Raven Callaway-Kidd, a fifth grade student at Turquoise Trail Elementary in Santa Fe, is the Level 1 champion. Raven wrote her letter to Holly Schindler about her book, The Junction of Sunshine and Lucky.
Natashia McDonald, an eighth grade student at Des Moines Municipal Schools in Des Moines, is the Level 2 champion. Her letter is addressed to The Fault in Our Stars author, John Green.
Rebekah Hildebrant, an eleventh grade student at Arrowhead Park Medical Academy in Las Cruces, is the Level 3 champion. Rebekah wrote her letter to Rick Riordan about his books The Lightning Thief and The House of Hades.
Letters About Literature encourages young readers in grades 4 -12 to read a book and write a personal letter to the author explaining how the book changed or shaped their perspective on themselves or the world. Students could write about works of fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. Letter writers compete at three levels: Level I is grades 4-6; Level II is grades 7-8; and Level III is grades 9-12. The writers compete in the state contest to win $150 cash prize per competition level and a $1,000 cash award per competition level in the national contest. One winning letter from each level from each state is entered into the final national competition.
Four hundred and seventy-four New Mexico students entered the 2017 contest. Of those 474 entries, 83 writers advanced to round two. In Level 1, there were 128 entries with 21 letters advancing to round two and 16 to round three state judging. In Level 2, there were 209 entries with 31 letters advancing to round two and 15 of those to round three state judging. In Level 3, there were 137 entries with 31 letters moving on to round two and 21 to round three state judging. All of the writers who advanced to round two will receive an award certificate in the mail.
From the 52 New Mexico state finalists, the state judges selected three champions, three second place writers, three third place writers, and seven honorable mention letters. The three New Mexico champions' letters now advance to the national competition and will be sent to the Library of Congress for the national judging round. The results of the national contest will be released in early May.
Many New Mexico schools and home schoolers from around the state participate in the competition. We appreciate the support of teachers, librarians, and parents for Letters About Literature.