Every year, the Library of Congress runs a contest called Letters About Literature, in which students can write and submit letters written to any author who has impacted them through his/her work.

Montrose sixth graders decided to take part in this contest in class.  Here are some of their letters!

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The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond

Dear Ms. Woods,

I was at a school fair, hoping to find a great, inspirational book. I asked the librarian for a book recommendation, and she said, “The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond.” I picked up the book and read the back of it.I feel in love. This was the book that I was looking for. After a few days I had finished the book. I couldn’t put it down. This book was about a girl named Violet, who had a father that passed away. Violet was a twelve year old girl with curly hair. Violet, unlike her mother and older sister, was African American just like her father. Violet wanted to learn more about her culture. She flies down to Los Angeles to see her grandmother. Her grandmother does not know how to love. Violet’s grandmother uses painting, to deal with the death of her son. Her grandmother said that Violet looks way to much like her father, and she can’t bear it. This book made an impact on me, because it taught me that not everyone knows how to love. I am very lucky to have an amazing family, who loves me no matter what. This book also taught me, that no matter what skin color you are, we are all equally different, but equally the same. Another thing that I learned from this story, is that you should always love your family, because life is very short, and you do not know when your time is up. This book will make you laugh,cry, and most importantly, think about how special life is. The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond is a book that I would definitely recommend to anyone else looking for an inspirational book.

Sincerely,

Isabel

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Dear Ms. Gloria Whelan,

Last summer, I was worried that my house would  be broken into and that my family and I would be killed. The school that I was going to go to assigned your book, Angel on the Square, as a summer reading book, so, after a month of stalling  I began reading it.I thought it would be boring; it was not. From the first chapter I was hooked! This book helped me not be afraid of dying because Katya and Anastasia playing in the middle of a war helped me remember that I am still a child like them so I should keep having fun even when I am afraid. Thank you for your time.

Best Wishes,

Hannah

P.S. Was Katya a real person? If so, she must have been really sad when Anastasia died. They had the most touching friendship.

P.P.S. Did you know that there is a movie about what would have happened if Anastasia had survived? Rasputin is the villain.

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Red Kayak

Dear Priscilla Cummings,

When I read your book, “Red Kayak”, I was intrigued by some of your characters’ personalities and emotions. One character who made me think about how much I love my family was Mrs. DiAngelo. After losing her three-year-old son Ben, she was grief stricken, and missed him so much. I was also intrigued by Brady Parks’ chapter of his life where he did something really wrong, but then realized it and owned up to his mistakes. Brady hid evidence of a crime. He knew that his friends, JT and Digger, and he himself, were all responsible for Ben’s death. He hid the evidence, but one day decided to come clean. Coming clean was the right thing to do, and that was a good quality of Brady that I look up to. Thank you for listening.

Sincerely,

Ava

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Flying Solo

Dear Mr. Fletcher,

          I connected with the character Rachel in Mr. Fabiano’s class. Rachel was silent for a very long time. I have been almost silent to myself. I have totally ignored what I have been trying to tell myself. When my head says something, I totally block it out. I don’t listen when my head tells me not to do something I will regret. I only read your book, Flying Solo, recently.When Rachel started talking again at the very end she was happy to be talking again. Rachel’s case was more severe than mine since she was not even talking out loud. I read your book in one night and the next day I started to open up to myself. Your book taught me an important lesson that I needed to learn.

     Rachel was silent because a boy in her class had died. The day before his death Rachel had been mean to him after he had tried to show affection for her. I was quiet because my relationship with my sister was crumbling. I have started to try to build this relationship back up but it is hard. Your book taught me a lot about what a good relationship means and how it can easily crumble. Jasmine and Rachel’s relationship crumbled when Rachel stopped talking. Their relationship began to build back up when Rachel began talking. This is similar to what happened with me. Thank you so much for writing this book.

Sincerely,

A 6th grade student

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Out of My Mind

Dear Sharon M. Draper,

My name is Elyza, and your book, Out of My Mind, impacted my life. I have a grandmother, whom I am very close to, and when I heard that she was getting surgery, I didn’t know what to think. I was thinking of all the things that could go wrong. Your book made me hopeful that if something did go wrong, it was all part of God’s plan. Melody had many hardships, but she always came back. God’s plan for Melody was to get her through the daily hardships of her life. What inspired you to write this book? Were you inspired by some of your own personal struggles?

This book also changed my perspective on people. I learned that you shouldn’t judge someone by what they look like or what they can or can’t do. You really made a heartfelt story through Melody and her life. My favorite part in the book is when Melody wins first place in the spelling contest. Melody was a girl with a big heart and a smart mind, but no one could see it. Did you know anyone who was like Melody? Anyway, I love your book and I thank you for reading this letter.

Sincerely,

Elyza

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Hobbit Desolation of Smog

Dear Mr. Tolkien,

         When I read your Hobbit DESOLATION OF SMOG book it reminded me of how you can get caught up with this world and serve something other than God. Like, for instance Bilbo has the ring that he uses to become invisible. That ring was made from the evil people. Then Gandalf has noticed that Bilbo has been changed by the ring which makes me alert because in our own life we can get taken away by things like that and then God isn’t first anymore and if God isn’t first then we are going down the wrong path. So your book alerts people about their own lives.

Sincerely,

Ava

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Wyland

Dear Robert Bateman,

Although I may not be the best, I like to call myself an artist.  The book “Wyland” that you wrote about Robert Wyland inspired me with Wyland’s magnificent creations.  His life story has been with me as long as I can remember.  I was about seven years old when my mom asked me to come down to the basement with her to search for some wrapping paper.  On the search for the wrapping paper I found a copy of your book.  My mom told me I could keep the book and I was overflowing with joy.  It was old and torn but I loved it just the same.  The beautiful paintings Wyland created have inspired me to advance as an artist.  I would even try to recreate some of his pieces.  I don’t know how old the book is but I don’t care. It is probably my favorite book.  Your words on Wyland’s life are so well put and descriptive.  I would like to thank you Robert Bateman for your writing, and I would like to thank Wyland for the years of inspiration.  The two of you pushed me toward the direction I am glad to be going towards. Your are both my biggest role models. Thank you.

Keep inspiring,

Grace

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Lunar Chronicles

Dear Marissa Meyer,

       Last year, I had to change schools. My family didn’t move, but I was going into sixth grade. Normally, I would have gone to the same school as all of my friends, and just meet new ones. My life was different. I got into a private school. I was so happy that I would have that chance, but I was so sad at the same time. My friends would all be going into the local middle school, and I would have to say goodbye to them. I had to say goodbye to my beloved elementary school.

       On my last day of fifth grade, I cried while walking through the doors that I might never walk through again. I hugged the friends that I would no longer see every Monday through Friday. I tried not to cry on the walk home. I was devastated.

       Before that happened, I read the Lunar Chronicles. Cinder was a cyborg with a mean stepmother and two mean stepsisters. She was led to believe that her parents were killed in an accident. Later, she had to lead a whole “planet.” For her, this was a really big change.

       It was hard for Cinder to take on things she thought were bigger than herself. It was hard for me to take on things I thought were bigger than myself. I thought about how Cinder took on that challenge, and that helped me through the school change. Thanks for writing an inspiring series.

                                                                                                                                                                                From,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Nina                                 

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Anne of Green Gables

Dear Mrs. Montgomery,

In fifth grade literature class, we had read four books, in which all the books had the main characters as boys. All the girls, including my teachers and myself, were bored of the books mainly about boys even though the stories had great plots. The book my teachers chose for the whole fifth grade class to read was “Anne of Green Gables”. When we first started reading your spectacular book, the boys thought and strongly believed they were cool when they made jokes about your book, but soon, after about fifteen pages or so, all the girls and especially the boys was enjoying your spectacular book. “Anne of Green Gables” is packed with adventures, is filled with excitement, and filled me with anxiety. I look up to Anne because her imagination is amazing, and she braved through being an orphan. I also learned a lot from Marilla. She taught me by teaching Anne that you must be strict, but also kind while disciplining. Matthew is a kind soul and loved Anne from the start even though he wanted a boy. He taught me that you cannot be prejudice to someone when you first meet them. Your book has taught me so much more about all these good qualities in your characters. Thank you, Mrs. Montgomery.

Sincerely,

Anna

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Fever 1793

Dear Laurie Halse Anderson,

Your book, Fever 1793, helped me see the world see the world a bit different. Your book touched my heart. I was introduced to the book by my older sister, who completely fell in love with your book. She had been telling me to read it for about a year, and finally, I decided I would. When I opened the book, I was quite interested, but then I got scared and disturbed by the book. A while later, I decided to read this certain chapter again that I didn’t enjoy. I realized that I made a horrid mistake. I started the book over and also fell in love with it. I cried when Mattie’s grandfather died and she was all alone. She was so strong, and I completely look up to Matti for her courage. I learned a lot from your book. Your book taught me at just the right age that the world always needs help. Your book taught me that you always have to be strong even when life is hard. Matti had a hard live when Yellow Fever was sweeping the streets. Everyone was dying, and she was seeing very disturbing things, as in dead bodies on the streets. I also look up to Matti in the sense that she didn’t hide in a little corner, she was determined to make things better. She was determined to make the most delicious soap she could for her grandfather when they finally made it back to the house in Philadelphia. She was determined to bury her grandfather, the great, popular captain, as well as possible, and she did.

I read your book over and over again, learning something new from it every time. I see new detail every time. I have read your book so much that I will open Fever and know where the book is at! I love your book, and I always hold it deeply in my heart.

Anna

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Island of Blue Dolphins

Dear Scott O’Dell,

I love your book,”Island of the Blue Dolphins,” because it helped me in a really hard time in my life. When I read your book my cat, Jo-Jo, who I had since I was five, had just passed. I got him when my dad was away for work to keep me company while he was away. Fast forward about six years and I am in fifth grade. One night I come home from school and I had had a great day. One hour later my mom gets a call from my friend’s mom. I didn’t know what it was, so I was a little confused why she got a call at that time of day. She said nothing but,”I’ll be gone for a little bit. Then she got her coat on and went out the door. When she finally came back I could see that she was almost in tears. She sat next to me and explained that,” Jo-Jo was in an accident… and he has passed.” I couldn’t hold back the tears. It was a really sad time, but the next day I went to school and we read the part of your book when Rontu dies. It felt so good to have someone to relate to. But how Karana perseveres even after Rontu dies, It gave me a lot more strength to keep going even after that big fall. We kept on reading and when she found Rontu’s son, I knew since it worked out well for her, it would for me too. Even though no one could replace Jo-Jo, I found some new friends. I have two, healthy, Teddy guinea pigs named Roxy and Holly. They are sisters and they’re glad to be with us as we are glad to have them. It all worked out in the end, and I thank you for giving me strength when I really needed it.

Sincerely,

Victoria Morris

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How to Speak Dolphin

Dear Ms. Rorby,

When I used to see blind people with canes walking around, I would stop and stare at them for awhile. That’s when I read your book “How to Speak Dolphin.” I liked the quote, “Lily didn’t tell me you were blind!” Zoe smiled.That means it is not important to her. Reading more about Zoe made me realize how she acted like me or you. Sometimes I forgot Zoe was blind. I was very surprised at how Zoe was able to locate things from Echolocation. Your book helped me to realize that blind people can do basically anything they put their mind to. We shouldn’t stare. Also, even though they can’t see us staring they can sense us and their friends and family can too. Now I am thinking to be nicer and not stare at them. I think of Zoe and imagine it is her. Your book influenced me to do this! Thank you for helping me.

Gratefully,

Elizabeth

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Out of My Mind

Dear Sharon M. Draper,

Your book Out of my Mind has changed my life. The way you portrayed Melody was so realistic and amazing. I cried. The book was such a good story it turned me onto reading.Ever since reading your book, reading doesn’t seem like a punishment. Now since I like reading I read more. So during school when I get assigned to read a book, I can read much faster due to practice. It’s interesting how just one book can be so helpful. Although you made the story sad, I still enjoyed the suspense from chapter to chapter. You had me on the edge of my seat at all times. It seems that other people like your book too. I know this because when we were assigned Out of my Mind before summer vacation my teacher raved about how amazing a book it was. Due to all her enthusiasm, I bought the book myself. Now if I want to refer others to a good book, I know I have one. You will never truly know how much your book has helped me.

Your biggest fan,

Katya

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