Thadani spoke to CBC Books about what it means being chosen as the winner of the First Page.

"I'm so grateful to have my 'first page' chosen as the winner. The other entries I read on the shortlist were so impressive and creative. I've loved to write since I was little, and winning has given me much more confidence in my writing," said Thadani.

"I think it's great an excellent opportunity for young writers to showcase their work and ideas. It gave me a chance to step outside my comfort zone and share my work to a wider audience. I'm so glad that I entered, as it's boosted my confidence, and given me the motivation I needed to continue writing. Branching out from my usual style of fantasy is exactly what I needed, and this competition has shown me the value of sharing my work and driven me to keep writing."

Snowflakes drift from the heavy clouds, a thin layer covering the sidewalk. I glance at the calendar, even though I already know the date. February 3, 2174.

"Windows," I say. "Shades off."

The shades fade, letting light come in through the windows so that we can see the snow. The climate wars in the 2040s left a noticeable mark on the planet. The air was thick with pollution, with few of the old countries habitable. Now, the seasons are stabilizing, and snow is falling at a usual time of year again. Until recently, the state of the world was worse than it had been before the wars.

Resources had been scarce, and most people had fled northward. The world is finally falling back into a new normal, and cities are rebuilding. With the help of modern technology, it's hard not to feel like the world will return to what it should be.
My little brother, Iniko, is placing silverware onto the table, and my parents are preparing dinner, talking quietly.

"It's snowing!" I say.

Iniko's head swivels around and he walks over to the window, pressing his face onto the glass. Pounding on our front door breaks the easy silence. Since my parents are busy, I hurry to open it. A woman dressed in a white uniform stands there, with a taller woman behind her, a gun strapped to her back. The steel in her spine and the watchfulness in her eyes say that she's calm, but ready to jump into a fight if needed. Her quiet presence tells me that she's used to waiting, but never lets her guard down.

In the first woman's hands, there are four clear boxes, each holding several syringes.

"For you and your family," she says, handing me the boxes.

I nod my head in thanks, then close the door as they leave. Heading back inside, I put the boxes onto the kitchen counter. We were supposed to have gotten these last night, and Iniko has had a fever since he woke up.

I don't need to look at the syringes to know that they're all inscribed with the words "Davis: Stem cell therapy". Without it, my family, and so many others wouldn't be here. Food and water are no longer the most valuable things. This medication is.

CBC Books 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, 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 and Bee Lang for their story One Question.