Awards: 2006
read more about Lacie and her winning letter.
Maine Students Receive Awards in Essay Contest Sponsored by Maine Humanities Council
Letters About Literature is a national reading and writing program sponsored by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress in partnership with Target Stores. More than 47,000 students participated nationwide. The Maine Humanities Council’s Harriet P. Henry Center for the Book provides local funding and program support necessary to bring the program to Maine. The contest was open to all 4th through 12th grade students. Entrants were asked to write a short letter to an author—living or dead—explaining how that author’s book changed their way of viewing the world and themselves. The letters offer a chance for young readers to reflect on the work of their favorite authors, think about why reading their work was such an engaging experience and then express those thoughts and feelings.
More than 700 students from throughout Maine participated in Letters About Literature this year. Lisa Adams, who manages the program, says, “We have heard feedback from teachers throughout the state that Letters About Literature is an extremely effective teaching tool, bringing recognition to young readers across Maine while also allowing them the opportunity to reflect on pieces of literature that are important to their intellectual and emotional development.”
The following students received first place awards:
Sarah Fitch (center), Level I winner of the Letters About Literature competition, with her family at the presentation of her award, presented by Erik Jorgensen (second from left) on behalf of the Maine Humanities Council.
- Sarah Fitch, a fifth grader who attends North Yarmouth Memorial School and is taught by Dixie E. Hayes, received first place for grades 4 to 6 for her letter to Gary Schmidt about Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy. The historical novel is based on the true story of community’s destruction, and focuses on a unique friendship that crosses boundaries during a time of change. In her letter, Sarah focuses on the profound effect the book has had on her perception of history, realigning her views on the importance and relevance of stories from the past.
- Lacie Craven from Bucks Harbor and a student at Cornerstone Academy, received first place for grades 7 and 8 for her letter to Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings about her novel, The Yearling. The book is an emotional account of the relationship between a boy and his pet fawn, set in the late 1800s in the scrublands of Florida. The eighth grader lives on a lambing farm on the coast, and reflected on how the story gave her insight on how to deal with challenges and loss in her own life. Lacie was a semifinalist in 2006.
- Beatrice Abbott, a senior from Windsor, received first place for grades 9 through 12 with a letter to Robert Frost concerning the poem Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening. Identifying with a deep admiration and respect for the forest, Beatrice offers poetic expressions in her letter that mirror the serenity found in Frost’s poem.
The following students received second place awards:
- James Gordon O’Connor, who attends Camden-Rockport Middle School and is taught by Mari Wolfe, received second place for grades 4 to 6 for his letter to Brian Jacques about Redwall. The graphic fantasy novel inspired the fifth grader to run with his imagination on the subject. He has created three sequels to the story with the input of his peers, including illustrations by his friend Stephen.
- Una Huang of Readfield received second place for grades 7 and 8 for her heartfelt letter to L.M. Montgomery about Anne of Green Gables. Now in seventh grade, Ms. Huang received a second place award in 2006 for her letter about The Trumpet and the Swan. Her letter about Anne of Green Gables shows an intense understanding of the process of learning from one’s mistakes, as exhibited by Anne more than a few times throughout the novel. The book also affected Una’s outlook and self-image, causing her to be more outgoing and relaxed.
- Brittany Tucci, a junior who attends Lewiston High School and is taught by James Siragusa, received second place for grades 11 and 12 for her powerful letter to author Laurie Halse Anderson about Speak. The eloquent novel about a young girl finding her voice has urged Brittany to undergo a crucial healing process, allowing her the ability to regain some strength and confidence through relating to the struggle of the main character, Melinda.
All entries were submitted to and reviewed by a national review committee in a first round. Selected semifinalists were then provided to each state. A panel of distinguished Maine educators and community leaders judged the Maine semifinalists on format, theme and expression, as well as organization and grammar. The panel selected winners in each of three divisions: Level I for students in grades 4-6; Level II for students in grades 7 and 8, and Level III for students in grades 9-12. Maine’s first place winners in each level will receive cash awards of $100 and a $50 Target gift card and second place winners will receive gift certificates for book purchases. Honorable mentions are also awarded to several students in each level.
The first place winners automatically advance to the national competition where two students from each level will be awarded a $500 Target gift card. The winning students and their parents also receive a paid trip to the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C. in fall 2006, where they will read their winning letters.
Below is a complete list of Letters About Literature Honorable Mentions and Semifinalists. Names are sorted by school, and by town in the case of home-schooled entrants.
Pearl White – Semifinalist
Adrienne Bowie – Semifinalist
Matthew McGuirk – Semifinalist
Betsy Li – Semifinalist
Melissa Prentice – Semifinalist
Anna Rich – Semifinalist
Molly White – Semifinalist
Kayla Anthony – Semifinalist
Lindsey Collora – Semifinalist
Izabo Emerson – Semifinalist
Brittany Johnson – Semifinalist
Leslie Norton – Semifinalist
Haley Toppin – Semifinalist
Olivia Erickson – Semifinalist
Annie Helmkamp – Honorable Mention
Courtney Hansen – Semifinalist
Chayce Beck – Semifinalist
Elizabeth Booker – Semifinalist
Tyler Kenney – Semifinalist
Lucy Dilworth – Semifinalist
Adrienne Sanford – Semifinalist
Kate Liziewski – Semifinalist
Katie Burns – Semifinalist
Casey Benner – Semifinalist
Michele Girard – Semifinalist
Samantha Robertson – Semifinalist
Amber Leduc – Semifinalist
Darby E. Rose – Semifinalist
Kayla Royer – Semifinalist
Mary Shomaker – Semifinalist
Molly Griffiths – Semifinalist
Jennifer Kathleen Huff – Semifinalist
Kendra Joseph – Semifinalist
Victoria Leach – Semifinalist
Valerie Mahoney – Semifinalist
Kristen Sweeney – Semifinalist
Kayleigh Shrader – Semifinalist
Emily Eames – Semifinalist
Kaitlin LaPlante – Semifinalist
Andrea DiBello – Semifinalist
Sara Fabrizio – Semifinalist
Ashley Morgan – Semifinalist
Brian Libby – Semifinalist
Jennifer Montanez – Semifinalist
Dylan Seder – Semifinalist
Anthony Verville – Semifinalist
Laura DeWitt – Semifinalist
Nick Rovnak – Semifinalist
Abbi Scrutchfield – Semifinalist
Jill Tuttle – Semifinalist
Katelyn Hussey – Semifinalist
Allison Martin – Semifinalist
Alexandra Roberts – Semifinalist
Lily Clare Passerina Brinker – Honorable Mention
Charlie Seekins – Semifinalist
