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

"It feels amazing. I never thought I would win this contest, but I'm so happy I did. I've entered this contest since grade seven, and the fact I won in my last year is incredible. I'm very thankful to everyone who got me into the top eleven and to Basil for choosing me as the finalist," Peters said.

"I focused on creating a world that drew people in and left them wanting more, so I'm glad that was acknowledged. This has made me realize how important it is to hook your readers right at the beginning and not let go."

She also spoke about why it's important for young writers to put themselves out there.

"Contests push you to write your best, and it's important to push your writing skills. Whether that's because it's in a different genre or a different style, it's always good to explore new ways to write. Besides, you can't win if you don't try."

My virtual reality glasses were acting up.

I expected to see store hours, reviews, and the people inside—but the only thing visible was the store name, just as it would appear in reality.

"Work," I said, shaking the glasses. As if that'd change anything.

Despite my desperation, I couldn't afford to fix them. The government assigned glasses to everyone every ten years, but they didn't pay for repairs—and glasses started breaking down around eight years. For a couple of months a while back, I was paying glasses fees over rent.

I continued walking, trying not to despair over doing that again. It wasn't so bad living without a house. People blocked you, so they could only see a grey outline of a person. After a while, nobody would know that you were the one homeless. If you stayed that way too long… soon, nobody would know you exist.

"I'm fine, I'm fine," I said to myself, hoping everyone had 'outside chatter' on mute. "I'll just live with half-functioning glasses."

I had only taken a few steps before I saw a pair of Legacy glasses—glasses only the upper class could afford—beside a garbage can. There were so many ways to recycle the glasses. Why would someone throw them away? Figuring it wouldn't hurt, I grabbed the glasses, switching them out. I blinked, confused. Where usually a broken down building was, there was now a library advertising paper books. Further down the street, a computer store, advertising the same essential functions of VR.

"How is that possible?" I took the glasses off, and the world didn't change. I put my old glasses on, and the library and computer store disappeared, replaced by the old buildings.

"What?" I said, putting the new pair back on. "Why are they—"

I stopped talking as words flashed across my screen. 'The VR landscape has had four new edits, including three blocked stores and one banned person.' My eyes widened.

"Banned? They can ban people from VR?"

My glasses replied to me, saying, 'Police found them with augmented glasses.'

I ripped off the glasses, staring at them. Any type of augmented glasses—like these—were illegal. However, they worked and would mark me as the upper class. I'd get better opportunities with these. It was dangerous, but I wouldn't be homeless.

I threw my old glasses in the garbage.

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.