Year 5 pupil, Poppy, makes it to the final of BBC Radio 2’s 500 Word competition

Year 5 pupil, Poppy, was one of the 25 finalists in the under-9 category of BBC Radio 2’s 500 Word competition. Poppy was selected out of 90,000 entries for her story about two boys in Afghanistan. She wrote Afghan Boys after being influenced by Michael Morpurgo’s novel, Shadow, which is set in Afghanistan. Poppy attended the finale last Friday which was presented by Chris Evans live from the Hay Festival of Literature and Arts. The panel of judges included Dame Jacqueline Wilson, Charlie Higson, Malorie Blackman, and Frank Cottrell-Boyce; headed up this year by the CBBC and Top Gear Star Richard Hammond. Poppy described the finale as very exciting and said “I’ve always loved writing ever since I was little. I’ll definitely carry on writing and when I’m older I’d like to be an author because then every day I’d be able to do something that I love’.

Click here to read Poppy’s short story http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/500words/2013/stories/afghan-boys/

Click here to see Poppy speaking on the short film of 500 Words – The Movie! http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/500words/2013/