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Looking for a steady supply of teens & young adult short stories? Every week thousands of writers submit stories to our writing contest.

5420+ Teens & young adult Short Stories to read

Submitted by writers on Reedsy Prompts to our weekly writing contest. Looking for the best short stories for teens? Our collection of funny, suspenseful, and relatable young adult short stories will meet your needs.

Teens & young adult Short Stories – Page 307 of 362

Lilies

Submitted to Contest #74

I always hated the rain. I hate the fact that I need to buy an extra-large umbrella to cover my tall body so the splash won’t be near enough to ricochet onto my legs. I hate that I need to change into something dry immediately or I’ll lose heat and catch a three-day cold. I hate that my food deliveries would most likely be delayed (or even worse, cancelled) due to the heavy pour. It did happen, you see, my order once got cancelled. It was the first time my parents left me alone at the house, and left me money for me to order something. I sta...

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Becoming Myself

Submitted to Contest #74

The Elvish weren't a cruel people...but they certainly weren't the most heartwarming race. As soon as we reached 10 years of age, we were locked into a magically barriered property for a year as we grew into our abilities and developed out powers. Basically, in the year that an Elf matures...from 10 years of age to 11 years of age that said elf was locked away in a 5 acre property by themselves for a year. It sounded barbaric I know, I still think it is...but it's a bit different when you are living it. In this year of our development we wer...

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Never Gave Me a Reason

Submitted to Contest #74

OneI’m sitting in the back of the taxi, headphones in and forehead against the window. Letting the cold seep into my forehead as the music fills the silence, I close my eyes. I’m trying to remember if I had grabbed my mother’s present from my desk, or if I was going to have to buy a back up gift when I arrived in Denver, again. How many airport ornaments could I give her before she stopped letting me in the door? The answer was that there was no limit, but by now she should have known how terrible of a child I was. I should have been able to...

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Trapped

Submitted to Contest #74

Day 1: “Don’t be a pest Diana, go play with your friend,” I gestured at Lily Kennels. Diana rolled her eyes at me, slumping back to Lily. “Dad… why did we need to bring them along?” I made sure to speak softly. “Geez Abby… it’s only one day… can’t you adjust?” “No,” I snapped, folding my hands. “Behave,” He warned. I groaned.  If only my little sister hadn't been BFF’s with the sister of an annoying jerk. Tony… ugh, I hated him. Ever since we were little he’d tease me, steal my jacket and throw it in the boys bathroom. I’d cry, wail… co...

44 likes 98 comments 98
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Ten Seconds 'Till Death

Submitted to Contest #74

I’ve heard about someone’s life flashing in front of their eyes before they die. But mine was more of a movie. An old-fashioned movie. The scenes of my life slowly unfolded, shifting from one to the other on a tape. I could almost hear the clicking sound of the transitions. And somehow, I knew that I had ten seconds before the car would hit me, therefore killing me. And then the movie started.10 secondsI was the stereotypical “nerd” in middle school: I always had my nose in a book. I loved reading, it gave me an excuse to escape the real wor...

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365 Days of Letter

Submitted to Contest #74

31st December, 1988Another year was on the verge of ending, while another was on its edge of arrival. Streets flooded with lights and new year resolutions, posters and countdown clocks adorned all the main roads. Shops were decorated with balloons and posters of their sales; small bakeries and restaurants spread aroma in the air, while the luxurious giants lured people with their glamour and grandeur. The streets buzzed with people- happiness was in the air. I felt reluctant to go home, but I knew I had to.After a day's work, a man is expect...

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Summer holidays

Submitted to Contest #74

“No way! I hate her! Why do you always make me go there?!” shouted Patrick, landing his fork on the table with a loud bang and leaving a greasy stain of white sauce on the polished surface.“Don`t even get me started, young man,” his mother lifted her index finger with that warning look on her face that Patrick knew all too well. “You will stay at Debbie`s and then we all will go to Spain.”Patrick was furious. His mother just ruined his whole day by announcing that he was going to spend the whole month of July at his aunt Debbie`s place in a ...

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Top Ten Reasons Why Rosemary Bart (Me) Should Not Die.

Submitted to Contest #74

1. My mom would cry.I’ve only seen my mom cry once in my life. I was sitting in the backseat of her old Honda Civic on the way back from my father’s funeral when I heard it. A sniffle. A wipe. A sigh. I was playing with a small Barbie doll that I had gotten from a fast food place earlier in the day. I reached against the restraint of my seatbelt to hand my mom the little doll to try and comfort her. She glanced away from the road and into the rear-view mirror to see me. I watched her face harden into an emotionless state and t...

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Top Ten Things to Try Before I Toss Off

Submitted to Contest #74

1.     Have Fun Terminal cancer is probably the definition of not fun. So the first thing I have to try before I die is to have as much fun as possible. For me, that looks like doing all the things I held myself back from doing before, out of fear, out of embarrassment. Because now, what the hell do I have to lose? I’ve never played Twister before. Never with my cousins or classmates. Never with my friends. Never with boys…one boy in particular. I always looked exciting on TV. Sure, it’s a game for little kids, but I...

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Life on a knife-edge

Submitted to Contest #74

His gaunt face illuminated under his hood as he drew in hard on the last of his spliff. He nonchalantly flicked away the butt, narrowly missing a homeless guy bundled up in his sleeping bag home against the railings. He always kept one hand in his pocket these days, turning the knife over and over in his palm. A modern-day comfort blanket. As he stepped from the curb, Jackson, was oblivious.He was oblivious to the twelve tonnes of red double-decker bus that was about to take his life. It would strike him on his right side. Oblivious to the f...

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Marks Of Life

Submitted to Contest #74

This is a story of a teenager who marked the days of her life. The story of a father and a motner who didn't give up to encourage their daughter to fight and survive a deadly disease. Her eyes are staring blank on the ceiling. She lost half of her weight. She can barely move. Lily Anderson is sufferng from leukemia. Beside her bed, are tally marks on the wall, indicating the number of days she's been hospitalized. "Good morning darling, did you sleep well" her mother greeted her. "Daddy will be here tomorrow, on youf 16th birthday" said ...

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Violet's letter

Submitted to Contest #74

Day 1: The letterThe Party of a lifetime, Alex himself got invited. The letter felt old and the paper was thin and valuable. Dear Alex:Alex, I’ve heard a lot about you, even if you don’t know. I know how you act, what you look like and I know your girlfriend, Hailey. Though this might seem creepy that I know everything about you and that you know absolutely nothing about me, it helped me decide that you’re perfect for this. You’re invited to a party. Not any ordinary party, like come on, you’d just ignore this letter if it was an ordina...

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Closing Line

Submitted to Contest #74

One. BANG! Willow crumples on to the flagstones. I can see her arm laid about above her head, the grey linen sleeve slowly dyeing red with blood. She decided not to jump. I’m not surprised. She was always skittish, hesitant; she didn’t have what it takes. Not like me. Two. No bang, instead a strange, visceral scream; involuntary. Aspen jumped. Again, I could have predicted this. She was Oak’s deputy and she’d done most of the legwork for our plan; mapping routes, figuring out where we could tunnel, where we could climb and where we coul...

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Miles away from the finish line

Submitted to Contest #74

The minute I saw the ground barrelling towards me I knew it wasn’t a good idea to hurl myself out of a plane and the annoyance I currently feel towards myself sitting in bed icing my collar bone supports what I felt in that moment. Every year on new year’s my family and I compete in a race to see who can complete the most goals on their bucket list. Joe, my cousin, has been reigning champion for the past two years. This year, I really thought I had the Bucket List trophy in the bag, you know, jumping out of a plane and all, but turns out I ...

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Top Ten Reasons I Fell In Love With the New Kid- that’s you btw---THIS IS ME ANSWERING YOUR LOVE LETTER

Submitted to Contest #74

Top Ten Reasons I Fell In Love With the New Kid- that’s you btw---THIS IS ME ANSWERING YOUR LOVE LETTER 10) When Mr. Stoby asked you to introduce yourself you said  everything but your name (I love the Avengers too) 9) Instead of sitting with the cool kids like they invited you to-you just plopped your but where you wanted at the closest seat (which was next to me) 8) You're really funny (but you are quiet about it, which is considerate seeing that we're in class and all that) 7) You wear t-shirts that say stupid things but that...

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RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

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