October heralds cooler days, fall leaves, and, for the past three years, the Independent and S.B. Public Library’s community essay contest based on the Santa Barbara Reads selection. This year’s tome is Benjamin Alire Sáenz’s Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, the award-winning young adult novel that explores racial and sexual identities, family relationships, and mental-health issues, among other topics. Follow the instructions below and start writing! Winning essays from both categories will be published in the Independent.
Categories
Teens (ages 14-18) and Adults (over 18).