Goleta & Santa Ynez Valley Libraries have announced the winners of this year’s Ghost Story Challenge. The names of the top writers and their stories were revealed at The Final Reckoning event held recently at Casa Cassara Winery in Solvang.

Middle School winners Hazel Chevitarese, Johnny Kump, Adeline Eliana Martinez, Griffin Rowles, Bruno Rakowski, and Lillian Paige Van Eyck.
Middle School winners Hazel Chevitarese, Johnny Kump, Adeline Eliana Martinez, Griffin Rowles, Bruno Rakowski, and Lillian Paige Van Eyck. Credit: Courtesy photo

Contestants, their friends, teachers and families listened to the winning entries as they were read aloud by the authors, and applauded as winners received prizes and books.

The stories can be read on the Ghost Story Challenge 2023 page of the library website.

High School winners Emma Tesdahl, Adelina Kelley, Benke Sepulveda, and Sadie Godfrey.
High School winners Emma Tesdahl, Adelina Kelley, Benke Sepulveda, and Sadie Godfrey. Credit: Courtesy photo

A total of 119 entries were received in September from authors in the middle school, high school, and adult age categories. The 500-word entries ranged from horrifying to humorous.

After multiple rounds of review by the contest’s local and celebrity judges, the winners are:

Middle School Category

Scariest Story: Adeline Eliana Martinez of Solvang School, for “Bus Stop.” Runner-up: Sarah Martiny of Goleta Valley Jr. High for “Don’t Open the Door!”

Most Original Story was “Witch Hunt” by Lillian Paige Van Eyck from Our Lady of Mount Carmel School. Runner-up was “Spooky Dookie,” by Charlie Leonard of Dunn Middle School.

Best Dialogue was awarded to Hazel Chevitarese of Santa Barbara Middle School for “A Light in the Dark.” Runner-up was Griffin Rowles of Dunn Middle School for “Gone Camping.”

Best Plot award went to Johnny Kump of Jonata Middle School, for “He’s Gone.”

Best Craft was awarded to “The Whispering Trees” by Nadia Milani Comparetti of Santa Barbara Middle School. Runner-up was “The Void” by Elliott Cooper of Dunn Middle School.

Library Staff Favorite award went to Bruno Rakowski of Our Lady of Mount Carmel School for “The Store.”

Overall Best in Challenge for the Middle School category went to Jane Hanson of Mountain View Middle School for “A Flaming Ghost.”

High School Category:

“Toy Crazy” by Ethan J. Hicks of Dos Pueblos High School was named Scariest; and Emma Tesdahl of Riverview School was awarded Most Original for “Lost and Found.”

Best Dialogue went to Chloe Minor of Dos Pueblos High School for “It’s Dark in the Forest.” Runner-up to Cole Weaver of Santa Barbara High School for “The Ghosts of Babylon.”

Best Plot was won by Sadie Godfrey of Santa Ynez Valley Union High School (SYVUHS) for “Already Dead.” Runner-up to Sofia Tinajero, also of SYVUHS, for “The Interview.”

Best Craft went to Reagan Lee Widroe of Providence High School for “The Things We Cannot See;” and a special Judges Favorite award went to Samuel Vazquez of Santa Ynez Valley High School for “Hidden Revenge.”

Overall Best in Challenge for the High School category went to “Puppy Love” by Adelina Kelley of Dos Pueblos High School. Runner-up to Benke Sepulveda of Dunn School for “Leaves and Shadows.”

Adult Category:

Jennifer Gunner’s “Life Sentence” won Scariest; runner-up was “A Quick Trip for a Long Stay” by Andrea Tufekcic.

“All Hallow’s Eve” by Stacy Arnold-Strider was named Most Original. Runner-up was “The Tiny Footprint Fabricator” by Celena Garcia.

Bruce Berlow’s story, “What to Feed a Monster” was awarded Best Writer’s Craft; Runner-up was “Don’t Bury Me” by Rose Filitchkin.

“Overdue” by Peggy Kelly was Named Library Staff’s Favorite.Overall Best in Challenge for the Adult Category was awarded to “Demon” by R.K. Jackson.

For more information about upcoming programs, visit the online calendar and the library website at www.goletavalleylibrary.org.