Shyann and the Rise of the Drones
What happens when you're the only person who can see an alien invasion happening in real-time?
In this episode, Shyann wakes to a strange buzzing sound and discovers black drones swarming her tow, invisible to everyone except him. Armed with his sidekick Talon (a gigantic robotic owl he built in his garage), owl glasses (patent pending), and a determination to uncover the truth, Shyann tracks the drones through the school day, piece by piece. Silver cubes. Cryptic messages. Phase one, two, three. A shimmering triangular ship over the clock tower.
But here's the twist: these aliens aren't here for war. They're here for knowledge. And Shyann must decide whether to strike now or wait to discover what phase four holds.
Told in diary format with timestamps from 7:42 AM to 5:59 PM, this is a story of surveillance, strategy, and a child who sees what adults dismiss as "too many comic books."
This story proves what one Year 6 student told us: "The only superpower you need is imagination."
About the Story
Story Type: Sci-fi thriller with diary/log format
Themes: Being believed, strategic thinking, technology vs. humanity, hidden worlds
Setting: Modern-day town, school, water tower, clock tower
Key Elements:
- Timestamped diary entries tracking an unfolding mystery
- A robotic owl sidekick who doesn't talk much but is "smart"
- Invisible-to-adults alien drones with a strategic mission
- Hacking, surveillance tech, and "owl glasses (patent pending)"
- The frustration of adults not believing you ("too many comic books")
- Cliffhanger decision: strike now or wait for phase four?
Why This Story Matters
Shyann created something brilliantly original: a real-time surveillance thriller told through diary timestamps, where the protagonist is both detective and inventor. Notice how Cheyenne builds credibility through specificity, not just "morning" but "7:42 AM." Not just "drones" but "triangle body, red light eye, spinning blades."
This is what happens when children discover "The My Type Phenomenon"âthey don't follow templates, they invent entirely new narrative structures that feel authentically theirs.
And that detail about Talon taking a picture in the girls' toilets because Cheyenne "didn't go in, I swear"? That's the kind of real-world problem-solving and ethical awareness no adult would think to write. Children create worlds with their own internal logic and rules.
About StoryQuestâ˘
StoryQuest is a validated methodology that achieves 100% engagement across all learners, including reluctant writers, boys, and students with SEND. The approach is simple but profound: give children complete creative autonomy over something that truly matters to them.
Resources & Links
Bring StoryQuest to Your School:
Visit my-storyquest.com to download the curriculum guide and discover how your students can become published authors.
Start Friday Night Storytelling at Home:
Download Gabriel's StoryQuest Family Kit at theadventuresofgabriel.com
Read Gabriel's Adventures:
The international #1 bestselling series that started it all, co-authored by Kate Markland and her son Gabriel Khan. Available at theadventuresofgabriel.com
Connect with Kate:
Website: katemarkland.com
Share This Episode
Know a teacher struggling with reluctant writers? A parent whose child says "writing is boring"? A school leader looking for proven literacy solutions? Share this episode with them.
Because every child has a story. And when we give them the freedom to tell it, extraordinary things happen.
Keywords
Child authors, creative writing for children, literacy education, reluctant writers, StoryQuest, student engagement, children's storytelling, authentic writing, educational innovation, child-led learning, sci-fi stories, alien invasion, drone stories, diary format, robotic owl, young inventor stories, UK education
Next Episode
Subscribe to Stories Without Borders to hear more incredible stories from children around the world who discovered their voices through StoryQuest.
Production: StoryQuest
"When given complete creative control, children don't just create great storiesâthey discover their voice. And that voice deserves to be heard." â Kate Markland