be jam! © Haadi Siddiqui
Key stage 2 short story
Extract from The Animal Whisperer It all started about a month after he had been taken in by the wolves: Solomon had struck a roaring fire when, in the distance, shouts and yells approached and chinks of firelight and torches filled the gaps in the trees. The ears of the animals perked up and listened attentively to the bellowing of the men. And then, one by one, the tribe members dragged themselves up and began to scamper away until the only ones left were Solomon and One. An arrow whizzed past, barely missing the boy’s right ear, whilst another deeply embedded itself into the yowling beast’s front paw. Green liquid was gently oozing out of the bloody, infected wound - the arrow had been poisoned! One had saved his life, and now Solomon would have to save his. As he clutched One’s limp, life-less body, he knew there was no use. One was dying, and he was dying fast... Rapidly speeding behind the rest of the pack, Solomon quivered, not with fear or shock, but with exasperation. He was not angry with the hunters, but he was angry with himself! Why? Because he hadn’t tried. He hadn’t even tried to rescue One from the most painful death imaginable. Why? Because he had been a coward. He had been scared of being captured by the men. Why? Because he was selfish. While he had been worrying about how he could escape from the kidnappers, One had been writhing with agony and struggling against death on the bloody ground. The least he could do now was give him a decent burial. And although the hunters had now disappeared into the wilderness, Solomon knew that he had to continue his journey to the middle of the Sun... © Syed Ayaan Shah
Key stage 2 short story
Extract from The Memory
The rays of morning sun woke him. Yawning, he pulled on a jumper and carefully climbed out of bed. Picking up his walking stick, he stumbled down the tattered wooden steps and dragged himself to the pantry to make a cup of tea. Feeling sluggish, he slowly walked into the living room while holding a cup, filled to the brim with steaming, hot tea. Setting the fragile china down, the man stared at his reflection on the large mirror that sat above the fireplace. An old, frail man glared back. His cheeks were droopy and grey and his face was covered in wrinkles like crumpled paper. There were large bags under his swollen eyes. Sighing, he sat down in his armchair and comfort oozed into him. He sipped at the hot tea as he stared at the orange flames of the fire. His eyes turned away to look at a frame on the mantelpiece. It was a picture of a woman. Her round face was framed by a mass of wavy blonde hair. Her eyelashes feathered her beautiful, sapphire blue eyes. She had a warm smile which revealed two rows of gleaming teeth that looked like polished pearls. Tears streamed down his face. He quickly smeared them away with the cuffs of his jumper. ‘She’s gone, and nothing will bring her back,’ he thought to himself. Anger brewed up inside him as he remembered the evening when she was taken away by the Germans... © Saarah Zainul-Abideen Key stage 2 short story
Extract from The Sea Witch
The sea witch stood on the edge of the shore staring out towards the starlit horizon.She knew that the time had almost arrived.Her matted hair, like tangled seaweed blew back in the stiffening onshore breeze,her bedraggled gown rippled like the the gentle waves before her.Hour after hour she stood there ,still as a statue,staring out to sea - and then she saw it.At first shining light like all the other countless stars,but the light was slowly edging towards her-like a distant plane.And with every passing second the light grew bigger and bigger.As it moved away from the horizon ,it gave the impression that it was rising ,but really it was dropping like a stone ,rapidly descending from the heavens.The silent observer,still rooted to the spot,threw her head back and watched the fireball moved even closer.A faint drone quickly turned into a thunderous roar as a blinding light filled her shield of vision,forcing her to stagger backwards and shield her eyes.As the fireball struck the sea,she put her hands to her ears.But there was no deafening bang;instead a powerful thud followed by a great flash of light and then all went quiet. Š Laila Boughaba Key stage 2 short story
Extract from The Resplendent Reward Danyal’s neighbourhood looked like a winter card. There were bungalows close together with piles of snow on their roofs. Snow was gently falling from the blackened sky onto the white pavement and road. Holly was strung on each oak door except one, a normal front door with no decorations or bright lights or ever greens. Danyal owned that very house. It was more of a cottage with a family of five living in it and it looked like the one odd hut in the winter card. The moon was full like a five pence coin floating across a lake of black, unflustered water. Danyal had a small room with a well mopped, wooden floor. His ironed, hand washed uniform hung smartly in his wardrobe and his polished shoes in the same corner as the wardrobe. He slept on a mattress upon the floor close to his wardrobe owing to the fact his bedroom was as puny as a garden shed. His glasses were kept on the window sill, reflecting the moonlight with a soft, wavering light. Danyal felt the snow on the back of his head and reluctantly removed the covers from over his head. Someone had opened the window. Š Numa Tasneem Karnachi Key stage 2 short story
Excerpt from DEMOCRACY
Let’s go back to the Ancient Greek When democracy was at its peak In the time where everyone was equal To modern voting, it was a prequel They invented a method for everyone’s speech And all the different opinions did they teach Different groups such as that of Plato To ensure that the public voice wasn’t solo The Greek word Demo means people A race that stick together like treacle Whereas the word Kratia means power Wanted as much as a flower Together it makes democracy The peoples power, don’t you see With this system, ideas get better If we listen to every single letter And if we, the people, stand up tall The world will hear our joint call This system, so far, the best they’ve found Ensures everyone, EVERYONE, makes a sound © Faaris Haani Haque Key stage 3 poetry
Excerpt from PLAY THAT SONG
Play that song, You know, The one that reminds me of the humid summer days in the sun, Where we sat in the shade, watching others play. Play that song, You know, The one we would scream the chorus to, Whilst we would jump on your bed hoping your mum wouldn’t hear. Play that song, You know, The one that smells like opening up an old book, The dust flying out like birds released from a cage. Play that song, You know, The one that reminds you of me, Only this time don’t cry when it ends. © Amaani Khan Key stage 3 poetry
HEART
Gentle thumps, Consistent rhythm. Pumping blood Throughout my body. Beats get louder, Harder and faster. Pounding against my Ribs and my chest. Heart starts rising; Ends up in my mouth. Rattling my jaws Sets my bones shaking. My heart lurches, Flies like a rocket. Pit of my stomach Falls deep down. Gentle thumps, Consistent rhythm. Pumping blood Throughout my body. Always beating, Never stopping. Keeping me alive Until my time runs… …Out © Jiyaad Ali
Key stage 3 poetry
Excerpts from THE END I hear the pounding of their thick armour as it clashes with the ground before I see, I hear the pleas of the enemy, They rise above the galloping of the horses, So full of fear, So full of hope, If only you could hear, Hear the torturous groan of the earth as it caves in, Hear the screams of the infants as they cry. *** All the peace in the land has come and gone, Changed into dark thunderous clouds of anger and hate, Never to be ended, Man falls in love with his sins, He doesn’t see the jewels he throws aside. It all started with peace and now it has all ended in silence. Š Shahlena Khan Key stage 3 poetry
Refugee Camp Winter The cold burns through my ragged clothes My skin is chapped and sore The days are short but never-ending Each day hurts a little more The tears freeze on my sunken face As I think of what I saw As I think of what my future holds Can I take this anymore? Burning eyes from tiredness But sleepless every night Waiting for the noises Always ready for the fight Hungry Babies crying around me Whilst Mothers sigh and stare Fathers talk with false courage I wish I didn’t care Fluffy clouds fill the skies Snow begins to fall Little children smile and run a while Feeling ten feet tall With the snow comes hope They’ve brought us food, clothes and smiles! Finally we feel strength We can walk for miles and miles. © Ariana Alice Rkia Ranya Bouiri Key stage 3 poetry
A word from Islam Channel
The Young Muslim Writers Awards promote positive social change, and encourages the creativity of our communities youth. The initiative also inspires a commonality within society regardless of race or faith. Islam Channel is recognised as the most popular ethnic channel watched in the UK. As a leader and pioneer in Muslim media, it is with pride and excitement that we support an event that contributes to the advancement of Muslims in the UK. The Muslim Writer’s Awards have witnessed a tremendous development in the past few years; we hope this momentum continues in the years to come. “After supporting the Muslim Writers Awards for 11 years in the capacity of a Media Partner, we are pleased to join forces with the MWA team once again, in support of the Young Muslim Writers Awards 2017.”
“After supporting the Muslim Writers Awards for 11 years in the capacity of a Media Partner, we are pleased to join forces with the MWA team once again, in support of the Young Muslim Writers Awards 2017.”
Mohamed Ali Chief Executive Officer Islam Channel
Extract from Museums, Harbours and Death Prologue: She stole a glance back at the broken window she had just jumped through. The street lights were off but moonlight shone through. She had made way too much noise breaking that window. Somebody could notice the vandalism soon. If that was the case, she was running out of time. She had to plant the bomb but she didn’t have very much time. She raced through the museum, covering her face with her hands from the CCTV cameras. She heard talking. The talking was getting louder. People getting closer. She hid behind a dinosaur skeleton, dagger in her hand. Two security guards came around a corner into sight. They had long beards and guns at their sides. They were talking about pay raises. Not that they would be getting paid again after this night. The men had started to walk past the skeleton, she had started to make her way around the skeleton, behind them. She pulled her hood over her head, so as to not be identified by the CCTV cameras and have use of her hands at the same time. Š Adam Islam-Medeaux Key stage 3 short story
Extract from SACRIFICE
Brian Yamato, a thirteen-year-old boy, woke up with a start that morning. He had had a nightmare, that much he knew, but for the life of him couldn’t remember it. He rubbed the back of his head with his hand to find that both his hair and palm were moist with sweat. That’s strange, Brian thought, it’s not even hot – in fact, it’s really cold. Brian leapt out of bed. He realised there was no point in going back to sleep: he would need to get ready for school soon. Drawing aside the curtains, Brian was presented with a misted window. Rubbing this off with his sleeve, he thought about the unusualness of this. His window rarely misted, apart from when Brian put his nose right up to it and exhaled warmly on it. He sure hadn’t done that when he was sleeping. The sun had already risen. Brian flinched suddenly. He was surprised that he just did so. Why is my body acting so weirdly? Brian thought. No comforting answer came to him. Brian decided to go to the bathroom, seeing that he was up early enough. That was a miracle in itself. As a final check for any abnormalities, he looked at his reflection closely in the mirror. He recoiled. Now that had gone too far. © Jiyaad Ali
Key stage 3 short story
Extract from THE ESCAPE My mother traced her finger lightly over where Adam’s cheek-bone jutted out. His bright, brown eyes, filled with love and admiration, widened slowly. “I’m not having you, or your brother growing up in this type of environment.” Responded my mother. “It’s too late now.” I answered. She paused. Her eyes were directed towards Adam. He was only two years old, yet he was born in a place where starvation is the most common cause of death. A place where ‘education’ has no meaning. A place from the depths of hell. With no warning, she grabbed my arms and looked me in my eyes. “Promise me that whatever happens, you will take your brother and flee from this place.” she pleaded. “Your father wants to stay in our country,” she sniffed, “But this isn’t our country anymore.” Her eyes shimmered in the deceivingly, pretty sunlight. A single tear trickled down her gaunt, face, before dropping onto an oak table situated nearby. Would it be so bad if we stayed here? There will never be a mass exodus from the town. Everyone stays. No one leaves. © Maria Zahid
Key stage 3 short story
Extract from GLASS DOME
Suddenly she froze, heart beating fast. There, on the outside surface of the Dome was a handprint. Kayla couldn’t believe her eyes. The whole human race was supposed to be in this Dome. There was not supposed to be anyone alive out there. Her mind spun – it was too much to take in. Kayla was remembering as if it was happening… sprinting off reaching behind her back for her hoverboard, leaping into the air as she tossed it in front of her. It unfolded quickly, allowing her to land on it. It leaped into action, zooming forwards. Kayla leaned side to side, dashing by houses. She soon came to the town square. Leaning right, she twisted her hips and directed the hover board to fly in the opposite direction. Kayla leaned back, jerking the hover board with her, so that her body was perpendicular to the ground. For a split second, she stayed in that position, the force of air pushing against her, causing her to slow. She flipped backwards, landing in mid-air, parallel to the ground, and unmoving. She jumped backwards, grabbing her board. It folded in her hands and she clipped it into it’s case. © Aaminah Green Key stage 3 short story
Extract from Verily, with Hardship I can’t sleep that night. My mind is restless and my breath short. I need to know who she was. The girl. All I know is that she knew me and she was Muslim. I scrunch up my eyes and try to imagine her face again but all I can see is a blur of a figure with long brown hair. A snapshot of alarm and fright. I try again. Something resurfaces and I sit up immediately. The girl had one blue shoe on and one red. I get up out of bed and get dressed. The clock reads 11:09 pm. Before I leave the house, I read the supplication stuck to the front door. And then I run. A SIMPLE FACT: It’s not advised for one to run when they only have one lung. I collapse outside the entrance of Kadilla Park. I hear the eerie, rushed footsteps of shoes against the cold pavement. “Hey, are you okay?” The man says. I nod meekly. He offers a hand and I refuse, putting every ounce of strength in my body to pushing myself off the stony ground. My eyes meet his bright gray ones. His face changes in recognition and he stumbles over his words before swiftly pivoting around and briskly walking away. © Ruqayyah Ahmed
Key stage 3 short story
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Extract from A Woman’s Worth A man is confident but a woman is vain. A man is a leader but a woman is bossy. A man is intelligent but a woman is a show off. A man is strong but a woman is weak. In an age where gender inequality is still prevalent, how do we battle against such social constructs and defeat these stereotypes? One of the most common assumptions is that women are weak and inferior to men. Then tell me how can a woman bear the pain of childbirth? If a woman is indeed less inferior then how can she give birth to man himself? Men are often regarded as physically strong while women are associated with emotional strength. This is where the problem is introduced. This emphasis on physical strength makes it difficult for men to express their feelings as they do not wish to appear weak. The disregard for a woman’s physical strength can often lead to a lack of self-confidence. Would it not be so much easier if society accepted that strength does not define ability? © Amiera Sharif
Key stage 3 journalism
Extracts from The Crisis of the Lack of Fire Safety in Britain A deepening sense of grief hangs over the communities in Britain in these past few months. Too many people and places are scarred by the horrific tragedies that have occurred. We believe, these horrible incidents and occurrences, which have damaged so many people in the past year and many years before, are mainly down to the irresponsibility of the government and the lack of attention they give to one of the many severe problems at hand. This problem is the deficiency of fire safety in homes and flats all around the country. One incident of the dreadful happenings is the tragedy of the Grenfell tower. The Grenfell tower was a large block of flats which was occupied by hundreds of innocent and unknowing people. These people believed that they lived in secure homes and had faith in the owners of the building and the government to provide them with safety. However, this faith and trust was misplaced. The government let them and so many others down harshly. © SAFIYA REHMAN
Key stage 3 journalism
Extract from WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION Nigeria now has its own panel on the BBC news app. We’re constantly bombarded with images of starving children, Boko Haram militants and conflict. The naira has dropped drastically in value; people are dying in poverty. And yet some Nigerians are hiding wads of cash in their bookcases, under their beds. When did our country, once a haven for all, become this catastrophe? I visited Nigeria not long ago. In the prosperous parts of the city, a family of four could live in a house with an excess of three floors, with private education and a housemaid. In that same city, behind that same house, more than 10 people could be cramped together without running water, huddling close to conserve enough energy to survive. And the villages… Children, wide-eyed children, who hobbled around like stick dolls, soulful eyes staring at me and telling their sad story without uttering so much as a word. Imagine! Childhood, which is meant to be a joyous, innocent time, wasted waiting for the militants to sweep them away for radicalisation, holding them at gunpoint while they are escorted away from their families. I saw mothers on the floor, only supported by the mud walls of their houses, cradling their sick babies in their frail arms as if putting a cage around them and protecting them from the horrors of the outside world. Their hearts shattered by the grief of losing their eldest daughters, they trudged through the village, ghosts of what they once were. © Ameera Abike Kola-Olukotun Key stage 3 journalism
Extracts from ACID ARISE! The amount of people who admit to being the victim of racism and prejudice has risen so much that people are being “inspired” to throw ACID on poor, innocent people. Acid attacks are on the rise in the UK with an outbreak of horrifying incidents over the past. There’s been an alarming spike in incidents where corrosive liquids are being used to attack victims with horrific consequences. London has emerged as a significant place for acid attacks with the number of cases more than doubling fewer than 200 in 2014 to 455 alone last year and this year, 63 incidents have been recorded by the Metropolitan police as a large number of victims are left with critical injuries. This month at least 6 people have been injured after a 72 minute acid riot in London. Experts believe gang members are swapping guns and knives for acid as it is easier to receive and as it’s more difficult for police to investigate. Figures released earlier this year showed that almost a quarter of acid attacks in London took place in Newham. Since 2010 there have been 415 attacks in Newham. This compares to Barking and Dagenham where 157 incidents were reported for the same period. Recently 2 young men have been targeted in East London; Bethnal Green of an acid attack by a few strangers. Fire fighters had to wash them as the corrosive liquid had burnt through their clothes. © FARIA CHEEPA
Key stage 3 journalism
Extract from Child Terrorism Many of us think child terrorism isn’t a topic that needs a lot of thought. We think because it doesn’t happen where we live it isn’t an issue anywhere else. It becomes difficult for us to imagine a child handling a gun or being exposed to violence. Realistically, most of us only care about ourselves whenever we are in danger and keeping ourselves safe, but what about those innocent children in danger of abduction or losing their life? it may not happen in our country but it is common in poorer countries, that vulnerable kids are introduced to terrorism. Encouraging change and sympathy for these kids will make the world a better place and save lives. Where I live issues like child terrorists isn’t common and that’s why many of don’t think about its importance. Every day, watching the news on children being forced to do things against their own will makes us feel sympathy for r them but doesn’t urge us to take any action. Sometimes it is hard to understand the severity of this case and so it results in children being taken away from parents and exposed to things like bombs and guns. Things they shouldn’t even have to know of. © ZAINA KHAN
Key stage 3 journalism
A Mother’s love It all began when my mum planted a seed. Watering it daily making sure it was safe and sound. Nurturing it like it was her own. Despite the fallacious weather, the calamitous nights the rays of her compassion would shine on the plant Like the luminous moon, guiding the lost. The plant began to adapt her fragrance. Reminding itself to hold on and stay strong the mother watched in admiration as the plant blossomed into a ravishing flower adopting all her qualities. Replicating her beautiful scent. Every plant desired the same devotion, but this alluring flower, was lucky indeed. © Iman Durrah Mohammed Key stage 4 poetry
AM I ? I Am a
I? Am
Hater
Ia
Faker
Doctor
Perpetrator
Designer
A heartless human
Architect
Terminator A fire breathing Job stealer A man eating Agitator I look different So I must be wrong I’m an intruder I don’t belong A despicable dictator deceitful by nature Instigator Trouble Maker. Am
A struggling student A striving vet An avid reader Who loves to dream A school teacher Who’s not What she seems A single mother A long lost brother Missing home One day after another Forever accused Bruised And used? I Am. © HANNIYA KAMRAN
Key stage 4 poetry
FEAR is like a sword Fear is like a sword That pierces the WEAKENED Soul And screams the shrill without a voice To paralyse her whole. sharpest in the air is heard Slaying HER frozen heart And strikes the mind without a sound Ripping her essence apart. In peace it sweeps and steals my mind I seek, yet I’m not free Yet even if I fled it’s grasp, It always seizes m.e. © Maryam Ebrahim Key stage 4 poetry
Excerpt from Once she sang a song 3: Once she sang a song and was labelled a star It gave her hope and courage that she would go far She would paint, she would talk, she chatted so much And her cute afro curly hair never caused a fuss She would sit on her daddy’s shoulders and play with him games Day after day it was always the same But consistency was good especially as life was grand 6 other siblings always there to hold her hand 11: Once she sang a song and was praised a little bit Although she got criticism she knew she wouldn’t quit She loved to draw, liked to dance and still chatted a lot But in the big scheme of things she was just a little dot She would wake up each morning and with a smile greet her dad He would give her 10 papers daily but then she failed and was sad Her siblings were still there but she ended up with a label The term dumb she tried to shake off so hard but was unable 13: once she sang a song and was told to be realistic Singing wasn’t a career just look at the logistics She still sang, liked to draw but talked a little less Tried to think before she spoke but always ended up in a mess She barely saw her dad and her grades were slipping As her father was going onto dear life he was gripping Her 6 trusted siblings turned into 5 As one turned their back but she would still survive © Mishael Masood Ahmed Key stage 4 poetry
The Brink of Insanity I’m standing on the other edge, Of a world gone insane. I’m watching from my spot of safety, From the other side of the window pane. I watch amazed, As they create their own deaths, Civil wars, and genocide, Cutting off each other’s breaths. The rich get richer The poor get poorer And in the middle The people continue to work harder. They are burning their own world, As it begins to heat up, They barely try, To make the warming stop. It’s a world going mad, Just wait a little more, If they don’t stop now, It will be destroyed to the core. © Heena Shafi
Key stage 4 poetry
YMWA ANTHOLOGY 2017 Illustration & Design © Rahima Begum
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For All your creative Needs Hi I’m Rahima, an East London based artist, illustrator and creative consultant. I work across the board; from illustrating books, brand aesthetics, painting outdoor murals to designing commercial and private spaces. I’ve worked on both UK and international projects and would love to hear from you! If you are in need of any of these services, you can contact me on shroomantics@gmail.com or 07956966313. Speak sooooon :)
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Extract from Beast A scalding sip. One more swallow of bitter coffee coursing down his throat, burning it on its journey down. Warmer. He poured more into the chipped mug, but the cold damp of the moors never seemed to leave, and the empty feeling of loneliness never seemed to go, and the dull haze he called his life never seemed to clear. With unfocused eyes, he stared out into the distant hills, of all the hues of blues, varying from pale blue to deep violet, and some at the furthest deep charcoal grey, almost black. It was a sorry sight for compassionate eyes, as he sat at a crooked small table, on a crooked small chair, drinking alone by himself in the cold damp of the lonely moors. The fog in the distance seemed to crawl towards him, as the remains of the day began to fade into the darkness that engulfed the moors every night. His head began to droop as the dank fog thickened around him, chilling him, seeking out any warmth the coffee had provided. Whilst he slept like the dead, from the thick of the dark and mist, something, awoke. Š Heena Shafi Key stage 4 short story
Extract from NUCLEAR JULY
Do you recall how the birds tore up the blue and pink hue into swarms of black before the sun exploded on top of our heads? Or how the dust which followed was thicker and colder and blacker than any snow we’d ever had in this small town? The snow was like our collective fragmented memories, clutching on with its greedy little claws, refusing to be washed off even when the lines in our weathered hands bled from washing and our torn eyes bled from crying. Piece by piece, they finally swam away - good riddance - taking away fragments of names, faces and places along with the images of the episode. That day the sun had planted itself low in the clear azure sky which was just waking up, the clouds attempting to hide from its dazzling but slow brilliance. We’d sat in a meadow, the grass mingling in between our hair until they were tangled together, our heads inseparable from the ground. We’d laughed and played there like children do, breathing the slightly warm air as we exchanged happiness.The only thing separating us from heaven was our insistence on being mundane and staying right there on the lush grass. All was well. © Sumaiya Fazal
Key stage 4 short story
Extract from SKINNING
Whenever I did something wrong, he told me to skin a rabbit. The first time was difficult, when I’d been scared of all the blood and the fact that I was holding something dead in my hands. The second time wasn’t much better. I’d cried. I’d cried a great deal but then he screamed into my ear and made me cry harder and he shouted that he would keep doing so until I skinned the entire rabbit myself. “Hold it by the back legs,” He instructed, with a tight-lipped smile, “Take the skin from the ankles and rip it right open.” I’d gagged, I’d spluttered, I’d vomited. But he didn’t relent. The first time was better than the second but the third was perhaps the worst time of all. “Pull all the skin off.” He drawled, watching me as I struggled, “What are you doing, boy? I said pull the skin off.” © Seher Rahman
Key stage 4 short story
Extract from THE GAME Raindrops hit the window and slide down like tears, tiny glass-like droplets through which I watch the sky churn up all the world’s pain and anger, and release it with grey. Grey, grey, grey, nothing but dismal grey skies as far as my eyes can see. The perfect weather for writing an essay on domestic abuse. We don’t usually get PSHE homework, yet here I am, ballpoint in hand, staring out of the window for inspiration. I’ve no lack of weather-related metaphors, that’s for sure. I’ve never experienced domestic abuse, or known anyone who has, and I’m not the sort of person who watches afternoon soap-operas. Coming from a closed off, tight-knit family with not many relatives and living in a place where the word ‘community’ seems unheard of, I don’t have a wide net of people to ask about the topic. The local library is closed for repairs, and as of yesterday my household is officially internet-free – my mother tripped over the router and sent it crashing down the staircase. © Nada El-Hammoud
Key stage 4 short story
Extract from The Hole in the Mountain Day 312 We’ve been in the wilderness for close upon a year now, but we’ve finally uncovered the entrance to the cave! Professor Tillman was close to tears when we found the small hole on the mountainside, swarmed by ancient engravings and inscriptions. She told the research group that we’d be heading in tomorrow, at the crack of dawn, and that we’d have to leave almost everything back at camp. I suppose that includes my journal, but there’s really no trouble- I can document everything on the ride back to London. The euphoria of discovery still lingers in the air- even now as everyone is asleep. Or pretending to be, at least- with an atmosphere this electric, I’d be surprised if anyone could get even a wink’s worth tonight! *** The last page of the journal was in the same state as the rest of it- tattered, worn, crushed and barely legible. In fact, it looked as if it had survived an earthquake, and a powerful one at that. The rescue group had been sent by UCL after its initial research group had failed to communicate any sort of message the day of their entrance into the secret Mayan passage. They had all disappeared without a trace- even their tents. It was like they, campsite and all, had been swallowed by the mountain itself. The only clue of their whereabouts was this piteous journal. It had done it’s job well - despite its appearance- and had led them to the mouth of the passage. © Hussain Maki
Key stage 4 short story
MESSAGES OF CONGRATULATIONS Writers are important in a society as they influence the way we think and act. I was inspired by the works of the nominees under the journalism category. The journalistic writing of the nominees was very impressive. All the entries were of high standard and choosing a winner was a difficult decision. I hope they pursue with writing as I believe they have skills to be future journalists. Ahmed Jafferali Versi Editor, The Muslim News
I’m so delighted to be a part of a competition that’s promoting and cultivating young talent. Congratulations to everyone who entered the competition – even if you haven’t been shortlisted, you’re still on your way to one day seeing your name and story in print. Ayisha Malik Author of Sofia Khan is Not Obliged and The Other Half of Happiness, WHSmith Fresh Talent Pick 2016
When I was young I loved writing but only ever wrote in the classroom. It is a regret of mine that fuels my admiration for the time you are already dedicating to the art so early in life, in your personal time. Writing is a joy. I hope you already feel that. And the more you write the more joy you will derive from it, I promise you. After reading your stories, I truly hope that being published in this anthology is only the first chapter in your writing career and not the last. Have fun. Take chances. Keep writing. Danny Scott Author of Scotland Stars FC
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What a pleasure it has been to read the work of very young writers beginning to discover the possibilities of poetry and to see the many ways in which they are already expressing their ideas, thoughts and feelings so imaginatively through rhythm, rhyme, image and verse. Elizabeth Hammill OBE Co-founder of Seven Stories, Britain’s National Centre for Children’s Books
Congratulations to you all! In reading each of these shortlisted stories I was immersed in your bold and ambitious ideas, and compelled to keep reading to the end, and I don’t think there can be any greater compliment of a piece of writing than that. Some of these stories carried great emotion, some a cheeky humour and all had a high level of drama and integrity in the writing that I greatly admired. It is a real achievement to have got this far, and I hope that this award will be just the start of your continued writing journey. Good luck! Faye Bird Author of What I Couldn’t Tell You and My Second Life Congratulations to all the shortlisted writers. It’s been a pleasure and an honour to read your stories and I do hope that being involved in this year’s Young Muslim Writers Awards has set you on a writer’s path for years to come. Helen Boyle Literary agent, Pickled ink Congratulations on having your work shortlisted, but bigger congratulations on simply being a writer - the ability to turn complex (or even confusing) thoughts and feelings into words is something you can take with you absolutely anywhere you go. It’s a rare and special privilege and it can be yours for life. Helen Mort Author of Division Street (Fenton Aldeburgh Prize), No Map Could Show Them Writing gives you a voice: use it to explore yourself, through the mountain ranges of your heart and the dark valleys of your soul. Use it to shout to the world the things you need to say. Use it to comfort your fears and make yourself laugh, and most of all, write because it brings you closer to magic. Congratulations to you all. Best wishes. Jo Cotterill Author of the Electrigirl (Fantastic Book Awards for 9-11s), the Sweet Hearts series, and others My congratulations to this year’s shortlisted nominees in the Young Muslim Writers Awards. I was astounded by the quality and sheer depth and breadth of work from your collective tales. What I discovered in reading your stories was wisdom in youth, and how each of you used the power of your pen to open your window on to the world you see now and one you would wish to see. This is what makes you all such talented writers. Every story was different, unique and powerful. Within the collection there was humour, despair, wisdom and hope. It is now my hope that you continue to develop your gifts as writers and I have the opportunity of reading your work further in the years to come. Congratulations once again and keep writing. Kathryn White Author of When They Fight, Here Comes the Crocodiles, Ruby’s School Walk, and others
A huge congratulations to all the shortlisted authors in this brilliant competition and well done to all those authors who took part. Keep writing and keep creating amazing stories and who knows, maybe one day you’ll be signing your own books for an excited group of aspiring young authors like yourselves! Inspiration for my stories comes from anywhere and everywhere, when I least expect it, so always carry a notebook to jot down even the smallest or silliest of ideas. Never give up on your dreams! You should all be extremely proud of your success. Laura Ellen Anderson Creator of Amelia Fang and the Barbaric Ball and Evil Emperor Penguin comic I was genuinely impressed by the shortlisted entries: each writer demonstrated a real understanding of the mechanics of fiction. Whether the story hinged on a mystery, explored a moment of human vulnerability, or introduced the reader to something monstrous, each piece was taut with atmosphere and intrigue. I finished each story wanting to read more, and I would urge the authors to keep writing and developing their (already fantastic) ideas. Mitch Johnson Author of Kick Your stories were impressive - well-structured, sophisticated and original writing, and diverse subjects and voices. The advice given to writers is often to ‘find your voice’ and you are well on the way to doing so. Keep your writing muscle flexed. Buy a notebook. Get a writing prompt off the internet, or from a friend and family and free write anything that comes in to your head for about five minutes. Whenever you need to write a story, go back to your notebook. You’ll be surprised and inspired by what you find there. Patrice Lawrence Author of Orangeboy (The Bookseller YA Book Prize, Waterstones Children’s Book Prize for Older Fiction), Indigo Donut, and others Congratulations, Poets, on your brilliant work! I’m so glad that you’ve found poetry; it can be your friend for the rest of your life. My wish for you is that you keep reading and writing poetry. You can start every day with a poem – I keep poetry books by my bed and I read one each morning. Give it a try! I also carry notebooks where I jot down notes about things I see, hear, and feel. Often, these little notes bloom into poems. Don’t let ideas slip away – write them down! Patricia Toht Poet, picture book author of All Aboard the London Bus and Pick a Pine Tree, and school library associate
I’m so impressed with the talent on display at the Young Muslim Writers Awards. Every shortlisted writer should be very proud of themselves - I had great fun reading the entertaining, imaginative stories and would encourage everyone to keep writing. I look forward to seeing all these young writers published in the future. Sarah Shaffi Online editor, The Bookseller A huge congratulations to all the Young Muslim Writers Awards finalists. If you are one of those wonderful writers, I want you to know that you have made it a really difficult task to choose. Be very proud because all of you who have made it onto the shortlist are in many respects winners. Reading your entries has been my pleasure, honour and privilege. Keep writing, write every day; hone your own unique, distinctive voices. But most of all remember, that though many people have their dreams, a writer shares their dreams making them live and breathe. Sue Hardy-Dawson Poet, artist and illustrator of Where Zebras Go Congratulations to all the shortlisted writers. I am always amazed by the stories and this year was no exception. Celebrate this fabulous milestone in your creative journey and take care of the creative fire: keep reading, keep writing, keep shining! Sumayya Lee Author of The Story of Maha and Maha, Ever After
I’m struck by the passion in all these poems – by how urgently these young authors want to be heard, how seriously they are committed to their writing. Each of the poets can feel proud of his or her achievement, and all have the potential to become compelling literary voices in the future. Tim Robertson Director, The Royal Society of Literature
Congratulations on your work, both for having seen it through and for having it honoured by being shortlisted for the Awards. Simply by getting this far you have achieved something significant. If you happen to win, then wonderful for you. But if you get no further than the shortlist remember that your work has been deemed of merit by the judges, who will be skilled readers and writers themselves. And whether you win or not, remember that each new text you embark on is a further challenge. If you wish to go on being a writer, keep at it. Tony Mitton Poet and author of Wayland (2014 CLPE poetry award), other collections and picture books
Huge congratulations to all the writers who have participated in the Young Muslim Writers Award 2017 from Dev and Ollie Books! We hope you continue to immerse yourself in the magical world of words and write more beautiful stories and poems. Dev and Ollie Books
Congratulations on being shortlisted for the Young Muslim Writers Awards. It’s brilliant that your talents are being recognised. We believe passionately in encouraging creativity and talent. We are about making all children proud readers and if the reading habit is nurtured and inspired in the next generation to write and go on to great things – even better. We wish you every success. EGMONT
Congratulations to all the wonderful young writers who have been involved in the Young Muslim Writers Awards 2017 from the Faber Children’s Team! We hope you all continue writing so that we could have the opportunity to publish one of your books in the future. FABER & FABER
Huge congratulations from Firefly Press to the winners of the Young Muslim Writers Awards, and congratulations too to all those who took time to enter. Being able to write and tell a story, whether it’s fiction, non-fiction or poetry, is a brilliant way to entertain others, communicate, and get your thoughts, dreams, hopes out to a wider world, and you did it! We hope you have fun reading the books from our authors too! Firefly Press
New voices are the most important, creative and valuable for the next generation of readers, so thank you for sharing yours with us. We at Frances Lincoln Children’s Books congratulate you all for your successes in this year’s Awards. Keep writing and inspiring us all to read! Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Hachette UK is delighted to continue our sponsorship of the Young Muslim Writers Awards. We believe passionately in changing the story of publishing and encouraging talent and creativity, as well as in helping to bring diverse voices to the publishing of the future. We hope that the winners of these awards go on to great things, and we congratulate them on their wins. Hachette UK
From all of us at Hot Key Books we send our warmest congratulations to all the budding and super talented young writers who have entered this year’s Young Muslim Writers Awards. We are honoured to celebrate the achievements and will always continue to support the work of so many outstanding diverse voices. Hot Key Books Kube Publishing would like to congratulate all the young writers involved in the Young Muslim Writers Awards. We are very proud of you for reaching this stage and we hope you can inspire others with your writing and talents in the future. KUBE PUBLISHING
Little Hibba would like to congratulate all the young writers that have participated this year. This was just one step for you all in your writing journey. Keep writing, enjoy what you are doing, and you never know where your journey may take you. Today you may have been inspired by an author somewhere, tomorrow you may be inspiring others. Dream big! Little HibbA Medina Publishing would like to congratulate all the individuals that entered the Young Muslim Writer Awards 2017. It takes a lot of courage to put your creation out there for people to not only read, but to judge. Entering is an achievement in and of itself and we hope you all keep writing, keep imagining, keep creating. As Albert Einstein once said, “The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.” Medina Publishing
Pan Macmillan would like to congratulate all those who took part in the Young Muslim Writers Awards this year. We are delighted to be involved in this project and hope it inspires more creators in the future. Pan Macmillan
Congratulations to all the budding young writers shortlisted for this prize! We feel it’s incredibly important in this day and age when digital entertainment and communication proliferate, to celebrate and encourage the younger generations to express themselves creatively through pen and paper. We hope that their passion continues and helps build the next generation of poets and story tellers! Papier
Sweetzone would like to congratulate all the shortlisted writers on their remarkable achievements. We pray that you have a very bright future ahead and that we can continue to enjoy your writing. Enjoy the sweets! Sweetzone
Walker Books would like to take this moment to congratulate all those shortlisted for the Young Muslim Writers Awards 2017; we’re delighted to be a small part of this scheme. Reading and writing is so important to developing empathy and imagination, and therefore we think that it is great that young writers are being awarded for their talent. Well done and keep writing, keep reading, and keep inspiring! Walker Books
Congratulations to all the shortlisted writers. Maybe one day we’ll be featuring your published book in WRD magazine. We hope so, and wish you all the best with your writing. WRD Magazine
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