About the Book – Overcoming the Monster
This powerful anthology brings together the voices of young writers who each tackle one of the oldest and most universal story structures — Overcoming the Monster. But in these pages, the “monsters” take many forms.
Sometimes, they roar from mountaintops or creep through forests. Other times, they hide in playground bullies, pressure to be perfect, or grief that doesn’t have a name. Each story reflects the unique life experience, imagination, and emotional insight of its young author — from primary school students exploring courage and kindness, to secondary students grappling with identity, injustice, and transformation.
Together, these stories remind us that while the monster may change, the act of overcoming, of standing up, speaking out, or understanding something difficult, is what makes a hero. And that’s exactly what these young writers are.
This anthology is a celebration of creativity, empathy, and the power of storytelling to help us all make sense of the world — one monster at a time.