Write about a character stumbling upon a library book that changes the course of their life, for better or worse.

Posted in Middle School on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 207 stories

“Once in a Lifetime” by Liza Anne

Submitted to Contest #91

Emily scrambles out of the school building with her notebook and pencil in hand and backpack unzipped. She runs and runs as if she is being hunted by all the other students. In reality, they stare at her with unsettled apprehension or disconcerted surprise as they carry on their own way. Emily boards the bus, using her student ID to get a free pass, and begins putting away her notebook and pencil. When she zips her bag she makes eye contact with the guy across from her. She can tell what he’s thinking; why would you run out of class without ...

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“The Long Walk Home” by Kanika G

Submitted to Contest #91

“What!” exclaimed Pam, gaping at her friend Jessica from across the library table. As several students turned around to look at their table, Jessica mouthed a sorry to them. “Quiet, please, Pam,” she urged her irate friend, “or Mrs. Walker will throw us out again and I still need to finish my assignment.” Pam shook her head, her ringlets bouncing around over her shoulders. “I cannot believe it. You’re ditching us again,” she whispered. Jessica reached across the table and held her friend’s hand. “Look, I’m sorry. ...

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“Shelly meets Jim - Burning Bronze - Chapter 4” by Clinton Ernest Murphy

Submitted to Contest #91

The specter of vomit wafting around my Jaguar reinforced my decision to be done with dating for a very long time. Jason wasn’t the straw the broke the camel’s back, he crushed the entire camel like a pallet of bricks dropped from a fourth story window.I pulled into the North Orleans Street parking garage and swiped my card. I knew it wasn’t the closest parking garage to the Harold Washington Library, but I was scared to park on the South Side of Chicago. I knew it was ridiculous. I was going to buy my coffee at my favorite south side coffee ...

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“The Dragon Queen” by Nainika Gupta

Submitted to Contest #91

Circe ran down the gold-inlaid hallway, her heart pounding. She skidded to a stop in front of the copper doors, eying the guards standing at attention nervously. “I have something for the Queen,” she told them. They looked at each other, then the one on the left held out his hand. “Your scale,” he growled. She winced but handed over her dark red scale. Her body tingled as the small object responsible for her entire life left her touch. He inspected it for a second, then opened the door. She walked through them and down the throne r...

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“for the forgotten” by Claire Lindsey

Submitted to Contest #91

Erica entered the library and instantly wanted to leave. The cold stone architecture and crowded shelves intimidated her. She felt small and overshadowed, walking towards the foreign aisles with little more poise than a tourist entering a bazaar.“Can I help you?” the librarian asked, apparently picking up on her hesitation. “No, thanks,” Erica replied. She didn’t know what she was looking for, anyway. Wasn’t even sure why she’d walked in.As a kid, Erica hated books. She’d often grown angry at the way the words were stacked together on t...

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“Twelve Years in a Tower” by Arwen Dove

Submitted to Contest #91

Okay, so I didn’t actually mean to stumble upon that book, but I knew it was there. Always there, watching me, waiting for the right time to strike. And no, I’m not exaggerating.My name is Emmeline Whistle, and I am a detective. Well, sort of anyway. Ever since I was a baby, Mummy and Daddy said they could see that some day, I was going to do something wonderful. And I am, I mean, I will… It just hasn’t happened yet. Mummy says it might happen when I’m older, but I’m twelve years old already! If it doesn’t happen now, then it ...

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“Anxious in the Brian” by Mina Kovačević

Submitted to Contest #91

TW: suicide ideation *** Do you ever get those episodes of not knowing what to do with your life, thinking that this is the last season of it? Is Netflix canceling my life during the second season ‘cause no one cares to watch? Are the scriptwriters fired for adding too many mental illnesses to the plot? Feeling like a scrambled egg when there’s nothing really wrong; being disorganized, without a structure nor the ability to focus on the things that you know you could be doing but just can’t get that dump truck out of the quicksan...

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“The Heart-throb with Brown Eyes” by Jasey Lovegood

Submitted to Contest #91

The Heart-throb with Brown EyesDarcy dragged their finger down the spines of books, suddenly stopping at random. They pulled the book out of the shelf, read the blurb, and nodded, satisfied.“The Heart-throb with Brown Eyes, hmm. I've never seen this book before, it must be new,” They whispered to themself, carrying the book to the librarian’s counter. “Just this book please,” They handed it to the old woman, who smiled and scanned it.“Do you have your library card with you, Miss Atkinson?” Mrs Cox-Stuart asked, and Darcy handed that over as ...

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“Lady Blade Kiss 💋” by Skyler Woods

Submitted to Contest #91

Henry loved reading horror novels and so did his daughter, Chloe. But there was one horror novel in particular that made Henry wish he had never borrowed it from the library.Henry stumbled across the horror novel. The nightmares began after he read the book. It got so bad that Henry dreaded going to sleep. Every night, he’d read his daughter a bedtime story, wishing that he could read to his little girl through the night without needing to go to sleep himself. Henry thought that taking the horror novel back to the library and returning ...

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“Read Me” by Svara Narasiah

Submitted to Contest #91

Read me... Read me... READ ME... Iris looked up from the book he had been reading, eyes wide and heart racing. He looked around, first at the tall bookshelves surrounding his table, then at the pile of novels beside him. He could have sworn he heard a voice... No. It was nothing, he was just tired. Iris rubbed his eyes and yawned. How long had he been sitting there? Four hours, according to his watch. READ ME! Iris jumped up from his chair. That didn't sound like it came from his head. The voice sounded strange, not human. It...

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“A Book as Old as Time” by Valerie June

Submitted to Contest #91

You walk toward a familiar desk where a small pot of scarlet geraniums stands guard over the most precious of desks. A fake gold plaque is propped up against the pot bearing the majestic word “Librarian” on it.An aromatic smell greets your nose. You’re unsure whether the fragrance is coming from the desk christened librarian or the flowers. Either way, it is a delightful smell.“Good morning,” you tell the desk with the plaque and pot.“Hello,” the desk says back. “Ready for your next book?”“Yeah. I finished reading the book you recommended la...

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“Powerful Library” by Caroline Fonteno

Submitted to Contest #91

“Come on.”I whispered to myself. “You can do this.”I was outside the library wanting to go in. It was after hours and I really wanted a book. I had meant to go during study hall but I had been texting Sarah. Ugggg. I mean why is this such a big deal? I’m going to go inside, grab the book I want and then leave. Nothing wrong with that. Right? Well anyways I stood outside the library for what seemed like forever and then I came inside. Thank goodness there is no lock on the door. The library was erie at night; the huge shelves cast shadows aro...

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“The Library Canary” by Ed .

Submitted to Contest #91

I wake up to the birds calling to me again. They have the same spark of imagination in their eyes and the beautiful song they sing. I like birds. I peer at them through the cracks in the curtains then opening the window to get some air, I reach into my pocket and give them some bread. They eat it thoughtfully then fly away into the sunrise. I smile and get to work. I start to write my schedule for today.Get upGet changedgo to school if it is a school dayIf not a school day go down to the dairy to get some milkIf a school day walk home at 3:0...

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“The Book of the Beast” by Angeliki P

Submitted to Contest #91

As a child, Isa never spoke of her travels. She feared the others wouldn’t believe her. Growing older, she feared that they would. She did not want to end up ostracized like her friend Alys, who saw hallucinations and spoke about them until all the other children believed her to be either a liar or a loon. Nobody had believed Alys except Isa. Perhaps because Isa was different, too. The neighborhood regarded Isa as a quiet, odd child. What could one expect? She did not look or behave like the other children. Her father was an African immigr...

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“Mr. Not-So-Perfect” by Lily Kingston

Submitted to Contest #91

Already saddened by this choice, I weighed the two options in my hands with a heart heavier than them both combined. How to Pick up Guys: For the Semi-Desperate and About-To-Get-A-Cat Type of Lonely in my right and How to Pick Up Guys: For the Extra Desperate and People Who Need Wedding Dates Within a Week in my left. I stumbled upon them half an hour ago during my daily scan of the library for any romance books I haven’t already read during my lonely weekend nights and decided to give one a chance. I don’t like cats and have no engag...

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Write about a character stumbling upon a library book that changes the course of their life, for better or worse.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 207 stories

“Once in a Lifetime” by Liza Anne

“The Long Walk Home” by Kanika G

“Shelly meets Jim - Burning Bronze - Chapter 4” by Clinton Ernest Murphy

“The Dragon Queen” by Nainika Gupta

“for the forgotten” by Claire Lindsey

“Twelve Years in a Tower” by Arwen Dove

“Anxious in the Brian” by Mina Kovačević

“The Heart-throb with Brown Eyes” by Jasey Lovegood

“Lady Blade Kiss 💋” by Skyler Woods

“Read Me” by Svara Narasiah

“A Book as Old as Time” by Valerie June

“Powerful Library” by Caroline Fonteno

“The Library Canary” by Ed .

“The Book of the Beast” by Angeliki P

“Mr. Not-So-Perfect” by Lily Kingston

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about someone going to extreme lengths to return an overdue library book.

Start your story with a stern librarian scolding two characters for making noise in the library.

Write about a character who meticulously catalogs everything in their life, until something disrupts their system.

Set your story in a library, after hours.

Contest #91

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

769

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: