Canton Writes 2025 winners

The Friends of the Canton Public Library are pleased to announce the winners of the 2025 edition of Canton Writes, the annual town-wide writing contest sponsored by the Friends of the Library and the Canton Citizen.

Hannah Bates poses with three of her Hansen fourth grade students who took home top prizes in this year’s contest: Mae McCarthy (3rd place, short story), Meha Nagaruri-Gonchi (2nd place, nonfiction), and Benjamin Romero Otavo (1st place, nonfiction).

More than 100 total entries were submitted this year in the categories of poetry, short story and nonfiction/memoir. First-, second- and third-place winners were awarded by age group and recognized during awards nights held on June 10 and 11.

Many thanks to all who entered and to this year’s judges: Andrea Capone, Nancy Mark, Chris Untersee, Joanne Wheeler, Maura Bayliss, Sylvia Cormier, Beth Magann, Bernard Mendillo, Sherry Alpert, Andrew Capraro, Lori Fanara and Jay Turner.

Canton Writes would also like to thank committee members Kevin Boyce (chair) and Peg Mead; Bill Quinn and the Friends of the Library; the Canton library staff for their ongoing support; and Mary Jane and Tim Mangan for putting together the 2025 Canton Writes book.

First-place entries will be published in the Canton Citizen throughout the summer as space permits. Below are the winners in each category:

Poetry

Grades K-2: 1st – “I’m Brave” by Elise Jochebed Apraku Bondzie; 2nd – “Basketball” by Theo Aylward; 3rd – “The Goalie Poem” by Hannah Shabshelowitz

Grades 3-5: 1st – “Me (Every Reader)” by Michael Miti; 2nd – “The Adventure of Pencil and Ruler” by Harry Cedrone; 3rd – “Circle” by Alexis Au-Young

Middle School: 1st – “Her Body, Her Verse” by Avika Shukla; 2nd – “Watermelons” by Kristiyan Hadzhiev; 3rd – “The Cherry Tree” by Daksh Nayak

High School: 1st – “Why I Run” by Lexi Piazza; 2nd – “Free” by Molly O’Brien; 3rd (tie) – “Priest in Dismay” by Marie V. Tomasi and “After the Rain Stops – A Pastoral Poem” by Euniss Yoyo

Adult: 1st – “where am I?” by Lilli Carrington; 2nd – “Nature’s Way” by Robert Johnson; 3rd – “ENek Unek” by Naomi O. Akan

Short Story

Grades K-2: 1st – “The Forest Friends” by Ruby Wilson; 2nd – “Chandni and the Lost Pegasus” by Avani Shukla; 3rd – “The Lost Farm Boy” by Aiza Manha Basim

Grades 3-5: 1st – “A World Without Words” by Rory Marie Breare; 2nd – “A Day in the Life of a Seal” by Ariana Billini; 3rd – “The Girl in the Lake” by Mae McCarthy

Middle School: 1st – “The Time I Stopped 9/11” by Gionny David Maguire-Mosquera; 2nd – “Searching for the Sound” by Kate Giannacopoulas; 3rd – “The Cursed Play” by Lyla Brodney

High School: 1st – “A Final Dance” by Danny DeLuca; 2nd – “We Are Still a Family” by Katherine Gweth; 3rd – “Stunted” by Sagy Sobhy

Adult: 1st – “Harold and George” by Darren Bouwmeester; 2nd – “Chatting Bots” by Tara Chiatovich; 3rd – “This Happened” by Monica Adhiambo Onyango

Nonfiction/Memoir

Grades K-2: 1st – “Ice Skating” by Rylie Ciampa; 2nd – “The Hurt Day” by James Bowen; 3rd – “All About My Baby Brother Elijah” by Elise Jochebed Apraku Bondzie

Grades 3-5: 1st – “My Difficult Life in USA” by Benjamin Romero Otavo; 2nd – “Lola” by Meha Nagaruri-Gonchi; 3rd – “Lupe’s Attitude” by Christian Bien-Aime

Middle School: 1st – “Remembering Through a Stuffed Animal” by Annelie Jean-Baptiste; 2nd – “Discrimination Limiting Transgender Rights” by Zara Johnson; 3rd – “Avoiding Controversy” by Emily Tormey

Adult: 1st – “Don’t Take It for Granted” by Jane Eagles; 2nd – “A Magical Place” by Pat Sullivan

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Posted by Canton Citizen on Jul 4 2025. Filed under Featured Content. Both comments and pings are currently closed.