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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 83 of 362

I love you

Submitted to Contest #213

I look closely into the mirror. My expression was odd - it naturally sprung into shape, but tightened like a man-made screw. My chest and eyes burned. I sigh.My father is a pathetic man. Its not just his appearance - its everything. You can always tell where he's recently been because he leaves behind this permeating, thickening, disgusting concoction of men's shampoo, microwaved chocolate croissants and alcohol. He always dresses like a beggar, some century-old shirt that sags and rips in some parody of minimalism. Yet he is never seen with...

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The Man with Fingers of Rose

Submitted to Contest #213

You've heard of the Midas touch? There once was a man with fingers of Rose. Everything he touched turned a beautiful shade of pink. He first noticed when he was growing up. He was a shy child, with a halo of beautiful blonde hair.His eyes were gleaming and blue.And everything he touched, from the ground to the blankets, to his books, to his mother's arms, turned a wonderful shade of rose gold.But it wasn't just that the change was into metal, it was also a certain loving energy, that came from his touch. Everything he touched turned into a s...

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Soul City

Submitted to Contest #213

It was mid-November, and she remembered it was her birthday. Well, it might be, she wasn’t sure. There would be no party, no gifts, nary a celebratory gesture from anyone; after all she was alone, with one exception. She pulled the tiny satchel from under her tattered jacket and reached inside. She was sure there were a few cookies left in the package from yesterday. It wasn’t much but it would sustain them until later. She felt the sting of her tears as she fed half of a cookie to her best friend and her reason for living, Maisie. A gratefu...

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You Had Me At Salve

Submitted to Contest #212

I heard Luna barking and looked at the time. It was around 6:30PM on a Friday and I knew exactly what that meant. “Shush, Luna”, I whispered as I ran out of the front door barefoot in my flowy yellow sundress to meet Derek, the mail man. “Hey Isabella”, Derek smiled, as he handed me my mail. “Hi Derek! Thanks!” I yelled as I ran back inside of my house. I walked to the deck in my backyard with Luna right on my heels. Taking in the sunset that Austin, Texas decided to bless us with that day. I always opened my letters on my deck and ima...

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Bridge of Ink

Submitted to Contest #212

In the quiet coastal town of Bluebell Cove, nestled between rolling hills and the vast expanse of the ocean, lived two young souls who had never met but were connected by the inks and papers that bridged the distance between them. Lily Marshall and James Thompson, separated by hundreds of miles, had been pen pals for as long as they could write. Lily, with her golden hair and a heart full of dreams, resided in a charming cottage by the sea. Her days were spent tending to her grandparents’ garden and capturing the beauty of the world with h...

11 likes 9 comments 9
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The Most Bestest Friends Ever

Submitted to Contest #212

Dear Elsie,   20th September 2004 I am Katie. Mommy says I am writing a letter to you. It’s for school. I don’t know who you are, but I hope that we can be best friends. I don’t have a best friend yet, so you can be mine. I am 5 years old, and I love animals and ice cream. Going outside is fun. Do you like to go outside? I love animals. What’s your favorite animal? I love dragons and dinosaurs. They are so cool.  Sincerely, Katie Dear Katie,    &n...

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My Dad, the Politician

Submitted to Contest #212

Dear Mister President Daddy, Mummy pointed you out on the TV yesterday. I’d been asking forever to meet my dad! I said “nice to meet you”, but now I’m sending it so you can hear it too. Mummy says you can't come to my birthday party, ‘cos you’re very busy, solving all the problems. She says I should be lucky I don't have any problems, but I wish I did so you could come to my party. Love you, Daddy, Dear Mr. Senator Daddy, Mummy says you’re not President, but a Senator. I’m sorry I called you President. I think you didn’t answer before ...

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Fated Delivery

Submitted to Contest #212

Fated DeliveryAnd in the front door of Efferty Drasso’s house, a letter is being dropped by the postman. Addressed to someone that Efferty doesn’t even know exist, but soon, he is going to find out more than he would bargain for.“Oh man, what a day…how dare he even say those things to me?! All the things I did for the company the whole month went down the river just like that! That asshole!”. These are his thoughts as he steps on his front door. “But the bills and letters keep coming no matter the crappy day you had to endure” he scoffed. An...

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A Sister's Relief

Submitted to Contest #212

It was another early, but cold spring day. The green buds on the trees contrasted the slightly ice-bitten ground. She pulled back from the window, forcing herself to focus on the morning’s tasks. Lunchbox, check. Backpack, check. Breakfast? Her hands fumbled as she opened the fridge. It was only Thursday, and the dwindling stock of food had to last another four days. “Well, at least I will fit into my spring dresses this year” – she whispered, instead indulging herself to a cup of coffee. She zipped up her sister’s backpack, placing ...

7 likes 2 comments 2
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Oops, There Goes Another Rubber Tree Plant

Submitted to Contest #212

“Next time you're found With your chin on the ground There’s a lot to be learned So look around Just what makes that little old ant Think he'll move that rubber tree plant Anyone knows an ant can't Move a rubber tree plant But he's got high hopes He's got high hopes He's got high apple pie In the sky hopes” --Frank Sinatra “When the sheep had all gone, the dragon had demanded that the people sacrifice a young maiden to him each day. Saint George found that all the young girls had now been killed and only the King of Egypt’s daughter was le...

18 likes 15 comments 15
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Prince Charming

Submitted to Contest #212

To my dearest granddaughter, Juliet Guinevere. Happy birthday, my darling! Sweet sixteen: such a milestone of a birthday! Such romance, such hope, such maturity not yet marred enough by age to relinquish fairy-tales and fantasy. Though I hate to be apart from you on such an occasion, distance matters not for I do cherish and enjoy the relationship of pen-pals we have developed over the years.  On this, your most happy day, I have a story to share with you. And sweet sixteen is the perfect time in which to receive it since your wisdo...

6 likes 0 comments 0
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Kindly Disregard This Letter

Submitted to Contest #212

Kindly Disregard This LetterMay 1Mom THIS CAMP SUCKS!!! IT’S A PRISON!!!!  As soon as we got here, they took away our phones and tablets! I remember Grandpa telling those stories from the old days—you know, the 80s—when Russians put their own people in prison. I think he called it a “gulag”. They told us technology was interfering with our appreciation of nature. What a load of bull! The other girls suck too. There’s one, Katie, who thinks she’s the GOAT just because she started wearing a bra. Big deal. The sooner she has to start weari...

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Goodbye Amere

Submitted to Contest #212

To my dearest Amere, I can’t do this anymore. I can’t continue to play these silly games with you. I’m in love with you, and I think I’ve made that perfectly clear. I know that you don’t feel for me what I feel for you. I wanted to tell you how I felt, but I was terrified. I didn’t want you to reject me again. You already expressed that you weren’t looking for a relationship; You said that you didn’t want to blur any lines, but we’ve been doing that for over a year now. You rejected me, but you continued to text, call occasionally, flirt ...

8 likes 2 comments 2
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Sarah and the Ferris Wheel

Submitted to Contest #212

Sarah Sarsaparilla has been going around in circles. She calls it the merry go round but her mother calls it the Ferris wheel, because she always seems to go up before coming down to earth and crashing. You’ve been working the same job at Bill’s Aquarium for 7 years her mother whines, over another plate of sour potatoes and sour peas. What ingredient makes them sour? Sarah thinks that her mother bottles up all the whining and puts it in a special bottle, then dumps it in every dish she makes. That can only explain the sour taste she adds to ...

11 likes 2 comments 2
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The Heartbeat of Home: Nutmeg’s Tale

Submitted to Contest #211

The early morning sun cast a warm golden hue over the quaint coastal town in Jamaica, heralding the dawn of yet another delightful day. While most of the town was still submerged in dreams, a certain backyard was already brimming with activity. Nutmeg, an effervescent ball of fur, greeted the day with infectious excitement. This was not merely a pet dog but a source of boundless joy and inspiration for her owner. As the first rays of sunlight washed over the garden, they highlighted the playful dance of a creature with an unparalleled zest...

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RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

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