HANNAH STAHLHUT Birth month: April 17 Birth place: Danville, Indiana Home: Danville, Indiana School: Homeschool Year: Junior Age: 16 Teacher: Monica Stahlhut Hobbies: Reading, dancing, daydreaming, and time with family Winning Title: Journey to the Homeland My book . . . .           Journey to the Homeland is the story of Keegan, a young orphan, who lives in a medieval land. He's like any other 11-year old boy except for his unique way with animals. For as long as he can remember, Keegan has been able to talk to them. His worst fear is that this gift will be discovered.           There is a grave misunderstanding. Nora, the most quarrelsome girl in town, is kidnapped because of confusion Keegan could have prevented. He is faced with an important decision: should he risk everything and go after her or quietly slip away.           With the help of a jaguar he grudgingly sets out to save Nora despite their differences. Her efforts to rescue her are complicated by a very late start, a couple of dangerous kidnappers, and a river or two. He finds himself caught between the politics of two countries in an adventure that will change his and Nora's lives forever.

ESTEE WELLS Birth month: July Birth place: Benecia, California Home: Roanoke, Indiana School: Homeschool Year: Sophomore Age: 15 Teacher: PeggySue Wells Hobbies: Writing, music, drawing, and painting Winning Title: Dimensions My book . . . .          Dimensions is a fantasy adventure about two boys thrust into a universe of dimensions that they never knew existed. Abandoned by his father, Austin, struggles to keep his family together when he realizes that he and his best friend must save the world or die with it. With only a rock and a small book for weapons, the teens face a terrible beast, a new world, and a sinister evil.

CASSIE VLK Birth month: Birth place: Home: Rockford, Illinois School: Rockford (IL) Christian School Year: Senior Age: 17 Teacher: Vivia Houck Hobbies: Winning Title: Of Ice and Icing My book . . . .             Of Ice and Icing is the story of Bromm Smith is good at two things: ice hockey and cooking. He doesn’t get to participate in the latter a whole lot. His parents are dead, and his aunt runs the food business founded by his father. For reasons unknown to him his Aunt has always kept him out of the kitchen. Bromm never really noticed it before. After all he has hockey practice every night and has his eyes set on playing in college. He also has to avoid a nerdy girl who has had a crush on him as long as he can remember. But strange circumstances cause him to discover things that he never knew about his past. The mystery about his parents were begins to come together, and he and his aunt can never look at life the same way.

ADAM STÜCK Birth month: April Birth place: Quito, Ecuador Home: Quito, Ecuador School: Alliance Academy International Year: Junior Age: 17 Teacher: Robert Quiring Hobbies: reading, writing, staff-spinning and drinking tea Winning Title: Nathan Quist and the Curious Affair of the Crescent Earrings My book . . .               In Nathan Quist and the Curious Affair of the Crescent Earrings Daniel Reimer,  is an average kid living in Indiana,  where “nothing ever happens.”  But one day he meets an English exchange student named Nathan Quist who has a remarkable talent for noticing things.  When a fellow student is found unconscious and locked in a cupboard, they are drawn into a complex and dangerous mystery as they look for the person behind it.           Quist’s investigation is complicated by the school principal, whose skepticism makes detective work difficult; and by the criminal, who almost succeeds in having Quist sent back to England.  Yet another complication: Quist has only a month left in Indiana—only a month to solve the mystery.           At last, the two come across the missing clue: a pair of silver earrings shaped like crescent moons.  They finally solve the mystery—just as the criminal is about to make his final move.

ANGELA FLATT Birth month: September Birth place: Mishawaka, Indiana Home: Mishawaka, Indiana School: Mishawaka High School Year: Sophomore Age: 15 Teacher: Jade Kayser Hobbies: Writing, drawing, illustrating, cartooning, and a kid-at-heart - swinging Winning Title: Haunted Dreams My book . . . .                     Haunted Dreams is an epic tale depicting the experiences that Ruth, an eleven year old girl, copes with while attempting to help her sick friend.  It is not only a fantasy, but it also represents the battle of right and wrong kids constantly face.           As Ruth was falling asleep, she found herself in a magical place where imaginary friends come to life, shadows try to catch rides on trains, and people can dance forever.  She knows that in this strange place there is something or someone that can help Bethany. But no one seems to want to help. They only want to hurt her. Ruth is stuck in this realm alone and surrounded by these strange figures.  Who can possibly help?

GREG COLES Birth month: April Birth place: Potsdam, New York Home: Bandung, Indonesia School: Bandung Alliance International School Year: Junior Age: 17 Teacher: Janine B. Hegle Hobbies: Winning Title: Against the Current My book . . . .          Against the Current is a time travel thriller. This wasn't tomorrow. It was yesterday. Ari had fallen asleep on Wednesday and woken up on Tuesday. Ari Callaghan wakes from a bizarre dream to find himself one week in the future, traveling back into the past one day at a time. The things he does on one day will be undone the next morning. Scrapes and bruises are healed. Conversations are forgotten. He has no memory of the days he is reliving, but they seem to be leading up to a confrontation. Ari must try to remember the past that has forgotten him even as he plunges uncertainly into it.