Ten stories of mystery, adventure and imagination

On 22 October 2026, ten Grade 6 students shared their stories at the English storytelling competition at Shanghai High School International Division, FengXian Campus. There were mysteries to solve, strange places to escape and even a pancake with a rather unusual wish. The stories took some surprising turns, moving from the familiar setting of a family home to distant planets and the lost world of Atlantis. Along the way, the characters faced danger, searched for answers and discovered what mattered to them. Each student brought a different idea and their own storytelling style, making the competition an enjoyable celebration of their work in English.

Logan from 6(2) stepped into the role of detective in a story about a puzzling case involving a crown. Cassie from 6(1) chose a mystery much closer to home. Her characters’ parents were away when the children discovered a stranger inside the house. They had no idea how he had got in, and that unanswered question made an already frightening situation even worse. Meanwhile, Isabelle from 6(1) took her story to modern-day Egypt. A jewel heist was at the centre of the action, but the people behind the heist soon encountered an unexpected twist.

Getting home was the challenge in Chenhe’s story. The 6(2) student described three professional astronauts whose mission went wrong after an accident left them on another planet. Reaching Earth again became an adventure of its own. Charles, also from 6(2), took his characters in the opposite direction: underground. In “The Dying City”, Peter and Chris had to find a way out of the city beneath the surface. The story followed their efforts to escape and finally reach the world outside.

4 Roy from 6(2) sent Peter, Alex and Tom to an island with far more to discover than they expected. Their journey brought them face to face with a mysterious wolf and a giant before they finally left by helicopter. Even then, the story had one more surprise in store. The island turned out to be the real Atlantis, and the giants were its former inhabitants. The lost civilisation they had stumbled across was very different from the one beneath the sea.

For Alan from 6(1), the adventure began with two children determined to save their father. Their difficult journey taught them to hold on to hope and keep going, even when things were hard.

Emily, also from 6(1), followed Tom on a search for magical treasure beneath the sea. After all his effort, he found no treasure and returned disappointed. A conversation with Mr Navy helped him look back differently: the sights and experiences along the way had a value of their own. Xichen from 6(1) told a more personal story, centred on Felix’s death and a promise between Elias and Lila. Lila’s life, and the people connected to it, formed the heart of the tale.

Sophia from 6(2) gave the starring role to an unlikely character: a pancake. Her pancake had one ambition—to be eaten. Sophia turned that simple wish into a funny, dramatic story, following the pancake until it finally got what it wanted. Among the detectives, astronauts and adventurers, a pancake with a purpose was a memorable addition to the competition.

All ten students performed extremely well and deserved to feel proud of what they had achieved. Speaking in front of an audience took courage, and they brought confidence and personality to their performances.

Their hard work showed in the way they told their stories, and every student made a valuable contribution to the competition.

Competition results

Congratulations to Xichen, Sophia and Roy, and to all ten students who shared their work. From a stranger in the house to an island hiding the truth about Atlantis, there was plenty to enjoy in their stories. Each presenter gave us a glimpse of the ideas they had been working on and their own way of telling a tale.

A competition runs smoothly only through the dedication of every teacher and student, both on stage and behind the scenes. Student hosts Bill and Wesley from 6(1), and Lynn and Charlotte from 6(2), took their responsibilities seriously, keeping the event on pace with care and confidence and making an important contribution to the day's success. Student judges Athena and Bella from 6(1) and Alice from 6(2), together with teacher judges Mr. T and Mr. Curry, listened attentively and scored fairly throughout, offering thoughtful feedback to every storyteller. Ms. Huang, Ms. Liu, Ms. Yang and others who organized and supported the event devoted considerable effort before and after the competition, from scheduling to on-site coordination, ensuring that every stage ran smoothly. The ASB students also played a vital role: they helped keep the audience quiet so that each speaker could be heard clearly, and managed the scoring throughout the event. Their support made a real difference and deserves special thanks.

(Written by Sterling
Pictures by Gong Haijie, Yu Xueling
Reviewed by Guo Lei, Shiyu Wu, Grace Gilmore)