Issue date: May 16, 1999

FICTION CONTEST
Read the great stories by teen writers

"Where We Were," by Nicholas Antosca
"Small Steps," by Kate Benson
"Cinderellen," by Meriam Djelidi
"Sea Winds," by Jennifer Underwood
"Shells," by Dillon Wright-FitzGerald
Winner:

"Wildflowers ," by Tracie Amirante

About the winner: Tracie Amirante, 18, of Palatine, Ill., stood out from among 5,138 other young writers to win USA WEEKEND's fifth annual Teen Fiction Contest. The Palatine High senior receives a $2,000 scholarship, and her story caps off our Summer Fiction series in print and online.

Amirante edits her school's literary magazine, organizes poetry readings, has published poems, edits a fanzine and contributes articles and reviews to her local newspaper, The Daily Herald in suburban Chicago. Best-selling novelist and USA WEEKEND Contributing Editor Wally Lamb says of Amirante, "Her very first paragraph tipped me off that I was in the capable hands of a writer who knew how to manipulate sensual detail."

Lamb and Executive Editor Amy Eisman chose Amirante's story and five finalists, who get $75 for books or software.