Washington State's Letters About Literature Contest for 2016 is underway.

11월 08, 2015

“I truly believe that without your book, I wouldn’t be here writing this letter to you today.”

Teresa Zhan 2014 Level 3 winner

“The moment I started reading your books it changed me! “

Emily Cordero, 2014 Level 2 winner

“Pastwatch showed me that to be the person I want to be, I must face my fears and voice my beliefs – even if they are different from the beliefs of people around me.”

Owen Bernstein, 2013 Level 2 winner

Every year powerful statements such as these are written by students from all over Washington State. The Letters About Literature contest encourages young readers in grades 4-12 to read a book and write a letter to the author about how the book changed their view of the world or themselves. 2016 marks the eleventh year that the Washington State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State, has sponsored the contest as part of Washington Reads. Washington is a strong state in the contest routinely receiving over 3000 entries every year.

The contest has a tremendous impact on students and their appreciation for the books they read. Here’s what last year’s winners had to say about the contest.

Would you like to learn more about the contest or read letters of past winners? Here’s where to find the information.

The 23rd annual writing contest for young readers is made possible by a generous grant from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, with additional support from gifts to the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, which promotes the contest through its affiliate Centers for the Book, state libraries and other organizations.
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