Summer

Throughout the summer, the House committee investigating the Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021, sought to lay out the full magnitude of President Donald J. Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election. No testimony was more explosive than during a surprise hearing on June 28, when Cassidy Hutchinson, a former White House aide, revealed new…

WinnerDaniel Wei, 15, from Marvin Ridge High School in Waxhaw, N.C., chose an article from the U.S. News section headlined “One Small Step for Democracy in a ‘Live Free or Die’ Town” and wrote:What happened in Croydon, N.H., is happening all over America — people are realizing how little their voices matter. My civic literacy…

wesley morrisJenna.jenna worthamYes, baby.wesley morrisIt has been some summer.jenna worthamMm.wesley morrisGeorge Floyd was killed in Minneapolis, Minn., on Memorial Day.jenna worthamRight.wesley morrisWe are now in July. And a lot of things have happened in the wake of his death.jenna worthamMm. Mm-hm, mm-hm.wesley morrisThey are mind-blowing to think about.jenna worthamRight.wesley morrisIs your seat belt on?jenna worthamI’m…

It’s not enough just to choose something that connects to your life and simply say, “This article was interesting to me because I like to cook and it will help me cook better.” Instead, we hope you’ll pay close attention to what goes through your mind as you read, thinking critically about your own reaction…

The royal family’s private life often intersects with their royal duties. Similarly in America, the extracurricular activities of politicians often overlap with their political affairs as well. Seeing this, writer Jennifer Weiner asserts that America needs its own “royal family,” separately-elected representatives who can perform ceremonial tasks while representing America’s overall values. Ms. Weiner juxtaposes…

Students are invited to tell us what they’re reading in The Times and why, in writing OR via a 90-second video. Contest dates: June 5 to Aug. 14, 2026.

WinnerPeri Ferguson, 16, from King School in Stamford, Conn., chose a guest essay from the Opinion section headlined “Black Valedictorians and the Toxic Trope of Black Exceptionalism” and wrote:My grandmother was a Black valedictorian. She couldn’t afford to go to college. Her family members were poor farmers, descendants of poor sharecroppers, descendants of slaves.My father…

WinnerSophene Avedissian, from Los Angeles, chose an article from the Opinion section headlined “Why Strangers Are Good for Us” and wrote:I distinctly remember looking at my mom in awe as she casually chatted with the grocery store cashier. When most would answer with a few dismissive words, she seamlessly instigated an entire conversation from the…

Welcome to Week Eight of our 13th Annual Summer Reading Contest.This contest is open to students 11-19 from anywhere in the world. To participate, submit a response by 9 a.m. Eastern on Aug. 5 that answers the questions “What got your attention in The New York Times this week? Why?”If you are 13 or older…

Congratulations to our winner, Samya Madhukar, as well as to our many runners-up and honorable mentions.