From left: State Librarian Rand Simmons, Alison Amirault, Emily Cordero and Secretary Wyman. Amirault and Cordero are two of the state champs in this year’s Letters About Literature contest.

Authors’ ability to inspire and connect with young readers was never more evident than during a ceremony at the Capitol honoring top contestants in this year’s Letters About Literature contest.

Sponsored by the Washington State Library and the Library of Congress, the competition encourages students to write letters to their favorite authors of all time. About 3,250 students in grades 4-12 took part statewide.

During the Friday afternoon event, this year’s three state champions read their letters for Secretary of State Kim Wyman, State Librarian Rand Simmons, family and friends in the Legislative Building’s Columbia Room. Winners were:

• Alison Amirault, a sixth-grader at Eastside Catholic Middle School in Sammamish, Level 1 (grades 4-6) champion. Amirault wrote her letter to Rob Buyea about his book Because of Mr. Terupt. From Alison’s letter:

“Two years ago, I read your book, Because of Mr. Terupt, and it changed my life. At the time that I read it, life was hard for me, and reading your book helped me through it. Now, things are easier for me, but back when things were harder, I relied on your characters and your book. They helped teach me quite a few life lessons. I am incredibly thankful to you for writing the book, and grateful that I had the opportunity to read it when I did.”

• Emily Cordero, an eighth-grader at McFarland Middle School in Othello, the Level 2 (grades 7-8) champ. Cordero’s letter is to Chris d’Lacey about his book The Fire Within. In her letter, Cordero tells d’Lacey how the book and the series The Last Dragon Chronicles vanquished her dislike of reading:

“The moment I started reading your books it changed me! When you wrote, “Mrs. Pennykettle clucked like a hen,” the picture that popped unto my mind had me on the floor in seconds, laughing out loud. That day I got the desire to read….My teachers were stumped by my progress. Now, in 8th grade, I’m so different than I was in 6th grade! I have straight A’s and B’s compared to the D’s and F’s I used to get. I even want to become a writer.”

• Teresa Zhan, an 11th-grader at Interlake High School in Bellevue, Level 3 champion (grades 9-12). Zhan penned her letter to Laurie Halse Anderson about her book Wintergirls. Zhan was unable to attend the ceremony but a video of her reading her letter was shown. Zhan’s letter points out how the book helped her deal with self-image issues:

“I truly believe that without your book, I wouldn’t be here writing this letter to you today. I would have shrunk into a ghost of myself, disillusioned into believing that I was helping myself become beautiful. But because of your book, I am strong, happy and hopeful. Like Lia, I ‘am learning how to taste everything.’ Most importantly, without your book, I wouldn’t have realized the most important thing of all: that I am beautiful.”

“I was so moved when Alison, Emily and Teresa read their letters aloud,” Wyman said. “It shows how authors connect with students and sometimes even help them cope with tough situations in their lives.

“Congratulations not only to the students we honored today at the Capitol but the thousands who competed. They and their parents should be proud!”

Wyman and the State Library recognized the state champions, three second-place runners up and 30 honorable mention letter writers during the event.  The event will air on TVW.

Nearly 90 schools from around the state had entries. The contest ran from September to January.

Students wrote a personal letter to an author, explaining how his or her work influenced their perspective on the world or themselves. Students can write about works of fiction, nonfiction or poetry.  They cannot write about music lyrics, comic books or comic strips. National winners will receive a $1,000 cash award.

The Washington State Library and the Office of Secretary of State sponsored the competition as part of Washington Reads, which highlights books about Washington or the Pacific Northwest. The project is also sponsored by The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. This is the 10th year that the State Library has run the contest in Washington. The State Library is a division of the Office of Secretary of State.