ooh this sounds interesting! I might come back with something later.
also are we allowed to write a summary of a story that we wrote ourselves or are in progress of?

what a great idea!:)

Beach Girls (contemporary, MG/YA)

Sara, Julieta and Irene have been friends since childhood. The three of them are a tight-knit group, doing everything together – and the cornerstone of their relationship is their annual trip to the California beach, where they enjoy a week of sun-drenched sky, golden sand, and freedom.

But this year, things are different. Change is in the air. It’s not just that Julieta’s suddenly gotten a boyfriend, or that Irene is rethinking her entire identity. It’s that the entire world is shifting, and the girls find themselves watching as their beloved beach falls apart – its turquoise waters filled with plastic, its formerly-easygoing tourists shouting at each other over political tensions.

But friendship conquers everything – and the girls may be able to find the key to navigating this new world and bringing back the peace and beauty they’ve always loved so much, if they can keep hold of their humor, courage and kindness in a novel that will make you laugh and cry right along with these three spirited and lovable heroines.

@Poinsettia, I really like your summary! It sounds like an actual book I’d love to pick up. Here’s one about a short story I wrote years ago, since it fits:

Seashells – Literary Fiction with Magical Realism, MG/YA

A boy who has never spoken to anyone finds his voice in the companion of a starling.

The poignant tale takes place in a small seaside town through the unique perspective of a starling, where the boy, named Aziel, would venture to the beach each day to collect seashells and write names on them, before placing them with an ever-growing collection. This, along with his strange muteness, adds to the curiosity of the starling as she continues to observe from afar.

The two begin to form an unlikely bond, and one day, the boy reveals the reason behind his seashell habit: he writes down names of those who had gone, placing each shell as a quiet act of remembrance when no one else would mourn. But as he places down more seashells through the seasons, he begins to question why the stars whisper their names in his ears. Why him? Why does he hear the names of the lost, and is he meant to do more than simply write them down?

The stars never answer.
The sea keeps pulling.
And the shells keep filling.

A haunting, lyrical tale about remembrance, outsiders, and the poignant beauty of the beach – told through the eyes of a bird who listens, even to what cannot be spoken.

The Lost Vacation – mystery, MG/YA
In Lida’s family, every child spends the summer after they turn thirteen with mysterious Great-Aunt Drusilla, who lives in a cottage where the mountains meet the sea. Lida and her twin cousins, Amber and Pearl, are excited to go–all their lives, they’ve only heard rumors about it, from older siblings who may have been embellishing the truth. But, when they arrive in the tiny fishing town of Seapeak, Great-Aunt Drusilla is nowhere to be found.
Together with Rose, an orphan girl who takes care of Aunt Drusilla’s garden, the three of them endeavor to find out where Great-Aunt Drusilla has gone–or been taken–and why.
A tale about families, both birth and chosen, as well as an enchanting mystery with lots of twists, turns, and hidden elements that no one ever dreamed of.

Ooh, this is such a good idea!! @everyone, your summaries are so good :DD

Ocean Tides
Contemporary with magical elements, YA

13-year-old Liltara has never felt understood. Her family has moved more times than she can count, and each time, she hopes that her new home will be the one that means something to her… but each time, she leaves behind nothing but a handful of memories, a handful of blue stones, and a handful of dispassionate good wishes for what she will never see again. At least, it’s like this until the summer when they go to a secret village on the very edge of the sea, all curved white walls with bougainvilleas spilling over them and the whisper of the waves behind them. When Liltara goes down to the sea one summer dawn, she meets Evernon, a mysterious boy who feels as akin to her as the pale sand that catches different hues depending on the light hitting it. In the following days, she meets him often, but never in any other light than dawnlight. For the first time, she feels understood, cared for, special. But what is Evernon’s secret? And what will happen when, once again, her family decides to move on?

All of these summaries are so good!

The Songs Calling to Me 

Contemporary with Magical Realism, MG

Eleven-year-old Remi is seeing their father for the first time in eight years. It’s a week-long visit at their father’s cottage by the beach. But the two of them are almost strangers, and Remi escapes to the beach most days. When they find a conch shell in the water, they press it to their ear, just for fun. To their surprise, they can hear a voice singing. There are no words to the tune, yet Remi can understand the singer: whoever it is hasn’t seen home in a long time, and they are struggling to find their way back. The next day, Remi meets a boy from the nearby village, Colin, and shows him the shell. The two of them team up to figure out what’s going on, but aren’t prepared for the twist that comes as they investigate. This heartfelt story is engaging for all ages, but is perfect for middle-grade readers. 
–
I’d read all of these books, they sound great 🙂 

Thank you to everyone who has entered so far! I wanted to let you know that I have to judge on the 15th instead.

Honorary Mentions (in no particular order):

Seadragon: The Lost Vacation
I love the title of this, to start. And the mystery of the missing aunt! It sounds like it would be very intriguing. I really want to know how the mystery plays out XD I already love the main character, and her cousins <3

Moon Wolf: Seashells
Woah, this sounds like a beautiful story. The starling, the boy without a voice but that connection… I feel like I would cry to this one TT-TT I want to know the ending!!! Hopefully it’s happy 🙂

Third Place: Amethyst, Ocean Tides
Liltara sounds like a very relatable girl. The secret village, that boy… shivers! Your description is gorgeous! I wonder what his secret is… perhaps a selkie? Please don’t tell me she moves *sob*

Second Place: Amity, The Songs Calling to Me
This sounds like a very moving story. An unknown father, lonely on the beach… finding a singing shell and a new friend. I’m thinking maybe a mermaid? WHAT’S THE TWIST I WANNA KNOW

First Place: Poinsettia, Beach Girls
Honestly, the moment I read this I knew it would be first place. This is a book that would draw me in at the first page. Friends working through different things, romance, identity. I’d probably cry a few times XD Your writing hooks me! Congrats, you are the next judge!