Missouri Center for the Book

"Letters About Literature"
2009 Essay Contest Winners

The Missouri Center for the Book is pleased to announce the state winners of the 2009 Letters About Literature contest, an annual competition where students write a personal letter to an author explaining how his or her work changed their view of the world or themselves.

This year 1,598 Missouri students entered the contest. Entries were divided into three competition levels: Level I (grades four through six); Level II (grades seven and eight); and Level III (grades nine through twelve). A first place, second place, and two honorable mention winners were awarded for each of the three competition levels.

Secretary of State Robin Carnahan shared personal family stories about books and reading and paused for a group photo with the winners, as they were honored on April 29, 2009, at the James C. Kirkpatrick State Information Center in Jefferson City. Each winner received a signed, framed award certificate, a cash prize, and a leather bound journal for their outstanding efforts. First place winners also received a gift card from Target Stores, a national sponsor of the competition.  The winning essayists for 2009 are:

LEVEL I (GRADES 4 – 6)

FIRST PLACE

Meredith Manda, Jefferson City, for her letter to Margaret Peterson Haddix about Uprising

SECOND PLACE

Gretchen Hanlin, East Prairie, for her letter to Katherine Patterson about Bridge to Terebithia

HONORABLE MENTION

Maddie Petersen, Monett, for her letter to Jeanne Dupra about City of Ember

Cassidy Wheeler, Holts Summit, for her letter to Linda Sue Park about Archer’s Quest

LEVEL II (GRADES 7 & 8)

FIRST PLACE

Joyce Lin, Ballwin, for her letter to Charlotte Brontë about Jane Eyre

SECOND PLACE

Kate Kelley, Neosho, for her letter to Mildred D. Taylor about The Well: David’s Story

HONORABLE MENTION

Jennie Carter, Branson, for her letter to Pam Munoz Ryan about Esperanza Rising

Aneeqa Khan, Manchester, for her letter to Will Hobbs about Crossing the Wire

LEVEL III (GRADES 9 – 12)

FIRST PLACE

David Lopez, Columbia, for his letter to Junot Diaz for The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

SECOND PLACE

Melissa Guller, St. Louis, for her letter to Lucy Grealy about Autobiography of a Face

HONORABLE MENTION

Ariel Merriman, Columbia, for her letter to Douglas Adams about The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

Back row, left to right:  David Lopez, Ariel Merriman, Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, Meredith Manda, Aneeqa Khan, and MCB Board President Mark Tiedemann.
Front row, left to right: Kate Kelley, Maddie Petersen, Gretchen Hanlin, Joyce Lin, and Jennie Carter.
Not pictured: Cassidy Wheeler and Melissa Guller