|
Funding for this project is provided by
the Library Services and Technology Act administered by the Institute of Museum
and Library Services and the West Virginia Library Commission.
| |
WEST VIRGINIA CENTER FOR THE BOOK
ANNOUNCES
STATE WRITING AWARDS
Carolyn Garcia, an eleventh grade student in
Fairmont and Mollee Brown, a seventh grade student at Fairmont Catholic, have
taken top honors in two divisions of the West Virginia Letters About Literature
writing contest. Judges selected Garcia’s letter to Douglas Adams, author of
Last Chance to See, for top honors in Level III competition for children in
grades 9 through 12.
“I devoured your work, beginning with the
Guide and continuing through the entire series, not stopping until I had
read almost everything you had ever written,” wrote the sixteen-year-old
Garcia. “The more I read, the more I laughed, the more I wondered, and the more
I missed you, although I never knew you.” It is Garcia’s fifth year of
competing, fifth year to reach the finalists, and third year of taking top
honors. Garcia’s winning essay advanced for national competition and is
awaiting final judging results.
Brown took top honors in Level II (grades 7
through 8) for her letter to Fred Gipson for Old Yeller. “Your book
showed me that I shouldn’t see her death as a loss, but her visits and trusting
attitude as a gain. Therefore, I’d like to thank you ... your book, “Old
Yeller,” has made a huge difference in my life; she helped me recover from that
dog’s death more than you can imagine,” stated this thirteen-year-old reader.
“And the best thing is, even if the book hadn’t aided me when I needed it, I
loved reading the exciting adventures of a boy and a dog.”
Top honors for competition Level I (grades 4
through 6) went to Molly Lovern of Bluefield for her letter to Jane Yolen for
The Devil’s Arithmetic. In West Virginia, 181 children in grades 4
through 6 competed in Level I this year, but only 29 were selected as finalists.
In Level II, grades 7 through 8, 287 children competed with 55 selected as
finalists. Seventy-five of 326 competitors from grades 9 through 12 were
selected as finalists in Level III. Overall, 794 West Virginia youth competed
for prizes this year in a group that included more than 56,000 entries
nation-wide.
The Letters About Literature competition
is a reading promotion program of the Center for the Book in the Library of
Congress, presented in partnership with Target Stores. Additional state funders
include the West Virginia Center for the Book hosted by the West Virginia
Library Commission in partnership with the West Virginia Humanities Council.
To enter, young readers write a personal
letter to an author explaining how his or her work changed their view of the
world or themselves. Readers can select authors from any genre—fiction or
nonfiction, contemporary or classic. The program has three competition levels:
upper elementary, middle school, and secondary. The contest theme encourages
young readers to explore his or her personal response to a book then express
that response in a creative, original way.
At an awards ceremony held April 19,
2006, in the Cultural Center in Charleston, awardees received a certificate, an
autographed copy of the West Virginia National Library Week poster featuring
Governor and Mrs. Manchin, a personalized bookmark, and a anthology containing
the letters awarded top honors, honors, and honorable mention. Guest speakers
included First Lady Gayle Manchin, and notable West Virginia author and college
library director, Cheryl Harshman. J.D. Waggoner, Secretary of the West
Virginia Library Commission, delivered the opening comments and assisted the
guest speakers in presenting the student awards. The First Lady, a frequent
guest at the awards presentation said of the program, “Words have the power to
inspire, to heal, to teach---to communicate! Programs like “Letters About
Literature” encourage young readers to really explore and experience other
places, other times, great characters, lessons learned---but best of all, it
enables them to have the opportunity to put into words the experiences they
shared through an author.”
Top honors and honors awardees in each
division receive a cash award of $100 or $50, compliments of the West Virginia
Humanities Council. Additionally, the top honors writer in each level receives a
$50 gift card, compliments of Target Stores and a certificate signed by John
Cole, Director of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. All top
honors essays advance to national competition. Six national winners will
receive an expenses-paid trip to the nation’s capitol which also include
parents, and one teacher where the winners will read their letters during the
National Book Festival in the fall of 2005. In addition, they will receive a
$500 Target gift card. For additional information and a complete list of
finalists, please visit
www.wvcenterforthebook@lib.wv.us
Target Stores, along with its parent company
Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT), gives back more than $2 million a week to its
local communities through grants and special programs. Since opening its first
store in 1962, Target has partnered with nonprofit organizations, guests and
team members to help meet community needs.
The following awards were presented on April
19, 2007:
|
Student First Name |
Student Last Name |
Home City |
School |
Book Title |
Author |
Prize Level |
|
Molly |
Lovern |
Bluefield |
Brushfork E.S. |
The Devil's
Arithmetic |
Jane Yolen |
Top Honors |
|
Ebhann |
Campbell |
Wheeling |
|
Martin the Warrior |
Brian Jacques |
Honors |
|
Hanna |
Davis |
Martinsburg |
Spring Mills M.S. |
Blubber |
Judy Blume |
Honors |
|
Liesl Faye
|
Hake |
Charlestown |
|
Spider Sparrow |
Dick King-Smith |
Honors |
|
Lydia |
LeMaster |
Princeton |
Mercer School |
Up Molasses
Mountain |
Julie Baker |
Honors |
|
Adam |
Bowles |
Princeton |
Princeton M.S. |
Naruto |
Masashi Kishimoto |
Honorable Mention |
|
Sydney |
England |
Mullens |
Mullens G.S. |
The Hair Book |
Dr. Suess |
Honorable Mention |
|
Grace |
Kesler |
Nitro |
|
Pinocchio's Quest |
Robert Rogland, Vic
Lockman & Michael J. McHugh |
Honorable Mention |
|
Mattie |
Kliethermes |
Fairmont |
Fairmont Catholic
School |
Getting Near to
Baby |
Audrey Couloumbis |
Honorable Mention |
|
Madison |
Moyer |
Fairmont |
Fairmont Catholic
School |
The Tiger Rising |
Kate DiCamillo |
Honorable Mention |
|
Amanda |
Assaley |
Huntington |
St. Joseph G.S. |
Coming Home |
Lauren Brooke |
Notable Mention |
|
Danite |
Belay |
Bluefield |
Bluefield I.S. |
Junie B. Jones |
Barbara Parks |
Notable Mention |
|
Catherine |
Boyles |
Fairmont |
Fairmont Catholic
School |
The Ugly Duckling |
Hans Christian
Anderson |
Notable Mention |
|
Nathan |
Burks |
Princeton |
Mercer School |
Fudge -a- Mania |
Judy Blume |
Notable Mention |
|
Abigail |
Darnold |
Red House |
|
Hatchet |
Gary Paulsen |
Notable Mention |
|
Joee |
Goheen |
Huntington |
St. Joseph G.S. |
A Coal Miner's
Bride: The Diary of Anetka Saminska |
Susan Campbell
Bartoletti |
Notable Mention |
|
Destiny |
Harrison |
Charles Town |
South Jefferson
E.S. Library |
Harry Potter and
the Goblet of Fire |
J.K. Rowling |
Notable Mention |
|
Emma |
Hurley |
Culloden |
Milton M.S. |
Holes |
Louis Sachar |
Notable Mention |
|
Anna |
Kelley |
Fairmont |
Fairmont Catholic
School |
Grandfather
Twilight |
Barbara Berger |
Notable Mention |
|
Amy |
Lusk |
Bud |
Mullens G.S. |
First Grader:
Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! |
Barbara Park |
Notable Mention |
|
Loran |
Margevich |
Martinsburg |
Spring Mills M.S. |
Seabiscuit |
Laura Hillenbrand |
Notable Mention |
|
Madison |
Martin |
Maysville |
Maysville E.S. |
Bridge to
Terabithia |
Katherine Paterson |
Notable Mention |
|
Jordan |
Masterson |
Bluefield |
Bluefield I.S. |
Flea Circus Summer |
Cheryl Ware |
Notable Mention |
|
Savannah |
Poore |
Bluefield |
Bluefield I.S. |
Junie B. Jones |
Barbara Park |
Notable Mention |
|
Ali |
Sansalone |
Fairmont |
Fairmont Catholic
School |
Mama, Do You Love
Me? |
Barbara M.
Joosse;Barbara Lavallee |
Notable Mention |
|
Auri Anna |
Shay |
Fairmont |
Fairmont Catholic
School |
Catering to Nobody |
Diane Mott Davidson |
Notable Mention |
|
Brittany |
Stillwell |
Charles Town |
South Jefferson
E.S. Library |
"Homework, Oh
Homework" |
Jack Prelutsky |
Notable Mention |
|
Olivia |
Zarilla |
Ona |
St. Joseph G.S. |
The Diary of
Melanie Martin |
Carol Weston |
Notable Mention |
|
Beginnning Level II
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mollee |
Brown |
Fairmont |
Fairmont Catholic |
Old Yeller |
Fred Gipson |
Top Honors |
|
Nicole |
Marton |
Bridgeport |
Bridgeport M.S. |
A Journey to the
Center of the Earth |
Jules Verne |
Honors |
|
Deirdre
|
Tobin |
Fairmont |
Fairmont Catholic |
Anne of Green
Gables |
Lucy Maud
Montgomery |
Honors |
|
Alexandra
|
Flanigan |
Morgantown |
South M.S. |
Bridge to
Terabithia |
Katherine Paterson |
Honors |
|
Hannah |
Bowles |
Princeton |
Glenwood School |
For One More Day |
Mitch Albom |
Honorable Mention |
|
Nicole |
Godbey |
Clendenin |
Elkview M.S. |
Charlotte's Web |
E.B. White |
Honorable Mention |
|
Rachel |
Goforth |
Bluefield |
Bluefield M.S. |
Where the Sidewalk
Ends |
Shel Silverstein |
Honorable Mention |
|
Raef |
Lambertson |
Morgantown |
South M.S. |
When Pigasso Met
Mootisse |
Nina Laden |
Honorable Mention |
|
Mary Beth |
Miller |
Princeton |
Princeton M.S. |
Where I Want to Be |
Adele Griffin |
Honorable Mention |
|
Lydia |
Pierson |
Huntington |
Beverly Hills M.S. |
The Skin I'm In |
Sharon G. Flake |
Honorable Mention |
|
Kyle |
Berkow |
Morgantown |
South M.S. |
Hoot |
Carl Hiaasen |
Notable Mention |
|
Brandon |
Bostic |
Fayetteville |
Saints Peter & Paul
Catholic School |
The Bad Beginning |
Lemony Snicket |
Notable Mention |
|
Sean |
Coffers |
Morgantown |
South M.S. |
Great Book of Amber |
Robert Zelanzy |
Notable Mention |
|
Shannon |
Dineen |
Morgantown |
|
Oliver Twist |
Charles Dickens |
Notable Mention |
|
David |
Donohue |
Shepherdstown |
Shepherdstown M.S. |
Gone With the Wind |
Margret Mitchell |
Notable Mention |
|
Jacob |
Downing |
Fairmont |
Fairmont Catholic |
Harry Potter and
the Sorcerer's Stone |
Joanne Rowling |
Notable Mention |
|
Alan |
Foss |
Milton |
Milton M.S. |
Books by Dr. Seuss |
Dr. Seuss |
Notable Mention |
|
Heidi |
Fraley |
Shepherdstown |
Shepherdstown M.S. |
Eragon |
Christopher Paolini |
Notable Mention |
|
Emily |
Garcia |
Fairmont |
Fairmont Catholic |
The Giver |
Lowis Lowry |
Notable Mention |
|
Caitlin |
Hassan |
Bluefield |
Bluefield M.S. |
"If I Can Stop One
Heart From Breaking" |
Emily Dickinson
|
Notable Mention |
|
Audrey |
Hayhurst |
Rivesville |
Fairmont Catholic |
Taking Liberty |
Ann Rinaldi |
Notable Mention |
|
Lindsey |
Hess |
Fayetteville |
Saints Peter & Paul
Catholic School |
The Value of
Patience |
Spencer Johnson |
Notable Mention |
|
Logan |
Honaker |
Fayetteville |
Saints Peter & Paul
Catholic School |
First Descent |
Kevin Harrison |
Notable Mention |
|
Pranav |
Jain |
Fairmont |
Fairmont Catholic |
The Red Pony |
John Steinbeck |
Notable Mention |
|
Seth |
Kesler |
Nitro |
|
Sister's Letter |
Grace Kesler |
Notable Mention |
|
Sarah |
Klenk |
Fayetteville |
Saints Peter & Paul
Catholic School |
The Clique Series |
Lisi Harrison |
Notable Mention |
|
Katelyn |
LaValley |
Morgantown |
|
The Little House on
the Prairie |
Laura Ingalls
Wilder |
Notable Mention |
|
Sydney |
Lester |
Ona |
Milton M.S. |
No Title |
Bacon Finn |
Notable Mention |
|
Danielle |
Licata |
Fairmont |
Fairmont Catholic |
The Case For Faith |
Lee Strobel |
Notable Mention |
|
Kaitlynn |
Lilly |
Princeton |
Princeton M.S. |
The Hiding Place |
Corrie ten Boom |
Notable Mention |
|
Ashley |
Lively |
Fayetteville |
Saints Peter & Paul
Catholic School |
Night |
Elie Weisel |
Notable Mention |
|
Zack |
Lusher |
Ona |
Milton M.S. |
The Inheritance
Trilogy |
Christopher Paolini |
Notable Mention |
|
Mynika |
Martin |
Harpers Ferry |
Harpers Ferry M.S. |
Running Out of Time |
Margaret Peterson
Haddix |
Notable Mention |
|
Emily |
McInturff |
Bridgeport |
Bridgeport M.S. |
A Young Woman's
Walk with God |
Elizabeth George |
Notable Mention |
|
Kayla |
Moles |
Elkview |
Elkview M.S. |
Sixteen and Dying |
Lurlene McDaniel |
Notable Mention |
|
Jared |
Peterson |
Morgantown |
South M.S. |
The Rookie |
Jim Morris and Joel
Engel |
Notable Mention |
|
Kaitlyn |
Powers |
Bluefield |
Glenwood School |
The Truth About
Forever |
Sarah Dessen |
Notable Mention |
|
Elizabeth |
Robinson |
Harpers Ferry |
Harpers Ferry M.S. |
London Bridges |
James Patterson |
Notable Mention |
|
Natalee |
Rogerson |
Moundsville |
Moundsville J.H.S. |
Sort of Forever |
Sally Warner |
Notable Mention |
|
Kate |
Schessler |
Charleston |
John Adams M.S. |
I Haved Lived 1,000
Years |
Livia Bitton-
Jackson |
Notable Mention |
|
Karley |
Smith |
Moundsville |
Moundsville J.H.S. |
Holes |
Louis Sachar |
Notable Mention |
|
Nicholas |
Stinson |
Princeton |
Princeton M.S. |
Old Yeller |
Fred Gipson |
Notable Mention |
|
Kelsey |
Toompas |
Philippi |
Philippi M.S. |
The Magic Tree
House Series |
Mary Pope Osborne |
Notable Mention |
|
Madison |
Whiting |
Fairmont |
Fairmont Catholic |
A Girl Named
Disaster |
Nancy Farmer |
Notable Mention |
|
William |
Zhang |
Huntington |
Beverly Hills M.S. |
White Fang |
Jack London |
Notable Mention |
|
Beginning Level
III
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Carolyn |
Garcia |
Fairmont |
|
Last Chance to See |
Douglas Adams |
Top Honors |
|
Haley |
McDonald |
Inwood |
Musselman H.S. |
Rainbow Boys |
Alex Sanchez |
Honors |
|
Ashley |
Yoho |
New Martinsville |
|
Anorexic |
Eavan Boland |
Honors |
|
Annie |
Flatley |
Wheeling |
Wheeling Park H.S. |
Speak |
Laurie Halse
Anderson |
Honors |
|
Javier |
Carrera |
New Martinsville |
Magnolia H.S. |
Harry Potter and
the Sorcerer's Stone |
J.K. Rowling |
Honorable Mention |
|
Amber |
Eakin |
Fairmont |
East Fairmont H.S. |
"Shooting an
Elephant" |
George Orwell |
Honorable Mention |
|
Isaac |
Hake |
Charles Town |
|
Cyrano De Bergerac |
Edmond Rostand |
Honorable Mention |
|
Shayla |
Hughes |
Reedy |
Roane County H.S. |
Speak |
Laurie Halse
Anderson |
Honorable Mention |
|
Meghan |
Kinty |
Fairmont |
East Fairmont H.S. |
The Giver |
Lois Lowry |
Honorable Mention |
|
Sabrina |
Morris |
Glengary |
Musselman H.S. |
"The Raven" |
Edgar Allan Poe |
Honorable Mention |
|
Eric |
Allen |
Fairmont |
East Fairmont H.S. |
Holes |
Louis Sachar |
Notable Mention |
|
Marlee |
Amos |
New Martinsville |
Magnolia H.S. |
Song and Dance Man |
Karen Ackerman |
Notable Mention |
|
Britney |
Beasley |
Dunbar |
Capital H.S. |
Jacob Have I Loved |
Katherine Paterson |
Notable Mention |
|
Ashleigh |
Blake |
Paden City |
Magnolia H.S. |
The Pearls of Lutra |
Brian Jacques |
Notable Mention |
|
Shayla |
Brown |
Valley Grove |
Wheeling Park H.S. |
Across Five Aprils |
Irene Hunt |
Notable Mention |
|
Benjamin |
Burford |
Charleston |
Capital H.S. |
Let's Roll:
Ordinary People,Extraordinary Courage |
Lisa Beamer |
Notable Mention |
|
Kendra |
Campbell |
Fairmont |
East Fairmont H.S. |
Peter Pan |
J.M. Barrie |
Notable Mention |
|
Heidi |
Chrisman |
Bunker Hill |
Musselman H.S. |
The Miraculous
Journey of Edward Tulane |
Kate DiCamillo |
Notable Mention |
|
Morgan |
Cottrell |
Spencer |
Roane County H.S. |
Bass Ackwards and
Belly Up |
Elizabeth Craft and
Sarah Fain |
Notable Mention |
|
Justin |
Cousins |
Charleston |
Capital H.S. |
His Needs Her Needs |
Willard F. Farley |
Notable Mention |
|
Ashley |
Dusing |
Inwood |
Musselman H.S. |
Sadie-in-Waiting |
Annie Jones |
Notable Mention |
|
Jennifer |
Garbett |
Charleston |
Capital H.S. |
Flowers in the
Attic |
V.C. Andrews |
Notable Mention |
|
Sarah |
Groves |
Wheeling |
Wheeling Park H.S. |
A Child Called It |
Dave Pelzer |
Notable Mention |
|
Luke |
Hake |
Charles Town |
|
Learning to See
Creatively |
Bryan Peterson |
Notable Mention |
|
Hannah |
Hartley |
Charleston |
Capital H.S. |
It's Not About the
Bike: My Journey Back to Life |
Lance Armstrong |
Notable Mention |
|
Rachel |
Hoffman |
New Martinsville |
Magnolia H.S. |
Various Titles |
Lisa Scottoline |
Notable Mention |
|
Jodie |
Lee |
Charleston |
Capital H.S. |
The Bad Beginning |
Lemony Snickett |
Notable Mention |
|
David |
Macaulay |
Fairmont |
East Fairmont H.S. |
The Teeth of the
Tiger |
Tom Clancy |
Notable Mention |
|
Casey |
Main |
Wheeling |
Wheeling Park H.S. |
Of Mice and Men |
John Steinbeck |
Notable Mention |
|
Kristen |
McCauley |
Buckhannon |
Buckhannon-Upshur
H.S. |
Frankenstein Series |
Dean Koontz |
Notable Mention |
|
Kevin |
Meigh |
Wheeling |
Wheeling Park H.S. |
The Scarlet Letter |
Nathaniel Hawthorne |
Notable Mention |
|
Abbi |
Menear |
Vienna |
Parkersburg H.S. |
Shattering |
Gail Giles |
Notable Mention |
|
Rachelle |
Miller |
New Martinsville |
Magnolia H.S. |
Protector of the
Small |
Tamora Pierce |
Notable Mention |
|
Allysa |
Murphy |
Buckhannon |
Buckhannon-Upshur
H.S. |
"Polaris" |
H.P. Lovecraft |
Notable Mention |
|
Kailee |
Napier |
New Martinsville |
Magnolia H.S. |
The Count of Monte
Cristo |
Alexandre Dumas |
Notable Mention |
|
Elizabeth |
Nauman |
Bunker Hill |
Musselman H.S. |
I Don't Want to Be
Crazy |
Samantha Schutz |
Notable Mention |
|
Kaitlyn |
Noe |
Clarksburg |
|
The Outsiders |
S.E. Hinton |
Notable Mention |
|
Elizabeth |
Ochoa |
Spencer |
Roane County H.S. |
Geography Club |
Brent Hartinger |
Notable Mention |
|
Jay |
Onestinghel |
Vienna |
Parkersburg H.S. |
The Godfather |
Mario Puzo |
Notable Mention |
|
Matthew |
Perrella |
Fairmont |
East Fairmont H.S. |
Holes |
Louis Sachar |
Notable Mention |
|
Matt |
Pizatella |
Fairmont |
East Fairmont H.S. |
The Godfather |
Mario Puzo |
Notable Mention |
|
Arpan |
Prabhu |
Morgantown |
|
When the Wind Blows |
James Patterson |
Notable Mention |
|
Derek |
Pritt |
Wheeling |
Wheeling Park H.S. |
To Kill a
Mockingbird |
Harper Lee |
Notable Mention |
|
Andrew |
Robinson |
New Martinsville |
Magnolia H.S. |
The Giver |
Lois Lowry |
Notable Mention |
|
Derrick |
Robrecht |
Wheeling |
Wheeling Park H.S. |
Fast Food Nation |
Eric Schlosser |
Notable Mention |
|
Nicole |
Sangid |
Charleston |
Capital H.S. |
Love You Forever |
Robert Munsch |
Notable Mention |
|
Daniel |
Seavy |
New Martinsville |
Magnolia H.S. |
The Alex Rider
Series |
Anthony Horowitz |
Notable Mention |
|
Neel |
Sharma |
Wheeling |
Wheeling Park H.S. |
1984 |
George Orwell |
Notable Mention |
|
Paulina
|
Skaff |
Charleston |
Capital H.S. |
Diabesity |
Francine Kaufman |
Notable Mention |
|
Patrick |
Stewart |
Matheny |
|
The Divine Comedy |
Dante Alighieri |
Notable Mention |
|
Preston |
Sundin |
Fairmont |
Notre Dame H.S. |
Heart of Darkness |
Joseph Conrad |
Notable Mention |
|
Kristi |
Swanson |
Inwood |
Musselman H.S. |
The Outsiders |
S.E. Hinton |
Notable Mention |
|
Kristen |
Talerico |
Fairmont |
East Fairmont H.S. |
Lovely Bones |
Alice Sebold |
Notable Mention |
|
Lauren |
Tolbert |
Wheeling |
Wheeling Park H.S. |
The Girl Death Left
Behind |
Lurlene McDaniel |
Notable Mention |
|
Emily |
Whiting |
Inwood |
Musselman H.S. |
Where the Red Fern
Grows |
Wilson Rawls |
Notable Mention |
|
Martina |
Wilkinson |
Charleston |
Capital H.S. |
Fruits Basket |
Natsuki Takaya |
Notable Mention |
|
Trent |
Wilson |
Fairmont |
East Fairmont H.S. |
"Self-Reliance" |
Ralph Emerson |
Notable Mention |
|
Audrey |
Wright |
Charleston |
Capital H.S. |
Les Miserables |
Victor Hugo |
Notable Mention |
|
Lauren |
Yett |
Fairmont |
East Fairmont H.S. |
Twilight |
Stephanie Meyer |
Notable Mention |
- End -
|
