How We Strived by Suhaira Haq

2024 finalist: Grades 7 to 9 category

Image | The First Page 2024 finalist: Suhaira Haq

Caption: (Submitted by Suhaira Haq)

How We Strived by Suhaira Haq is a finalist in the 2024 First Page student writing challenge in the Grades 7 to 9 category for 2024.
Students across Canada wrote the first page of a novel set 150 years in the future, imagining how a current-day trend or issue has played out. More than 1,500 students submitted their stories.
The shortlist was selected by a team of expert CBC readers. The winners will be selected by middle-grade writer Basil Sylvester and be announced on June 12.
Haq, 12, a student at Ernest Linder School in Saskatoon, writes about brutal wars.

Upon entering my room, you'll immediately feel the perfect harmony between technology and nature. The soft sound of a flowing stream and the calming fragrance of fresh flowers will greet you with open arms. The walls are adorned with captivating vistas of lush forests and cascading waterfalls, evoking a deep sense of peace and serenity.
The sound of my sister's hurried footsteps reaches my ears.The niqab she wore was a cherry-painted color. I was observing how it gracefully swayed with each step, as if it possessed its own spirit.
"Maryam, we must hurry, grab the prayer mat!"
In commemoration of 150 years of peace and revival, individuals from all walks of life come together to honor the extension of our existence on this Earth. The muslims, here in Palestine gather beneath the majestic olive tree, joining in prayer and holding onto their tasbih, a sacred necklace. United by peace, they stand shoulder to shoulder, seeking solace beneath the protective branches of the olive tree.
I swiftly descend the staircase, closely following my sister, and make my way downstairs, where I find Mama struggling to prepare my little brother as he wriggles about.
"Where is Papa?" I inquire, but before anyone can respond, I spot him outside.
Slipping on my slippers adorned with floral patterns, I step outside, only to be immediately greeted by the scorching heat of summer, striking my face like a searing iron. I hasten towards Papa and guide him towards the shade of the shops lining the road.
"If your grandfather were alive today, he would never seek shelter from the sun."
He speaks with a sense of longing, reminiscing about how his father used to share stories of those challenging times of the war and the constant fear that accompanied them in the daylight.
"Even in the darkest moments, grandpa believed in finding happiness amidst despair."
The memories of his father's past weigh heavily on his voice, causing it to quiver.
Our world teetered on the edge of destruction due to the brutal wars that ravaged our lands a century and a half ago.The relentless battles tore families apart, decimated communities, and reduced our once thriving planet to ruins. Determined to prevent the horrors of war from haunting us any longer, the global community united to ensure a future devoid of violence. Through compassion and understanding, we embarked on a journey of rejuvenation.

About The First Page student writing challenge(external link)

Image | The First Page student writing challenge

Caption: The First Page student writing challenge asks students in Grades 7 to 12 to write the first page of a novel from 150 years in the future. (Ben Shannon/CBC)

CBC Books(external link) asked students to give us a glimpse of the great Canadian novel of the year 2174. They wrote the first page of a book set 150 years in the future, with the protagonist facing an issue that's topical today and set the scene for how it's all playing out in a century and a half.
Two winning entries — one from the Grades 7 to 9 category and one from the Grades 10 to 12 category — will be chosen by middle-grade author Basil Sylvester.
They are the co-author of the middle-grade novel The Fabulous Zed Watson and the recently published second book in the series, Night of the Living Zed.
Both winners will receive a one-year subscription to OwlCrate(external link), which sends fresh boxes of books to young readers across Canada on a monthly basis. In addition, each winners' school libraries will receive 50 free YA books.
Last year's winners were Christian A. Yiouroukis for his story Where the Maple Leaf Grows(external link) and Bee Lang for their story One Question(external link).
The winner will be announced on CBC Books(external link) on June 12, 2024.