missouri youth write 2015 · 11 | missouri youth write 2015 gold key afton apodaca poetry: this is...

Missouri Youth Write 2015 | 2

Table of Contents GOLD Key Alton Apodaca ....................................................... Poetry .......................................................................... 11 Jane Bachkora ......................................... Personal Essay/Memoir............................................................. 13 Maggie Bauer ........................................................ Poetry .......................................................................... 14 Alison Boehmer ....................................... Personal Essay/Memoir............................................................. 15 ......................................................................... Critical Essay ..................................................................... 17 ................................................................ Personal Essay/Memoir............................................................. 21 ................................................................ Personal Essay/Memoir............................................................. 22 ........................................................................... Journalism ....................................................................... 23 ................................................................ Personal Essay/Memoir............................................................. 25 ......................................................................... Critical Essay ..................................................................... 27 London Brewer .................................................. Short Story ....................................................................... 32 Emma Burton ........................................................ Poetry .......................................................................... 36 Emma Campbell ...................................... Science Fiction/Fantasy ............................................................. 38 Orunima Chakraborti ....................................... Flash Fiction ...................................................................... 43 .............................................................................. Poetry .......................................................................... 44 Jason Chen ........................................................ Short Story ....................................................................... 46 Rachel Colligan ................................................. Flash Fiction ...................................................................... 48 Anna DeSalvo .................................................... Short Story ....................................................................... 50 Arjun Devraj ............................................ Personal Essay/Memoir............................................................. 54 Anthony Dudley ................................................ Short Story ....................................................................... 56 Harper Dziedzic ................................................. Short Story ....................................................................... 57 Chloe Echols ..................................................... Short Story ....................................................................... 62 Bailey Fisli .......................................................... Short Story ....................................................................... 64 Maiya Foster ......................................................... Poetry .......................................................................... 67 Emily Francis ........................................... Personal Essay/Memoir............................................................. 69 Michel Ge ................................................ Personal Essay/Memoir............................................................. 71 Collin Gentry ......................................................... Humor .......................................................................... 72 Cara Gose .......................................................... Short Story ....................................................................... 73 Madelyne Hartleroad ............................................ Poetry .......................................................................... 77 Henry Heidger ....................................................... Poetry .......................................................................... 78 .............................................................................. Poetry .......................................................................... 79 Mack Hoagland ..................................................... Poetry .......................................................................... 81 Khalid Ibdah ............................................ Science Fiction/Fantasy ............................................................. 82 Massiel Islas ...................................................... Short Story ....................................................................... 85 Maren Johnston ...................................... Personal Essay/Memoir............................................................. 88 Keegan Justis ......................................................... Poetry .......................................................................... 89 Spencer Kunz ......................................................... Poetry .......................................................................... 91 Brooklyn Lance ........................................ Science Fiction/Fantasy ............................................................. 92 Selena Lee ........................................................ Critical Essay ..................................................................... 96 Olivia Long ......................................................... Short Story ....................................................................... 98 ................................................................ Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 101 Morgan Luis............................................. Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 104 Harrison Macon ............................................. Dramatic Script ................................................................. 106 Hunter Madison .................................................... Poetry ........................................................................ 110

3 | Missouri Youth Write 2015

.............................................................................. Poetry ........................................................................ 111 GOLD Key continued Sophia Marusic ...................................................... Poetry ........................................................................ 112 Alicia Meehan .................................................... Journalism ..................................................................... 113 Julie Nguyen ............................................ Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 116 Annaliese Novinger ........................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 118 Lauren Pike .................................................... Writing Portfolio ................................................................ 122 Amudha Porchezhian .............................. Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 133 Katie Reed ............................................................. Poetry ........................................................................ 135 Maddy Scannell ....................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 137 Kathleen Schmidt .................................................. Poetry ........................................................................ 139 Natalie Siegel .................................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 142 Abigail Smith ..................................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 145 Emma Sullivan ......................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 149 Teresa Tang ............................................. Science Fiction/Fantasy ........................................................... 151 Cameron Jaede Thompson ..................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 155 Ashley Tohm ............................................ Science Fiction/Fantasy ........................................................... 156 Alexander Vanover ........................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 159 Faith Vietor ...................................................... Critical Essay ................................................................... 163 Victoria Williams ............................................ Dramatic Script ................................................................. 165 Emma Willibey ...................................................... Poetry ........................................................................ 168 Natalie Wohlgemuth ......................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 169 Abby Wolff ....................................................... Flash Fiction .................................................................... 172 Yueyi (Emily) Zhao ......................................... Writing Portfolio ................................................................ 174 ......................................................................... Flash Fiction .................................................................... 183 .......................................................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 184 SILVER Key Meghan Amos ......................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 188 Batool Anwar .......................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 190 Afton Apodaca ...................................................... Poetry ........................................................................ 192 Luke Arnce............................................................. Poetry ........................................................................ 195 .............................................................................. Poetry ........................................................................ 197 Jane Bachkora ......................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 198 Tanner Banks ........................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 199 Olivia Bearden ................................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 200 Kathleen Beetner .................................................. Poetry ........................................................................ 208 Alayna N. Berschauer ....................................... Flash Fiction .................................................................... 210 ......................................................................... Flash Fiction .................................................................... 211 Crystal Billings .................................................. Short Story ..................................................................... 212 Anna Blachar ......................................................... Poetry ........................................................................ 216 Danielle Boyle .................................................. Short Story ..................................................................... 217 Abigail Caldwell ..................................................... Poetry ........................................................................ 219 Stephanie Carroll ..................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 220 Lindsey Chambers ............................................ Flash Fiction .................................................................... 221 Alexzandria Churchill .................................... Writing Portfolio ................................................................ 223 Rachel Colligan ...................................................... Poetry ........................................................................ 228


......................................................................... Critical Essay ................................................................... 230 SILVER Key continued Jacob Conniff ..................................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 232 Keegan Cordova ............................................... Critical Essay ................................................................... 236 Gloria Cowdin .......................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 239 Elizabeth Daggett .............................................. Short Story ..................................................................... 240 Dustin Davies ................................................... Flash Fiction .................................................................... 244 Payden Dawson ....................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 245 Madeline Donnelli ............................................. Short Story ..................................................................... 246 Ian Doty ................................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 250 Zofia Farley ........................................................ Short Story ..................................................................... 251 Ruby Fivecoat .......................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 254 Laurel Foderberg .............................................. Flash Fiction .................................................................... 256 .............................................................................. Poetry ........................................................................ 257 Meg Fridley ...................................................... Flash Fiction .................................................................... 258 Grace Fugate ........................................... Science Fiction/Fantasy ........................................................... 260 Lillian Gardner ....................................................... Poetry ........................................................................ 261 Michel Ge ................................................ Science Fiction/Fantasy ........................................................... 264 ................................................................ Science Fiction/Fantasy ........................................................... 266 Luisa Gil Diaz ........................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 270 Alexandria Golding ............................................ Short Story ..................................................................... 272 .......................................................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 274 Taylor Hays ....................................................... Critical Essay ................................................................... 276 Henry Heidger ........................................ Poetry (Writing Portfolio) ......................................................... 279 ............................................................... Poetry (Writing Portfolio) ......................................................... 280 ............................................................... Poetry (Writing Portfolio) ......................................................... 281 ............................................................... Poetry (Writing Portfolio) ......................................................... 282 ............................................................... Poetry (Writing Portfolio) ......................................................... 283 Jennifer Heiman ...................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 284 George Hill ........................................................ Short Story ..................................................................... 287 Mack Hoagland ................................................. Short Story ..................................................................... 290 Terence Huang ........................................ Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 292 Massiel Islas ............................................ Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 294 Peyton Itao .............................................. Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 296 .......................................................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 298 Krista Johnson .................................................. Flash Fiction .................................................................... 300 ......................................................................... Flash Fiction .................................................................... 301 .......................................................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 302 Maren Johnston ................................................ Short Story ..................................................................... 304 Keegan Justis ......................................................... Poetry ........................................................................ 306 .............................................................................. Poetry ........................................................................ 308 Emily Kang ............................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 310 Joshua Kazdan ......................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 312 Zach Klamann ..................................................... Journalism ..................................................................... 313 Spencer Kunz ......................................................... Poetry ........................................................................ 317 Mikayla Landers ................................................ Short Story ..................................................................... 318 Riley Lane ................................................ Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 320 Brennen Lee ...................................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 322


Selena Lee ........................................................ Flash Fiction .................................................................... 324 SILVER Key continued Selena Lee ............................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 325 Ryan Lett ........................................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 326 Emily Levinson ............................................... Writing Portfolio ................................................................ 328 Trishna Limaye .................................................. Short Story ..................................................................... 335 .............................................................................. Poetry ........................................................................ 338 Jenna Liu ........................................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 340 ........................................................................... Journalism ..................................................................... 344 ......................................................................... Critical Essay ................................................................... 347 Olivia Long ........................................................ Critical Essay ................................................................... 349 Madeleine M .................................................... Flash Fiction .................................................................... 351 Harrison Macon .................................................... Poetry ........................................................................ 352 Sophia Marusic ...................................................... Poetry ........................................................................ 353 .............................................................................. Poetry ........................................................................ 355 ................................................................ Science Fiction/Fantasy ........................................................... 356 Andrew McIntosh.............................................. Short Story ..................................................................... 359 Cade McNicholas ............................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 361 Kathleen Meininger .......................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 364 Devon Morris ........................................................ Poetry ........................................................................ 367 Rachel Myrick .................................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 369 Mark Nagel ........................................................ Short Story ..................................................................... 371 Caitlyn Newhouse ............................................. Short Story ..................................................................... 374 Julie Nguyen ............................................ Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 376 Sydney Nivens .................................................. Flash Fiction .................................................................... 378 Robert Noe ........................................................ Short Story ..................................................................... 379 Ella Norton .............................................. Science Fiction/Fantasy ........................................................... 381 Piper Page ............................................................. Poetry ........................................................................ 384 Christine Politte ................................................ Short Story ..................................................................... 390 Amudha Porchezhian ............................................ Poetry ........................................................................ 393 Nash Porter ...................................................... Critical Essay ................................................................... 396 Sophia Porter ........................................................ Poetry ........................................................................ 398 Victoria Richardson ........................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 399 Emma Rowley ................................................ Dramatic Script ................................................................. 403 Nolan Saale ....................................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 407 Kathleen Schmidt .............................................. Short Story ..................................................................... 410 Cooper Schneider ........................................... Dramatic Script ................................................................. 412 Victoria Schoemaker ........................................ Flash Fiction .................................................................... 418 Jordan Sedberry .............................................. Flash Fiction .................................................................... 419 Allyson Segall .......................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 420 Harper Sinclair ................................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 422 Wesley Slawson .................................................... Poetry ........................................................................ 424 Abigail Smith .................................................... Flash Fiction .................................................................... 425 .............................................................................. Poetry ........................................................................ 426 Levi Smith .......................................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 427 Liberty Smith ........................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 430 Stephanie Songer .................................................. Poetry ........................................................................ 432 Casey Stanton ................................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 433


Julie Stolfus ....................................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 436 SILVER Key continued Serena Strecker ..................................................... Poetry ........................................................................ 438 Jaidy Sudduth .......................................... Science Fiction/Fantasy ........................................................... 439 Rennie Svirnovskiy ............................................ Short Story ..................................................................... 441 Clara Swanson ....................................................... Poetry ........................................................................ 446 Allison Tielking ........................................ Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 448 Megan Tyahla .......................................... Science Fiction/Fantasy ........................................................... 450 Carter Utt ................................................ Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 454 Alexander Vanover ................................................ Humor ........................................................................ 456 Faith Vietor ...................................................... Critical Essay ................................................................... 458 Cyrus Wallis ........................................................... Humor ........................................................................ 461 Hui Wang ................................................. Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 462 Kayla West............................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 464 Madeleine Wolfe .................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 466 Yueyi (Emily) Zhao ............................................. Short Story ..................................................................... 468 .............................................................................. Poetry ........................................................................ 471 ................................................................ Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 472 ................................................................ Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 473 HONORABLE Mention Kayleigh Aggeler ...................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 475 Troy Allee .......................................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 478 Trista Amos ............................................. Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 480 Amanda Arbuckle .................................................. Humor ........................................................................ 481 Keerat Athwal ......................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 483 .......................................................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 485 Jane Bachkora ......................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 487 Janessa Barmann............................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 488 Kristin Barringhaus ............................................ Short Story ..................................................................... 491 Ellise Bartlett ........................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 494 Elizah Becker ........................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 495 Michelle Bennett ..................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 497 Brice Bertram ......................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 499 Rachel Berwald ................................................ Flash Fiction .................................................................... 501 Crystal Billings ......................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 503 Anna Blachar ......................................................... Poetry ........................................................................ 505 Sarah Blachar ........................................................ Poetry ........................................................................ 506 Clarissa Blakely ...................................................... Poetry ........................................................................ 508 Braiden Blatt ........................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 512 Alison Boehmer ................................................ Critical Essay ................................................................... 514 Taylor Bollinger ................................................. Short Story ..................................................................... 517 Jordan Bolton ................................................... Critical Essay ................................................................... 519 Shawn Boss ............................................. Science Fiction/Fantasy ........................................................... 522 Faith Boster ............................................. Science Fiction/Fantasy ........................................................... 526 Ruby Brattain .......................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 529 Sarah Broughton .................................... Science Fiction/Fantasy ........................................................... 531 Bailey Brown ......................................................... Poetry ........................................................................ 533


Sarah Bush ........................................................ Short Story ..................................................................... 534 HONORABLE Mention continued Claire Butcher .......................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 537 Amanda Cao ...................................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 542 ......................................................................... Critical Essay ................................................................... 544 Orunima Chakraborti ............................................ Poetry ........................................................................ 546 Sierra Charlson ........................................ Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 550 .......................................................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 552 Alexzandria Churchill .............................. Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 556 ......................................................................... Flash Fiction .................................................................... 557 ......................................................................... Critical Essay ................................................................... 558 Kelsey Clark ...................................................... Flash Fiction .................................................................... 561 Rachel Colligan ..................................................... Poetry ........................................................................ 562 Jorgia Cory ............................................................. Poetry ........................................................................ 564 Jackson Dampier ............................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 566 Eli Davidson ........................................................... Poetry ........................................................................ 567 Dani De la Chica ............................................... Flash Fiction .................................................................... 568 ................................................................ Science Fiction/Fantasy ........................................................... 569 Christian Dixon ...................................................... Poetry ........................................................................ 571 Madeline Donnelli ................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 572 Myra Dotzel ............................................. Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 573 Rachel Edidin ......................................................... Poetry ........................................................................ 575 Bailey Fisli ........................................... Short Story (Writing Portfolio) ..................................................... 576 Laurel Foderberg .................................... Poetry (Writing Portfolio) ......................................................... 580 Emily Foley ........................................................ Short Story .................................................................... 581 Emily Francis ......................................................... Poetry ........................................................................ 583 Regan Frederick .................................................... Poetry ........................................................................ 585 Eleanore Fuller ................................................. Flash Fiction .................................................................... 586 Angelica Garcia................................................. Flash Fiction .................................................................... 587 Michel Ge .............................................................. Poetry ........................................................................ 588 Jessie Goldberg ....................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 590 Alexandria Golding .................................. Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 592 Connor Green .......................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 594 Jenna Harms ...................................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 597 .......................................................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 599 Madelyne Hartleroad .............................. Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 601 .............................................................................. Poetry ........................................................................ 603 Holly Hartzler .......................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 604 Liza Heeler ............................................................. Poetry ........................................................................ 606 Henry Heidger ........................................ Poetry (Writing Portfolio) ......................................................... 608 ............................................................... Poetry (Writing Portfolio) ......................................................... 609 ............................................................... Poetry (Writing Portfolio) ......................................................... 610 ............................................................... Poetry (Writing Portfolio) ......................................................... 612 Carletta Hensley ...................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 613 Kalista Hill ......................................................... Flash Fiction .................................................................... 616 .............................................................................. Poetry ........................................................................ 617 Taylor Holbrook ................................................ Short Story ..................................................................... 618 Alexandra Holteen ............................................ Short Story ..................................................................... 620


Joshua Holtgrieve .................................... Science Fiction/Fantasy ........................................................... 623 HONORABLE Mention continued Conor Hunt .............................................. Science Fiction/Fantasy ........................................................... 627 Jacqueline Ihnat ...................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 630 Girolama Ingargiola ........................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 632 Dylan Jeffers ..................................................... Flash Fiction .................................................................... 634 Hannah Jones ........................................................ Poetry ........................................................................ 635 Keegan Justis ......................................................... Poetry ........................................................................ 636 .............................................................................. Poetry ........................................................................ 637 .............................................................................. Poetry ........................................................................ 638 Joshua Kazdan ...................................................... Poetry ........................................................................ 639 Gabriella Kelsch ....................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 640 James Kim ............................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 644 Anna Kleydman ....................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 647 Hannah Knapik .................................................. Short Story ..................................................................... 650 Samantha Kobsuh ............................................. Short Story ..................................................................... 653 Shayla Kohler..................................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 654 Ashlyn Koontz ................................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 657 Spencer Kunz ..................................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 660 Abby Land ............................................... Science Fiction/Fantasy ........................................................... 662 Mikayla Landers ...................................... Science Fiction/Fantasy ........................................................... 666 Ryan Lett ................................................. Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 669 Jenna Liu ............................................................... Poetry ........................................................................ 671 Olivia Long ............................................................. Poetry ........................................................................ 674 ......................................................................... Critical Essay ................................................................... 675 Nathan Martinez ............................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 677 Katherine McCormack .......................................... Humor ........................................................................ 679 Bianca McKenna ...................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 680 Isabelle Meadows ............................................. Short Story ..................................................................... 682 Samuel Nelson ................................................. Critical Essay ................................................................... 685 Daniel Nguyen .................................................... Journalism ..................................................................... 687 Keaton O’Dell ................................................... Flash Fiction .................................................................... 689 Jacob Olson ....................................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 690 Christian Orness ................................................ Short Story ..................................................................... 693 Helen Pan ......................................................... Flash Fiction .................................................................... 696 Tiffany Pimentel .................................................... Poetry ........................................................................ 698 Amudha Porchezhian ........................................ Short Story ..................................................................... 699 Allison Porras ........................................................ Poetry ........................................................................ 702 Sophia Porter ........................................................ Poetry ........................................................................ 704 Grace Prestley ......................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 705 Cydney Puckett ................................................. Short Story ..................................................................... 707 Megan Pullen ......................................... Science Fiction/Fantasy ........................................................... 710 Apoorva Puranik ...................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 713 Chanda Putnam ................................................ Flash Fiction .................................................................... 715 Abigail Rader ..................................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 717 Madelyn Reinagel ................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 719 Katelyn Reinert ...................................................... Humor ........................................................................ 723 Ross Reynolds .................................................. Critical Essay ................................................................... 724


Madison Rice ........................................... Science Fiction/Fantasy ........................................................... 727 HONORABLE Mention continued Isabella Scarpelli ............................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 730 Victoria Schoemaker ......................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 731 Daniel Schroeder ..................................... Science Fiction/Fantasy ........................................................... 735 Nick Sevier ......................................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 738 Lilly Shaw ................................................. Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 741 Joe Sheeks ......................................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 743 Wesley Slawson ..................................... Poetry (Writing Portfolio) ......................................................... 745 ............................................................... Poetry (Writing Portfolio) ......................................................... 746 Abigail Smith ......................................................... Poetry ........................................................................ 747 Jackson Smith .......................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 748 Kennedy Snyder .................................................... Poetry ........................................................................ 750 Lydia Soifer ........................................................ Short Story ..................................................................... 751 Susan Sorsen ..................................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 754 Derick Speltz ..................................................... Critical Essay ................................................................... 756 Jacob Sprague ....................................................... Poetry ........................................................................ 759 Monica Stanley ...................................................... Poetry ........................................................................ 760 Ethan Stone ............................................. Science Fiction/Fantasy ........................................................... 762 Peyton Stoner ................................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 766 Serena Strecker ..................................................... Poetry ........................................................................ 768 .............................................................................. Poetry ........................................................................ 769 Morgan Stubblefield ......................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 770 Jaycie Stubbs ........................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 773 Jaidy Sudduth .......................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 775 Tate Summa ............................................ Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 777 Naia Sverdrup ........................................................ Humor ........................................................................ 779 Rennie Svirnovski .............................................. Short Story ..................................................................... 780 .......................................................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 785 .......................................................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 788 .......................................................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 794 .......................................................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 797 Sarah Taylor ..................................................... Flash Fiction .................................................................... 802 Cole Thienes ............................................ Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 803 Cameron Jaede Thompson .............................. Flash Fiction .................................................................... 804 Allison Tielking ........................................ Science Fiction/Fantasy ........................................................... 805 Ashley Tohm ...................................................... Short Story ..................................................................... 807 Julian Trelow ........................................... Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 811 Mark Walters ................................................... Flash Fiction .................................................................... 813 McKenna Wells ..................................................... Poetry ........................................................................ 814 Logan Westmoreland ........................................ Short Story ..................................................................... 815 Victoria Williams .............................................. Critical Essay ................................................................... 817 .............................................................................. Humor ........................................................................ 819 Emma Willibey ................................................. Critical Essay ................................................................... 821 ........................................................................... Journalism ..................................................................... 823 Hannah Wood .................................................. Flash Fiction .................................................................... 825 Luke Woolery ........................................................ Poetry ........................................................................ 827 ......................................................................... Flash Fiction .................................................................... 828


William York ............................................ Personal Essay/Memoir........................................................... 829 HONORABLE Mention continued Hang Zhang ........................................................... Poetry ........................................................................ 831 Yueyi (Emily) Zhao ................................................. Poetry ........................................................................ 832 ......................................................................... Flash Fiction .................................................................... 834 Katie Zoldos ........................................................... Poetry ........................................................................ 835

Missouri Youth Write Missouri Youth Write is sponsored by the Missouri Association of Teachers of English (MATE). Prairie Lands Writing Project at Missouri Western State University joined together with MATE and the Missouri Writing Projects Network in June 2008 to form the Missouri Writing Region, a regional affiliate for the national Scholastic Writing Awards Contest, sponsored by The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers (http://www.artandwriting.org/). In 2014, the Greater Kansas City Writing Project assumed Prairie Lands’ duties with regards to the Missouri Writing Region of the Scholastic Writing Awards. The winning students’ writings from the Missouri Writing Region for the 2014 national Scholastic Writing Awards Contest comprise this edition of Missouri Youth Write. Editor: Rebecca Dierking Web Editor: Assistant Editor: This edition is available online at: . For more information about the Missouri Region for the National Scholastic Contest, see .


GOLD Key

Afton Apodaca Poetry: This is How We Will Be Fixed Shawnee Mission East High School

Laura Beachy, teacher

There is a dream where I am standing in my kitchen and

you are shattering dishes, hurling ceramic at the ground

so close to my feet I can feel the shards blooming across my skin like the thorns of desert flowers. We pick up the biggest pieces

and eat them. I know it is a dream because

we are still alive after we swallow. It sounds more like a nightmare,

and it should be, but we are together.

Even the fractured remains are tender as we chew.

There is a dream where

we want our own world and so we cut it out of blue and green

construction paper like a fifth grade arts and crafts project except that

your silhouette is every piece of land and my spine is every body of water

lying across you.

Here are the broken plates and bowls molding themselves back together

in our stomachs, healing soft and pliant, bending like the

necks of swans. They forget that they were glass.

Maybe we can forget, too. Maybe I can kiss you where

it’s sharp and where your edges run jagged

until you can’t remember how the pain once felt.

There is a dream where

nothing bleeds, but everything is alive, where broken things can be

made unbroken simply by wishing it.


Let me tell you about the earth

and what it looked like before we got our hands on it. Let me tell you about the earth

and how it broke apart like ceramic against the tile floor.

We know what it is to be unmade.

In a dream, we tried to forget.


Jane Bachkora Personal Essay/Memoir: Strawberries and Sugar, Superheroes and Sidekicks

St. Thomas Aquinas High School Sue Waters, Teacher

At the ripe old age of four, I was absolutely certain that I knew everything there was to know about this

world. I knew that the path in the woods by Grandma and Grandpa’s house led to Snow White’s cottage. I knew that dogs liked it when I sat on their backs and yelled “Run Horsey! Run!” I knew that the strange man next door with the bushy white beard was Santa Claus. And I knew that my grandpa was a superhero.

Going to spend the day at Grandma and Grandpa’s house as the rest of my family enjoyed a “kid-free, cry-free, complaint-free”—basically just me-free—day was the equivalent of spending the day at DisneyWorld. Days spent at Grandma and Grandpa's encompassed everything that I loved—adventuring around town, laughing with my superhero, and enjoying a big ole bowl of delectable strawberries blanketed in sugar. Usually when I first arrived, Grandma would have to go “rest her eyes” for a little bit while Grandpa and I took the dogs for a walk. Grandpa would grab the leashes, and I would lace up my own shoes and then his shoes because he thought I should get in the extra practice. (I’m beginning to think that he was just too lazy to bend over.) Our walks varied. Sometimes we’d go fishing at the pond. Sometimes he’d awkwardly introduce me to his friends‘ grandchildren and make me play with them. Sometimes we’d take the longer, scenic route and we’d pass by the local pool that he met Grandma at or the gym where he trained to be a professional boxer or the cemetery where his parents were buried. Every walk I went on with Grandpa was different than the one before, and every day spent with him made me love my superhero that much more.

When we arrived home from our strenuous adventure, Grandma would prepare for us her signature snack, strawberries and sugar—something my own mother never let me have. She’d ask us all about our walk as she sliced the strawberries and poured the sugar. “Good Lord Karen are you going to give us a side of strawberries with our sugar?!” Grandpa would say, a sarcastic smirk stretching across his face. Seconds later, when Grandma left the room, he’d pour even more into my bowl. “A little more won’t hurt,” he’d say with a wink. We’d devour the bowl and be off on our next big adventure in minutes. Those days were my favorite days.

It’s crazy how much I’ve learned and grown these past 14 years. I’ve discovered that the woods by Grandma and Grandpa’s house are unfortunately not home to any princesses. I’ve learned that it’s actually borderline animal abuse to ride on dogs and yell at them. My parents successfully convinced me to stop giving the strange man next door copies of my Christmas list. I’ve outgrown most of my immature notions and my nonsensical reasonings, but four-year-old me didn’t get everything wrong. There’s one undeniable fact that cannot be outgrown; my grandpa is a superhero. He doesn’t wear a cape. Disney hasn’t made a movie about him (yet). He can’t lift buses or fly or read minds. He has never rescued someone from a burning building or saved the world. Instead, he picked me up when I fell and scraped my knee, he snuck me an extra spoonful of sugar on my strawberries, and he gave me piggyback rides when my little legs grew too weary. He may not have saved lives, but he has made mine better. He may not have the Batmobile, but he has one heck of a sidekick.


Maggie Bauer Poetry: Time Doesn't Heal all Wounds

Central High School Kyla Ward, Teacher

“Time heals all wounds”

Death. It isn’t something we can get out of.

It comes eventually. But for those who still have to be here on earth, it gets harder every day.

Each year that passes without that person You question whether or not your memories of them are even true

You start to feel as if they were some sort of character, Made up. Imaginary.

And they grow more and more distant as you grow older. Until you see something that reminds you of them.

Coveralls. Pumpkin pie.

A deer. Everything…

It all

hits you. Like a weight landing

And you miss them But there’s nothing you can do

You have to wait. And then time just gets annoying.

Time doesn’t heal all wounds. It just opens them, once again.


Alison Boehmer Personal Essay/Memoir:

A Tale of Two Mediums: An Analysis of the Dual-perspective Issue of Digital Versus Printed Books Nixa High School

Brittany Parry, Teacher

Hello. I am romanticism. I am Dr. Seuss’ “Cat in the Hat” tucked away in the depths of your baby box. I am the nostalgic feeling of fitting perfectly on your mother’s lap while her delicate fingers point to each word, patiently waiting for you to sound them out. I am the swelling of pride felt as you boastfully advertise your “Magic Tree House” book to your lunch table, making sure to point out that it is a “chapter book…without pictures.” I am the overwhelming sensation of Barnes and Noble: the intoxicating smell of new ink, the lure of the bookshelves’ ability to hide you from the outside world, the instant connection with the fellow spectacle-enshrouded literature enthusiasts clutching their Starbucks beverages. I am your first classic novel; your first encounter with words that have been read by millions of eyes for hundreds of years. I am the instinctual notion to dog-ear the page when Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth first meet, or to underline the iconic lines of “Gatsby believed in the green light” in Fitzgerald’s esteemed novel. I am every coffee and tear stain gracing the pages of every New York Times Best Seller and Nicholas Sparks novel. I am the aching in your wrist from angling the book towards your nightstand lamp. I am every night that turned into morning because of “just one more chapter”. I am the fond memories of all-night study sessions in which your textbook doubled as a pillow. I am cuddling on the couch with “What to Expect When You’re Expecting,” “The Big Book of Baby Names,” and a highlighter, planning the next nine months and eighteen years of your life. I am every hardback, pocket-size, leather-bound, hand-me-down tangible book to find residence in your backpack, car floor, dorm room desk, and nursery room. I have been with you from the beginning and I will never truly leave your nightstand.

The notion of a physical book is, in essence, a sentimental concept. For so many, a tangible novel represents the experience of reading that entranced them from early childhood. Those memories, along with many of the actual books, will follow them to college, then to their own home, then to their children’s bookshelves. The books serve as physical commemorators of portions of their lives; the books, along with the memories, can then be passed on to children or around a book club circle. There is very minimal sentimental value in telling your children that you too “downloaded” a book when you were their age. There are no “heirloom apps”. One cannot bookmark a page with a receipt from your favorite vacation restaurant, or a note written on a post-it your mom put in your lunch box. The entire concept of personality is drained from the experience of reading when a book is confined to a screen.

The gradual phasing out of printed books that has been in progress for much of the Millennium’s generation coincides directly with the immersion of technology into every facet of society. It has infiltrated social interaction, medicine, and has been gradually capturing education for several years. Technology’s successful penetration of the stoic methods of education has caused a significant shift in the rearing of youth. Online chats are becoming more common than in-person discussion, as are Word documents over notebook paper. Gone are the days in which elementary students excite over their new library card, realizing that entire worlds lie in wait within the depths of the county library. It is concerning that young readers may lose the opportunity to fall in love with reading simply because society has chosen convenience over the captivation of a printed book.

However, comfort is found in the fact that those whose loyalty lies with paperbacks seem to be stubborn enough to ensure that printed books never become entirely obsolete. Their resolve to adhere to the traditional notions of reading will, no doubt, save or elongate the life of the printing industry. So, you may read in peace tonight, not in fear that a digitized robot will come hunting down your hardback.

Hello. I am convenience. I am the astonishment of a four year-old as the touch of a finger to a screen brings to life sounds and illustrations of Dora and her explorations. I am the deep breath of a mom, riddled with a hectic schedule, as she flips through her digital issue of People in the waiting room of a ballet class. I am the pure bliss of the ocean waves slowly creeping up to your manicured toes as you bask in the sunlight and glory of a glare-free Grisham novel. I am the redefinition of the size of your carry-on, as the world of Harry Potter is now portable and does not take a forklift to transport. I am the savage spirit of series readers as the final book is


released to be downloaded. I feed your binges, your secret fandoms, your indulgent crushes. I am never sold out or on backorder. I can be with you hiding under the covers with Junie B. Jones because it is past bedtime. I can keep you company on car rides to Florida after all but yourself and the driver have drifted to sleep to the rhythmic hum of the highway. I do not need the aid of a mini book light to beckon you into a world of utopian societies gone wrong. I am threatening to make obsolete the entire realm of bookmarks, book lights, and book covers. I am an industry giant, revolutionizing the world of reading, leaving in my wake the carnage of heavy, oversized hardbacks. I am relatively new to town but am most definitely not going anywhere.

The digital age is here. Its presence is seen in the hands of 2 year-olds who cannot speak but can fully operate an Apple product. It is seen in the eye-rolls of sixteen year-olds as they watch their parents painstakingly type out a four word text. It has made society grow accustomed to words such as “high-speed,” “total access,” and “at your fingertips.” But in the wake of confused grandparents receiving “LOL” in messages that they do not know how to open, it has also radically changed the world of reading. It has opened up literature to entirely new audiences, enticing fifth graders, college students, and stay-at-home moms alike. The draw of convenience has made converts of some of the most tradition-dedicated skeptics. There is no doubt that the ability to simply “click and read” is enticing. With this perspective, reading is not “confined” to a screen, but instead is set free by it. It now knows no bounds-in the dark, in the sun, in the bathtub, in the air; thousands of books can now accompany you to every business trip, soccer game, and family vacation. Although this digital industry is undermining the traditional concepts associated with reading, it is also awakening a new spirit in readers. It allows for authors’ words to be spread even farther and wider; it has aided in the rebirth of classics that would have otherwise died to the emergence of contemporary vampire-romance novels.

Perhaps instead of being the death of reading, digital books are actually its rebirth. The fact that literature has the ability to mold and shift with the growing age of technology is a promising tribute to the stability of the industry, proving that technology can be used for more than avoiding face-to-face contact. The day has arrived in which the online purchases on Amazon far outnumber the foot traffic at Barnes and Noble. It will most likely be within this generation’s college years that textbooks are no longer available for pillows. One can only hope that with this new-age approach to reading, the personal connections associated with falling in love with reading is not lost.


Alison Boehmer Critical Essay: All Hail King Bezos

Nixa High School Lori Joynes, Teacher

It is 1994. A rosy-cheeked, 7-year-old bookworm slams the door of her family’s Ford Taurus and darts

across the Barnes & Noble parking lot, ignoring her mother’s pleas to hold her hand. Her eyes double in size as her disgruntled Keds rest bring her to a halt under the neon sign plastered to the warehouse-size retail building. She draws in an exaggerated breath, uses both hands to tighten her Scrunchie, and musters all of her might to swing open the massive doors. Immediately, the crisp smell of black coffee and ink overwhelm her nostrils and she cannot help but to release a grin. Her mother, out of breath and unhappy with her choice to cross the lot unattended, catches up and begins to lecture her, drawing the eyes of surrounding shoppers. The young girl’s ears hear only muffled sounds as her sneakers, as if by their own will, quickly walk her to the corner of the store labeled “Children’s.”

It is 2014. A freckled 7-year-old trudges up his driveway, scuffing his Nike Free Runs against the pavement and kicking the pebbles that lie in his way with excessive force. He jerks the door handle and whips his backpack onto the floor in one, routine motion. Instantly, the smell of his mother’s homemade spaghetti sauce infects his nose and invites him into the kitchen. He practically sprints for the countertop that houses his family’s charging Ipad and multiple e-readers. After unplugging his personal device, he instinctively logs into his account with a few swift touches to the screen. His mind is already checked out of his suburban living room and into the enticing fictional world by the time he reaches the couch; he only faintly hears his mother’s spitting of questions as he adjusts the screen’s brightness and settles into “Chapter 4.”

There is no doubt that the environment of reading has changed: It is more common for pages to be downloaded than turned; books are bought online versus in line, and bestsellers find their stardom based on how many customers click the “BUY” button. This monstrous shift in the industry, no doubt, coincides directly with the shift in society brought on by the internet and the resulting technological uprising. Though a great many of innovative and bold entrepreneurs, such as Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, are accredited with contributing to this upheaval of traditions and surge of technology, Steve Bezos and Amazon have undoubtedly had their part in this revolution. Through Amazon’s discounted prices, innovative features, and e-book revolution, the company has taken both the book selling and publishing industries by storm. SETTING THE SCENE: BOOK RETAILERS AND PUBLISHERS PRE-AMAZON

The Pre-Amazonian era, which will most definitely be found in history books come 2050, was one of much consumer contentment and industry executive unrest, which is typical in a trade that is controlled entirely by marketers chasing after consumers’ recreational dollars. Publishers and retailers alike were, much like today, constantly searching for strategies to catch the attention of customers. Little did they know that a massive shift that would forever shake the book industry was about to be introduced by a small, bald man with an Amazon-sized dream.

Selling the Future Until the entrance of Amazon onto the book-selling scene, consumers were accustomed to waiting in line

at their local Barnes & Noble “superstore” to purchase the new Harry Potter novel while grasping their freshly made caffeinated beverage that had been conveniently brewed in-house. Large-scale bookstores were the name of the game, and Barnes & Noble and Borders were essentially the only two players. Independent booksellers were crying “monopoly” to the authorities through legal suits claiming that the two powerhouses had a stronghold on the industry and were exhorting unreasonable discounts from wholesalers. The suits warranted little but a slap on the wrist to the two companies, as the authorities realized that consumers were pleased with the ease and convenience provided by these monstrous bookstores that housed over 175,000 titles (Wasserman 14). American book connoisseurs had become comfortable with the luxuries that these monstrosities enabled; they were satisfied with the enticing rows upon rows of books and hot beverages readily available. Consumers were content; Barnes & Noble and Borders were thrilled. The sounds of satisfied readers were loud enough to drown out the cries of independent bookstores, and there was peace within the bookselling kingdom.


Enter: Amazon. Publishing Houses Crouch in their Corners Picture this: Six monstrous, luxurious houses are residing peacefully on a quiet countryside, happily

dictating the quainter residencies living in the meek village below them. The occasional uprising from the subordinate houses is easily squelched with a harsh glare from the larger houses; no one dares to protest their superiority, for they have controlled the entire kingdom for generations. Just when the six houses think they have a permanent chokehold on the entire kingdom, an innovative entrepreneur buys a plot of land neighboring their domain. This man, however, sees little value in merely competing with these houses; instead, he decides to revolutionize the entire system that existed within the kingdom for so long. He, seeing beyond the limits of traditional mansion-style housing, builds a hovering, mobile metropolitan utopia, complete with a water park made of liquid chocolate. The six houses, though still powerful in their own respects, quiver in fear of this new neighbor and his unconventional ideas. They, for the first time, feel threatened and small in comparison to the “new kid on the block,” as they certainly do not have a water park made of liquid chocolate.

Though the above illustration is slightly dramatized, it does accurately portray the state of the book publishing industry in the pre-Amazon era. The original “six houses” represent the world’s dominating publishing houses: Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Penguin Group, Random House, and Simon & Schuster. Represented through the “subordinate houses” are independent publishers, who have been threatened to be made obsolete since the uprising of the “Big 6.” Obviously, the “new neighbor” is Jeff Bezos and Amazon; the “water park” could be a number of revolutionary features offered through Amazon, such as digital publications, self-publishing, and attractive royalties. As in the story, the “Big 6” greatly fears Bezos, for he continually threatens their way of business and cares little about the status quo that has existed for so long.

A clear and startling manifestation of Amazon’s dominance can be seen through the recent consolidation of Penguin and Random House. The fact that these powerhouses felt that the only way to survive in a world with Amazon was to swallow their prides and join forces exemplifies the iron fist with which Bezos rules (Clee 51). Both the “Big 6” and Amazon’s respective checking accounts further prove the behemoth’s control over the industry: In 2011, Amazon’s revenue of $48 billion was more than the conglomerate total of the world’s largest houses (Wasserman 18). As a result of Amazon’s dominance and variety of “water parks,” the “Big 6” are now viewed as a lesser of two evils by independent book publishers. AMAZONIAN DISCOUNTS

The intense draw to Amazon’s products and a key to the company’s success are due to its unparalleled prices, which enables the company to elbow competition away from bargain-hungry consumers. In traditional publishing, bookstores keep typically 40% of the selling price; distributers receive a 10% cut, leaving about 50% for the publisher. In traditional book sales, the publisher must distribute their profit between printing, marketing, and warehousing. Due to these constraints, publishers have created the “7x rule,” in which a book must be listed at least seven times more than the cost to print in order to be profitable (Alexander 9). Amazon essentially eliminates these extra costs by removing the intermediaries between the author and consumer, enabling the company to keep prices lower than almost any retailer. According to George Alexander in “Print on Demand and the Changing Face of Book Publishing,” “Amazon can discount most books because it pays the same amount of money to get them as physical stores do but has only a fraction of their costs.” Bezos’s tactic from the beginning of his company was to drop book prices as low as possible in order to increase traffic to his website, thus increasing the purchase of Amazon’s variety of other goods. Because of this method and the resulting perception of Amazon, consumers and competing retailers have developed a very strong opinion of the company. Jim Milliot sums up consumers’ perspectives well in his article “Can Anyone Compete with Amazon?” by paraphrasing Peter Hildick-Smith, CEO of the Codex group: “As has been well documented, Amazon is focused on driving prices as low as possible. The perception of Amazon as the cheapest place to buy books and its free shipping offers give the company a tremendous advantage over both online and physical book selling competitors.” This said perception has offered significant contribution to the brand that has become Amazon: Because of these historically low prices, consumers are attracted to the reputation of the company.

Bezos’s pricing strategy, however, has caused much disruption within in the bookselling business, especially as Amazon’s e-books have consistently commanded a large portion of the market. Tim Godfray, the chief executive of the Booksellers Association, in Nicholas Clee’s article “How I learned to stop worrying and love Amazon” explains that booksellers find much difficulty in competing against Amazon, which causes


customers to have reduced book retailer choices (Clee 49). According to Maria Minsker in “Dynamic pricing gains ground,” an approach known as dynamic pricing is being adopted by retailers to compete with Amazon. This strategy, commonly adopted by Amazon’s competition, entails investing in pricing intelligence software that adjusts product prices every 10 minutes to be comparable to Amazon’s (Minsker).The fact that Amazon is pushing retailer to a state of paranoia further proves its dominance in the market. NIFTY GADGETS

Amazon’s intensely low book prices, however, are supported greatly by the innovations integrated into the company’s website and delivery tactics, which has drawn consumers in droves and contributed to its success. Features such as “Search Inside the Book,” which allows customers to look within books without having to buy it, significantly contribute to the high-traffic Amazon’s website has attained (Packer). “1-Click” shopping, a strategy that is patented by Amazon, redefines convenience for the consumer, as customers’ address and credit card information are saved to the website; “there’s just you and the BUY button,” explains Packer. Features such as these contribute to Bezos’s overall attempt to create a shopping experience for consumers that no other retailer could provide. Former Amazon entertainment editor Tim Appelo, as quoted by Packer, explains that “‘Jeff [Bezos] is trying to create a machine that assumes the shape of public demand.’” Shipping, a traditionally standard procedure, has also been touched by Bezos and his wand of innovation. AmazonPrime members receive their items a mere two days after purchase, as well as free shipping. This streamlined process is achieved through the company’s distribution process. Amazon sets up warehouses in areas of low employment and hires workers by the hundreds. The scene within a warehouse is intense and often compared to the factory scene in Charlie Chaplain’s “Modern Times”. “Pickers” within the warehouse are timed by computerized handsets as they speedily walk up to eleven miles per shift through a million-square-foot warehouse; some orders are expected to be collected within thirty-three seconds (Packer). This exhaustive process reportedly prompted ambulances to park outside an Amazon warehouse during a heat wave so that ambulances could bus overheated and exhausted workers to emergency rooms (Packer). However, Bezos is not satisfied with these innovations: The thirteenth wealthiest man in the country has predicted that within five years a drone delivery service will replace “the human factor” within the company’s shipping process. (Packer). Bezos and his seemingly never-ending bag of tricks attracted consumers in 1994 and continue to “wow” audiences over twenty years later.

In the wake of Amazon’s success in the book selling industry, book retailers of lesser size have felt extreme discomfort as the company dwarfs competitors. According to Wasserman in “The Amazon Effect,” two decades ago, 4,000 independent bookstores existed in the United States; only about 1,900 remained as of 2012. The largest retailers, who were partially responsible for the decline in indie bookstores, have themselves not gone unscathed by Amazon’s dominance: “Borders declared bankruptcy in 2011…[Barnes & Noble] is nonetheless desperately trying to figure out ways to pay the mortgage on the considerable real estate occupied by its 1,332 stores across the nation,” Wasserman elaborated. Amazon’s significant hold on the book selling industry is undeniable: The death of Borders proved its dominance and the consistency of consumer traffic on Amazon.com continually confirms it. Whether Bezos intended for Amazon to practically engulf the industry or not, Amazon, through its unprecedented pricing and innovative features, consistently proves that it has no problems with causing waves in the book selling trade. E-NNOVATIVE PUBLISHING

In the mind of the public, Amazon is currently recognized, and possibly idolized, for its territory in the e-book industry, which can be credited for a large portion of the company’s success. To the average consumer, the invention of technologies such as the Kindle introduced them to an entirely new world of convenience. In 2007, as thirty-something moms sipped decaf cappuccinos while reading the latest Nicholas Sparks novel on their handheld screens, little did they know that in office suites in New York City, publishing executives were quickly growing grey over the battleground Amazon had just created out of the industry. And for the first time in the history of the industry, the “Big 6” had a gun pointed at them.

The traditional publishing model has been universally adhered to by publishing houses for decades. Before the digitalization boom, authors and their proposed titles were introduced in hardback and sold at a rather high price, because publishers needed to make some money out of the business. If that copy received good reviews and brought in appropriate sales, a paperback copy would then be published. The introduction of digital publishing, led by Amazon, threatened this format and the companies who adhered to it. Customers, who were accustomed to the sticker-shock associated with looking just above the barcode on the back of any


book, obviously rejoiced in harmonious “hoorays” when Amazon promoted its Kindle through selling New York Times bestsellers at $9.99 (Clee 49). Book publishers, not surprisingly, were less than thrilled with Amazon’s grand entrance onto the publishing scene.

Precedence was set by Amazon’s competitive pricing strategy that resulted in readers expecting their e-books to be cheap. In response to this, the “Big 6” teamed up with Apple to combat Amazon’s growing dominance. The conglomerate took a swing at Amazon by adopting the “agency model” pricing strategy, in which publishers negotiated with retailers to set prices. Because Amazon’s extremely low prices on e-books had consumers accustomed to discounted books, the goal of this shifty endeavor was to increase the perceived value of e-books (Clee 49). Authorities in the United States and Europe charged the conglomerate with collusion and ordered five out of six of the publishing houses involved to pay over $160 million to American consumers in compensation for escalated prices. Amazon, however, came out as beneficiary of these squabbles; “Amazon, above the fray, was the victor in these cases… no authority is going to curb competitive aggression. The authorities are unconcerned about what share Amazon takes of the book market, provided book buyers continue to have choices,” explains Clee. Though insiders within the publishing industry are crying foul in response to Amazon’s low prices on e

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