Level I State Winner

Dear Chris Van Allsburg:

Have you ever had a family member drive you so crazy that you just wanted to scream? Well I sure have! Sometimes I feel just like Walter from your book Zathura when he gets so angry at his brother--he tackles him and starts pulling his nose. All families struggle with day-to-day conflicts; however, it is how a family responds to a major problem that shows what a family is truly made of in a time of crisis.

When my family is starting to get on my nerves, I feel like I can't spend one more second around them. For instance, one day last week when I was being a smart Alec to my mom, she made me clean the entire kitchen and do all the dishes. I was so furious! ! ! It took me so long to finish that I didn't get to watch my favorite movie we had just rented. I felt like Walter did when he was so angry when his brother broke his favorite toys.

Then, there are other times I'm so glad to have the mother I do because she is always there for me, especially when things go wrong. I know she will always love me unconditionally. For instance, when our best friend Mike suddenly died from a heart attack this year, we came together and comforted each other. My mom gave me the strength to continue on each day. Walter told Danny that he couldn't go on either, but Danny assured him that they could make it together.

Even though families may have conflicts, they can still find the strength deep inside themselves to come together and rise above the situation. Not only has your book entertained me, it has taught me a valuable lesson about life. So, thank you, Chris Van Allsburg, for writing the exciting tale Zathura.

Sincerely,
Matthew Depietro Grade 5 S.D. Barnes School

Level I Honorable Mention

Dear Ms. Hunter,

Although I find your books of the Warriors series captivating and your plot cunning, six years ago I might have felt differently. That was before a tragic accident changed my life and view of the outside world.

Six years ago, I lost a kitten, Squeak, to civilization. When I saw her lying on the road like that, my entire outlook changed. I saw cars as you described them. Cruel, heartless, monsters. I have always felt more feline than human, perhaps that's why the loss hit me so hard. I saw the world through what I thought was a cat's perception.

However I was actually seeing sorrow, and your books helped me to really figure out that some cats belong outside. Unfortunately, Squeak was among them.

I can't help but think that if she had lived among Thunderclan, she could have lived a stronger, happier outdoor Life. However, your books made it possible to believe she hunts with Starclan now. Now I know that there is a desirable fate beyond the road for cats brave enough to reach out for it. Squeak failed, but somewhere, someone must have been successful. Thank you so much for bringing me hope.

Best possible regards,
Cassandra Hradil

P.S. Can't wait to read the 8th book!

Level II State Winner

Dear Mitch Albom,
Death is inevitable. Unless the fountain of youth is soon discovered, we will just need to accept the fact that, sooner or later, we will all meet the some fate. In this world, in our culture, death is perceived very negatively. We all try to do so much, get so much accomplished before ourselves and the people we love get too old or too sick that we inhibit ourselves from enjoying what we have. But when really living, day to day life, it isn't the accomplishments or material things which matter. Excuse me for using a cliché, but at the end of the day what matters is the people you spend your life with, those who you love, and that you live each day happily, not worrying about death. Your book, Tuesdays With Morrie, made me realize that this expression is much more than just a cliché.

At the beginning of the book, you write of how your life changed after your favorite uncle died. You gave up your dream of becoming a famous pianist and turned to sports writing.

Each day you followed a grueling schedule and even relocated to Detroit to pursue your career. As you began to make more money, you bought bigger things and followed the average American's path of “moving up.” You even sacrificed your wife's dream of starting a family in order to focus on your career. Similarly, I used to worry each day about what I needed to get done before my family members and I died. Rather than trying to live each day happily and finding the little joys, I focused on the big picture and wondered whether my parents would be there to see me get married or have children. These worries and anxieties prevented me from savoring the sweetness of each moment and each day. I was recently diagnosed with a rare auto-immune disease. This disease and my medication both have an incredible effect on my life. My first reaction to my diagnosis was just to stop living: stop living until we could kick my disease into remission, stop living until it was over, stop living until I no longer had to go to doctor's appointments or worry about the side effects of my drugs. Your novel compelled me to view this experience of my life, however painful and difficult it may be, from a whole different point of view. Together, you, Morrie, and I embarked on a journey to discover what really matters in life.

Morrie considered himself to be one of the lucky ones. He was given notice of when he would die. He could plan. He was given a rare chance to make the most of the little time he had left. And Morrie took incredible advantage of this gift. After attending his friend's funeral, he arrived home disconcerted by all the wonderful things people had said about this man who was already dead. So Morrie planned himself a living funeral so he could hear all of these things while he could still appreciate them. He looked at his death as a part of life, and Morrie's life was a lesson, so death was simply another thing to learn from and teach to others. From Morrie I learned not to be afraid of death. It is a complete and utter waste to stop liking just because you can't handle what's going on. The prospect of dying is no reason to burrow beneath the earth while you still have breath in your body. This is valuable time and it can be used as well or better than the time you had before knowing you were going to die. Putting a date on death shouldn't change anything; it should simply make you more aware. Instead of being afraid of death, from Morrie I learned to live happily while I can and appreciate the people I love while they are still here.

After reading this book, I try to tell people that I love them and make everyone feel appreciated every day. I don't like having disputes with people or losing touch with them because I know how fragile our existence is and that no one is going to be here forever.Time can quickly slip away from us and the key is to make the most of what you have when you have it. My recent diagnosis made this even more clear to me. Suddenly death wasn't something that happened only to old men in books, but something that could plausibly have happened to me. I realized that if I hadn't had the incredible luck of my doctors catching my disease early on, death might have been a viable option for the near future. Between that and Tuesdays With Morrie, I received a reality check that has changed my life. But it's not a bad thing. It's just a reminder to be happy every day because life is too short to fill it with bad days or worries. Morrie made every day count. He was an incredible teacher and managed to impart his wisdom on the world until the day he died. I now understand how very important it is to spend your life with the people you love and doing the things that you love. You won't have forever to do this and constantly looking at what will happen tomorrow prevents the fulfillment of today. It doesn't matter how successful you are, because all the money and fame in the world won't make you happy. What will make you happy is having people to go home and hug at the end of the day.

While I might not look forward to the death of my family members and myself I no longer regard it with such worry and anxiety as I did in the past. Publishing Morrie's inspirational story in this book was the best way for you to use your talents. Maybe you didn't realize it, but in so doing you've become a teacher too. Your novel has showed me how to make the best of what could have been an experience of only suffering. Thank you for showing the world, and me especially, that life isn't about how much you get done, but the people who help you and love you along the way.

Yours in life,
Gabrielle Sclafani

Level II Honorable Mention

Dear Betty Smith,
For me reading and books have always been an open door that leads into a magical world in which it is possible to lose myself in the wonders of another time, place, or life. A book is not merely a book but a magic carpet waiting to whisk me away to whatever world exists inside a leather binding. The character Francie did just that for me. She took me away to a time where sitting on a fire escape and watching the world go by could be the greatest joy in life. Your book, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn showed me how to take the most insignificant things in life and turn them into the greatest joys.

Before I read your book I lived for the big things and the big things only. As far as I was concerned the only things that were worth looking forward to were vacations, holidays, or a chance to travel to a new and different place in the world. Although I liked the comforts of home I was always thinking about where I'd be next instead of appreciating what I already had. Little things meant nothing to me. While reading your book I began to find that I had a habit of expecting things to happen or expecting to get something when I should have been simply appreciating the things l had then. On the some note I realized that over time I had begun to expect bigger and bigger things and opportunities to arise. Thanks to Francie and the way that she lived I was able to recognize this flaw.

In your book A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Francie, the main character, has a hard life. Francie grows up in Brooklyn, New York in an extremely poor family. Because of this she doesn't have many of the opportunities and material things that most children do. Although this is all true Francie lives a happy life. As I read your book and came to realize this I was completely baffled. How can she be so happy when she barely has enough to eat and wears clothes that are three or four years old adjust as many sizes too small? This was a mystery to me until I got about half way thorough your book. I had not been able to understand how Francie lived a happy life until a couple of Francie's day to day activities were described. For instance although there sometimes isn't even enough money in the family for a proper meal, every day Francie is allowed one cup of coffee. Although Francie seldomly actually drinks her coffee it is often the highlight of her day. The same is true for a pot of flowers that Francie sees everyday at the public library. I soon realized that the reason why Francie was able to lead such a happy life despite the hardships she has to face everyday is because Francie Nolan knows how to appreciate the little things in life such as a cup of coffee or a small pot of flowers.

After I finished reading your wonderful book about Francie and her attitude towards life I began to notice changes in my attitude towards life. I realized that it is not what life gives Francis that makes her years happy but how she lives her years that ultimately makes her life a good one. At this point the revelation had come to me that the demon Francie ls able to be happy is because Francie lives for the little things not the big things in life. As I realized this l noticed gradual changes in the way that I viewed and lived life too. Following Francie's example I have been able to begin looking forward to and appreciating life's smaller joys. At first I found that although I had noticed a change in my attitude I had only begun to appreciate the things that I had, but Francie didn't. Now as time has passed I have learned how to recognize things that I would have viewed as only having the smallest amount of importance before, but can now appreciate just as much as I appreciate a day off from school or Christmas. After reading your book I have stopped expecting things and have learned to fully value anything and everything that comes my way like something as small as a surprise visit from a friend or a hug from a family member.

When you sum it all up it is really thanks to you and your book, Ms. Smith, that I am now able to live a happier, more fulfilled life. Had I not read your tale of woe, desperation, hope, and happiness I would not have been able to appreciate your book in the first place. I am now able to go through life and savor every experience as if it is my last. When I say this I say this with the utmost sincerity so. . . thank you.

Sincerely yours,
Emma Burke

Level II Honorable Mention

Dear Barbara Rogasky,

Until last year, I had never experienced the horrors of war. I knew that the Holocaust was an awful event, but not much more. I could not understand what possessed these people to commit such an atrocity. I had never known a feeling of duty to my people.

Until I read your book, Smoke and Ashes, then everything changed.

I knew that almost all of my people, the Jews, had been killed with horrific efficiency. I really had no connection to my Jewish heritage, other than attending some irregular services and going to Hebrew and religious school. Never had I felt that I had anything to offer or anything of significance that the Jewish people could possibly want. I didn't know what happened that caused six million Jews to die, and I didn't really care. I didn't believe that something like the Holocaust could happen.

Your book changed all this. From just the first few chapters when you illustrated the rise of Nazi Germany, I began to understand what had driven this crazed few to slaughter millions. As the most awful event in world history began to unfold before my eyes, I saw the thick web of deceit that was woven around Germany and the Jews of the region. As you discussed the mass murders, my heart stopped. I couldn't believe that this had actually happened. Your words were blunt enough to smash any wall of unbelief and mine fell like any other. I watched in horrified fascination as the Nazis rounded up people, sometimes randomly, and shot them.

Your words and stories of death and torment horrified me. But when I frequently wanted to drop the book and escape from the horror of it all, a thought held me back. The thought was that it was my duty to my people to read every gruesome word of the book. I wasn't there suffering with them but I could at least know and understand what happened to six million fathers, mothers, sons and daughters. I am now proud of my heritage. I have, to some degree, partaken in their suffering and I am now one of them. I know how awful killing is and how sick and twisted man can be. I know the great courage of all of my people, they fought back and faced death proudly. I am no longer afraid of lying when I say, “I am a Jew.”

Your words killed part of my soul. I have seen more horrors than most people will in their entire lives. You have taught me things I never wanted to know. You have horrified me and fascinated me. I know this was your purpose and you have succeeded. I don't know how I can thank you for killing me. But at least I can thank you for making me a Jew. I guess shared horrors bind people tighter than anything.

Sincerely yours,
Daniel Fain

Level III State Winner & National Honorable Mention

Dear Ms. Garland:

“Now that you have read about your Chinese culture, how about trying your other half? A Vietnamese story, I hope you enjoy it. Tell me all about it when you're done. 9/1/00” This was the note that I found from my aunt, scrawled on the inside cover of your book,Song of the Buffalo Boy. How was I to know, a mere fourth grader at the time, that what I would read would allow me a view into a whole other world? My parents were born in Vietnam slightly before the communistic Viet Cong fought a war against the South Vietnamese. The Americans stepped in to aid the South Vietnamese, a side my own grandfather was on, but left before the war was over. North Vietnam won the war and changed Vietnam from what appeared to me as simple sugarcane-and-rice-farms into a communist country. Therefore, my parents fled to America, as did my grandparents and my mother's sisters; thousands escaped. However, what happened to those left behind? Your book, Song of the Buffalo Boy, helped me answer this question.

By reading this story, I was able to view the country where my parents grew up and understand what happened after they left. Even though I am not Amerasian (the half American half-Vietnamese children), I was still able to acknowledge the distressing fates of the children let behind. The mothers and the children lived their lives shunned, insulted daily, and sometimes physically wounded. Through this book, I could understand some of the changes Vietnam experienced. Dreams shattered like dropped glass, families lived separated, and men who fought for Vietnam did not complain as sickness and pain ravaged their lives, leaving them with nothing afterwards.

I am able to better appreciate the escapes of my family and how hazardous it was for them. They risked capture and jail for freedom, floating away from everything they knew on boats. I am thankful that my grandfather was able to make it to the United States alive; I am thankful that he only had to suffer two years in jail because of his service for South Vietnam rather than a lifetime. From Song of the Buffalo Boy, I was able to comprehend how difficult it was to leave Vietnam after the war. It would take months for even people who were getting through the Amerasian Homecoming Program to leave. This book helped open up my eyes, and for this, I am grateful.

The main character, Loi, inspired me, in such a way that I too would like to possess some of her traits. I try to stay optimistic in everything I do and remain strong, like Loi who lived on the streets yet still managed to keep a semi-positive twist on her thoughts. Even though my family can irritate me, I have to remind myself to be patient and love them even with their faults. I wish to never have to experience all of the physical and verbal adversity Loi had to go through the course of the book, but I do hope to have the same (however cliché this sounds) ‘true love' that she and the poor buffalo boy Khai had. I believe in happy endings, and I am sure that if I remain true and good, what will stop me from making my own happy ending?

When my father and grandfather drift off into their memories, I do not mind lending an ear because suddenly, I can go to a country that I've never been to and take in quiet recollections of a missed place that will never be the same. I can connect to the people that I love, and I will remember this book for helping me do so. Their memories and the silent demonstration of strength that my family has endured to move to a new country with near nothing is inspiring, and I want to reach accomplishment now so in the future, I can better show appreciation to my family. So thank you, Ms. Garland. I know now that my family was part of the lucky ones.

Sincerely,
Linh Dang

Level III Honorable Mention

Dear James Frey,
I want to thank you for writing your memoir A Million Little Pieces. It is a book that I had greatly needed for a long time. My father's name was Albert Antonio and he was also an “Addict and a Criminal.” Before he met my mom, he was, like you, addicted to crack cocaine and alcohol. Except for a relapse with pain medication when I was eight, my dad remained sober until I was twelve. Until that point I would describe him as the smartest man I know. He majored in history at Cornell University. He had a whole collection of history books and he used to share with me his vast knowledge of the past. He was different from any other father I knew. He was the only father to chaperone on school field trips. All my friends loved him because he would tell funny jokes and take us to cool places like Chuck ‘E’ Cheese and Rocky Point. He would spend hours playing Barbie dolls with me. Once a month, he would take me to the Boston Ballet. I would get all dressed up, and sometimes I even got my hair done. He always made me feel like I was the most important thing in his life. I suppose you could say that I was his “little princess.”

Unfortunately this did not last long. As he became more addicted, the more the drugs robbed him of who he was. The man who once made me French toast every day now hardly looked at me. All he did was sleep, and he sometimes would disappear for days at a time. He no longer took my friends and me places. He was too unpredictable me to even have friends over. He became a liar and a thief, stooping so low as to sell the toys he had once so lovingly bought for me. His jokes, once able to make a whole room roar with laughter, became flat and mean. Eventually, the drugs made him completely unrecognizable. My father, the Ivy League graduate, could hardly string a sentence together. His body gave out May 25, 2002, but his death had occurred months before.

Until I read your book, I was mostly just very angry with him. I could not will myself to remember the good times with him. All I could think about were the times he embarrassed me, lied to me, and brought my hopes up, only to crush them. I began to believe that who he ended up as, was who he always been. It was incomprehensible to me how something so stupid, something that looks like baby powder spilled on the table, could be so powerful that he could stop loving me.

Your book showed me what it must have been like to be my father. You showed me how strong those drugs really are. You showed me how much pain drug addicts are in. You made me realize that, like the people at the clinic, my father probably truly did want to change, but his addiction was like a weight he could not pull off him. It never occurred to me how horrible the battle was inside my father.

My father and you both had great reasons to quit. I think the reason why you were so successful was your unwillingness to lay blame. My father blamed everyone for his addiction, from taking medication for ADHD as a child to being in pain for a bad back.

Since he blamed everyone but himself, he must have felt powerless to change his situation.

Thank you so much for writing A Million Little Pieces. By helping me understand what it is like to be a “Criminal and an Addict'' I was able to forgive my father. I greatly admire the strength that you showed in overcoming what most people have found impossible. Most of all, I thank you for sharing your story.

Sincerely,
Leona Antonio

Level III Honorable Mention

Dear Mr. Albom:
Have you ever known someone with a fatal disease and you do not know how to deal with the shocking news? I have been in that situation before. Your book, Tuesdays with Morrie, has helped me cope with my grandpa's illness. This past summer, my grandpa was diagnosed with cancer. I was extremely upset and heartbroken. But something else happened this summer as well. I was assigned to read your book Tuesdays with Morrie. By reading your book, I was able to understand and appreciate the true meaning of life and to value the time that we have left. I learned many lessons from your book, and if I had not read it, I would not be as optimistic as I am today.

The major lesson that I have learned from your novel, Tuesdays with Morrie, was the value and importance of living to be the best that you can be. My grandpa and I are extremely close, just like Mitch and Morrie are in this story. When I was reading this story, I thought that my grandpa resembled Morrie in many of the same ways. He is very strong and determined to live just like Morrie once was. This story has been a great inspiration for me, especially by teaching me not to just sit down and mourn but instead to enjoy life and spend a lot more time with my grandpa. I learned that I need to make the time that he has left the most memorable days of both of our lives. In the story, Mitch is taught the values and morals of life by Morrie, Mitch's former teacher. Some examples of these values and morals deal with feeling sorry for yourself regrets, death, family, emotions, the fear of aging, money, how life goes on, marriage, culture and forgiveness. Thanks to this story, I have also learned them.

When I was reading this story, I thought of what a good person Mitch was to stay with Morrie and sit with him every week. Morrie would talk about life and its importance. As Morrie talked, Mitch would listen intently, and he even tape-recorded Morrie to be sure he did not miss a word of information. This shows how determined Mitch was to help Morrie to spend the rest of his life in a benefiting way and to learn from Morrie's past to help guide him in the future. Mitch learned about the true significance of life, which is an extremely important lesson to me. Because of Morrie's optimistic outlook on life, it has made me become more optimistic in my life. Your book Tuesdays with Morrie has taught me that instead of crying every day about my grandpa and feeling sorry for myself, I should go and visit him and enjoy the rest of his life with him because I will have plenty of time for crying and mourning when he is actually gone from my life which he is not. He is still upbeat, living and fighting just like Morrie. After I had read this book, I went to my grandparent's house and gave the book to my grandpa for him to read because I figured if he read this book his feelings would change toward his illness. He would be more optimistic and upbeat, not sleeping all day but instead going out and spending time with loved ones. About three days after I had given him the book to read, he was finished and called me up on the phone, telling me how much he enjoyed the story. He also thanked me for letting him borrow the book. I know that because of this novel, his outlook on life has changed, just as mine did.

Tuesdays with Morrie has significantly changed my entire point of view about life in most part about dealing with my grandpa's illness. Because of this story, I have learned how to behave and feel towards this situation. I also learned how to take pleasure in the rest of my grandpa's life. It is very important to make the amount of time that he has left, however long it may be, the most memorable times in both our lives.

Sincerely,
Andrea Gemma

Level III Honorable Mention

Dear Ms. Lowry,
My sisters and l live next door to a Jewish family. When we were growing up, their daughter, a week older than my sixteen-year-old sister Carly, my sister Laila, and l did everything together, from trick-or-treating to vacations in the mountains. Her religion was never a concern to my Roman Catholic sisters and me, though we understood it clearly. Every year we would buy her a Hanukah present, and she would buy us Christmas presents. We could tell which foods were kosher, knew how to play dreidel, and knew the difference between a bar mitzvah and a bat mitzvah. She went to temple on Friday, while we went to church on Sunday, but our differences didn't matter.

I think I was in third grade the first time I read your book, Number the Stars. Back then, it was just a story that I enjoyed. I didn't know anything about World War II, Denmark, or the Holocaust. The story, while interesting, was no more than a fairy tale to me. I forgot about it until fifth or sixth grade, when I read it with my class. By then, I understood the context, and was able to connect Lise, Annemarie, Kristi, and Ellen to the friendship between my sisters and our friend. I began to wonder if I would be brave enough to hide my neighbors had I been in Annemarie's position.

Some aspects of the story have remained more clearly in my memory than others. I remember when Annemarie has to bring the package to her Uncle, and the Germans stop her. Would I be brave enough to bring the package to my uncle and to fool the Germans? I remember the night at the apartment when the Germans are looking for the Rosens, and Annemarie rips the necklace off Ellen's neck. Would l have noticed the necklace? Most vividly, I remember when Mr. Johansen rips the photos out of the album to hide Lise's name on one of them. Would I have thought of using the photos? Would I have ripped them out? What if Lise didn't have dark hair when she was little, what would I do then? Although I'd like to think I would have been this brave and observant, I don't know the answer to these questions. I was able to connect with Annemarie's story better than many other fifth graders because my best friend was Jewish. Like Annemarie, I couldn't imagine why everyone was obsessed with religious differences. One of the major questions Annemarie asks herself throughout Number the Stars is whether she could ever be as brave as the people surrounding her could. Your novel made me question my own bravery. I don't know if I could hide my best friend from the Nazis, and I can't imagine the feelings of the real people who did. I've struggled with this question ever since that second reading, and I'm ashamed to admit that I still can't answer it. For a long time afterwards, l was unsettled when learning about the Holocaust because the mere thought of concentration camps made me nauseous.

This year I've learned more about the Resistance in France, and I find myself comprehending even more of the danger the Johansens and Peter put themselves in. While the tale does not take place in France, both Resistance groups had the same goal. I've started to compare myself to Lise, the girl who could have been happily married, but risked everything, including her life, for the Resistance. I am also the oldest child, and imagining myself in Lise's position is terrifying. Did she hesitate in her actions? What about Peter, the man who was captured and shot, claiming that he was not afraid, but proud? Many Resistance members were my age, and I'm in awe of what they faced.

Over the years, my family has drifted away from my neighbors. Different schools, different interests, and different schedules have forced us to get together less. l was touched at her bat mitzvah, when she listed my sisters and me as some of the people most important to her. I don't think she has any clue how much that meant to me. It shows that, although we may not be constant in each others' lives anymore, like airfare and Ellen, we will always be connected. Annemarie's uncle claims that bravery is doing what you must despite the danger. To us, our different faiths don't matter, and I hope they never will. I also hope, like Annemarie, I will be brave if such a time ever comes.

Sincerely,
Kassie Ettefagh

Level III Honorable Mention

Dear Ms. Judy Blume,
Records dating back to 1997 show that more than one million children a year consider themselves a victim of divorce. I think of myself as one of them. On April 1, 2001 my mother moved out the house that she had shared with my father for twelve years. The day she moved out she gave me the book It's Not the End of the World.

I, Kayla Pirri, am in the ninth grade at Cranston High School West. At ten years-old and in fifth grade, my parents got divorced and my family suffered through a very difficult time. The book It's Not the End of the Worldreally helped me through these tough times.

I remember my mother giving me the book. I never especially enjoyed reading before, so, when I got this book I cannot honestly say I was thrilled. I was willing to give the book a chance, however. In my ten-year-old eyes with nothing on television, I figured a book served as a good escape from my house that seemed to float away from all of the tears being shed behind its walls.

I momentarily escaped from my life, which seemed to be in tiny pieces too small to put back together again, by reading It's Not the End of the World. Reading grew on me, I really got into the book. I loved how Karen and I could relate so well. It's Not the End of the World really encouraged me to read more. I became anxious to pick up my book and read instead of dreading it. I had flashes of scenes from the book that seemed as real as if I had seen them on television five minutes before. I learned how to use my imagination. That book is the reason why am such an avid reader today. I had also noticed that my book served as something l could call my own, my escape, my way away from all my worries. Instead of hiding from my problems, however, It's Not the End of the World was actually helping me to heal my wounds. I learned that even though it did seem like the world was crashing to an end before my eyes, life still continued without me. I learned that my parents' divorce did not make the world come to the end after all. I observed how Karen learned that it was better with her parents apart and considered the fact that maybe my parents might be better off apart, as well. I started to look at all the positives of the divorce like the fact that I would not have to go to sleep to the sound of my parents' fighting anymore. The book helped me to sort out some of my thoughts and feelings that I had been keeping held up inside me.

It has been four years since the divorce and I am doing great. My mother is remarried to a man that not only does she love but I love too, and my father likes his girlfriend very much. Although I still wonder what it would be like if my parents stayed together, I realize that them being separate is much better for everyone. The book brought me through an incredibly rocky time as well as introducing me to the wonderful world of literature. Now, on occasion I will still pick up that book and start reading it. Today, I can truly say that It's Not the End of the World was one of the most important books I have ever read.

Sincerely,
Kayla Pirri

Letters About Literature has three competition levels: Level I for children in grades 4 through 6; Level II for grades 7 and 8, and Level III, grades 9 - 12. Winners receive cash awards at the national and state levels. To enter, please see the guidelines [.pdf]