UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Center for the Book recently recognized the Pennsylvania winners of the 2017 Letters About Literature Contest. A nationwide event sponsored by the Center for the Book at the Library of Congress, the contest invites students in three grade levels to write letters to authors — living or dead — about how an author’s words affected them or changed their worldview.
The Level I (grades four to six) winner, Lydia Floreck, of Gettysburg, was honored for her letter to Susan Cain about “Quiet Power.” The Level II (grades seven to eight) winner, Madison A. Kelleher, of Montoursville, wrote her letter to Robert Munsch about “Love You Forever.” And the Level III (grades nine to 12) winner, Hailey Cross, of Scottdale, was honored for her letter to James Hurst about “Scarlet Ibis.”
Winners receive $200 and will be honored at a celebratory luncheon with their families on Saturday, May 20, at the Nittany Lion Inn on Penn State’s University Park campus.
Additional honors of high distinction also are being awarded to two Level III contest participants, Gabrielle Easterling, of Rosemont, for her letter to Laurie Halse Anderson about “Chains,” and Maegan Shetterly, of Scottdale, for her letter to Laurie Halse Anderson about “Speak.” Each will receive $50.
The Pennsylvania Center for the Book’s 2017 Letters About Literature Contest judges, all Pennsylvania faculty or professionals, included Alia C. Gant, diversity resident librarian, and Megan Gilpin, Library Learning Services outreach coordinator, both from Penn State University Libraries, University Park; Linda Oatman High, author of books for children and teens, journalist and playwright, Narvon; Theresa M. Hoover, assistant professor of education, Wilson College, Chambersburg; and Pat Hughes, author of books for children and young adults, Narberth.
The annual nationwide Letters About Literature Contest is sponsored by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. For participation guidelines, visit www.read.gov/letters.
The Center for the Book was established in 1977 as a public-private partnership to use the resources of the Library of Congress to stimulate public interest in books and reading. Since 2000, the Pennsylvania Center for the Book has been sponsored by the Penn State University Libraries.
In addition to providing space and administrative support for the center’s offices, the University Libraries and the center’s co-sponsor, Dean of University Libraries and Scholarly Communications Barbara I. Dewey, provide in-kind contributions that include staff and faculty time as well as the Pennsylvania Center for the Book alcove in 201-A Pattee Library.
For more information about the Letters About Literature Contest in Pennsylvania, contact editor Nicole Miyashiro at nmm16@psu.edu, or visit the Pennsylvania Center for the Book website at www.pabook.libraries.psu.edu.