In the middle of May, the Iowa Youth Writing Project, in collaboration with the University of Iowa's College of Education Teaching and Learning Department, Iowa Reading Association, and Eastern Iowa Reading Council, hosted a reading and celebration for the 2025 Southeastern Iowa Short Story and Poetry Contest winners! 

 

 

During the event, our writers read their winning pieces, which are featured in this anthology. 

Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate the talented young writers in their lives, and thank you to all the incredible young writers who shared their work with us! We are so proud to be a part of your writing journey.