by Brenda Scott Royce, SCBWI-L.A. Contest Coordinator

We’re thrilled to announce this year’s winner of the Sue Alexander Grant, Julia Edwards, for her middle grade novel “I Speak for the Trees”! Here’s what the judges had to say about her excerpt:

“The opening pages of this middle grade novel grabbed me immediately, and the witty narrator had me hooked. While funny and smart, the environmental angle put this over the top for me, in terms of a super layered and entertaining read.”

“Written in a fun, fast and lively style, ‘I Speak for the Trees’ begins at ‘drool o’clock,’ as protagonist Phoenix Moonbeam Reising, a.k.a. Fifi, is awakened by one of her sister’s frequent night terrors. The reader is quickly thrown into a fully drawn family in which the mom is a throwback to the hippie days, the dad has gone mysteriously missing, and the sister is suffering from climate change anxiety….Fifi herself is opinionated, sardonic, smart, and not afraid to get into a physical fight.”

Julia shares her book’s origin: “When my now 17-year-old son was a boy, he loved The Lorax so much, we would pretend play around it. I had to be the Once-ler, chopping down all the trees. My son would hop up and scream for me to stop: ‘I am the Lorax! I speak for the trees!’ I started writing ‘I Speak for the Trees’ for him … and for all the kids who listen to the climate news and get worried or depressed or downright terrified.”

“We know that trees do speak to each other,” Julia continues. “And with the help of magical realism, I imagined what happens when one girl hacks into the trees’ comm system—their Wood Wide Web—and feels the pulse of the planet thrumming from her fingers to her toes. She can’t speak for them yet, but she knows one thing for certain: If the trees are going to war, then so is she.”

As the winner of the Sue Alexander Grant, Julia will receive a guaranteed spot and free tuition to SCBWI-L.A.’s Working Writer’s Retreat at the Holy Spirit Retreat Center in Encino, September 29 to October 1, 2023. She attended the same event six years ago, bonding with a group of “insightful, funny writers” who gave her the inspiration to keep writing. “We’ve been convening monthly ever since: trading pages, offering insights, and spurring each other on. I owe a great debt to them, to the Writer’s Retreat, and to SCBWI. Cannot wait to return in person!”

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Honorable Mentions

Congratulations are also in order for Cara J. Stevens, whose YA entry, “Lost Things / Postcards from Wonderland,” came in a very close second. “This story drew me in immediately with great voice, characterization, and imagery,” one judge commented.

“R.O.C.K. Star” by R.S. Mellette snagged third place. One judge wrote of Mellette’s YA protagonist, “I could feel her angst as well as her sense of humor—and was totally intrigued by the storyline.”

“The Monster at Elizabeth Lake” by PB Rippey rounded out the top four vote-getters. “The mysterious opening and witty banter pulled me into this middle-grade story right away,” said one judge. “The protagonist feels so real and relatable. I’m sure this charming story will find a wide audience.”

SCBWI-L.A. extends its deepest appreciation to the judges (who serve anonymously) for their time and careful consideration. Kudos to everyone who entered for putting their work out there!

For more fantastic content, community, events, and other professional development opportunities, become a member today! Not sure if there is a chapter in your area? Check here.

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Brenda Scott Royce is the Contest Coordinator for SCBWI-L.A.  She has authored more than 30 books for children. Her latest, Angela & Lulingu: Two Gorillas, A World Apart, comes out in September 2023, from Blue Sneaker Press.

Photos provided by Julia Edwards and Brenda Scott Royce, respectively.