University Libraries Hosts Letters about Literature Award Ceremony

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Alabama Center for the Book will honor state winners of the 24th Annual Letters About Literature contest at an award ceremony Saturday, April 29, at 11 a.m. at The University of Alabama’s Gorgas Library, room 205.

Letters About Literature is a national reading and writing contest for students in grades four through 12. Students are asked to read a book, poem or speech and write a letter to the author about how the work affected their lives.

The competition is sponsored by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation and the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, which promotes the contest through its affiliates.

Guest speaker will be Chandra Sparks Splond from Birmingham.

Blogger, editor, speaker and award-winning author, Splond is a graduate of UA with a degree in journalism. Her novel, “Spin It Like That,” was chosen as a Popular Paperback for Young Adults by the Young Adult Library Services Association. Her book, “The Pledge,” was a YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers.

More than 36,000 letters were submitted in this year’s nationwide competition, said Donna Adcock, director of public relations, University Libraries and director of the Alabama Center for the Book. In Alabama, 248 letters were submitted.

“Winners, semi-finalists, parents and teachers are invited to attend the awards ceremony,” Adcock said. “First-place winners will receive a $100 gift card, second place will receive a $75 gift card and third place winners will receive a $50 gift card.”

All semi-finalists will receive certificates.

The first-place winners in each state competition will be entered into a national competition where overall winners will be selected in each level. National winners in each competition level will receive $1,000.

The 2017 Alabama Letters About Literature winners are:

Level 1 (grades 4-6)

First place: Julia Fleming, Arab

Second place: Sarah Khamis, Bynum

Third place: Izabella Kulczycka, Birmingham

Level 2 (grades 7-8)

First place: Zoe McRear, Mount Olive

Second place: Sela Trimm, Alabaster

Third place: Jack Langloh, Birmingham

Level 3 (grades 9-12)

First place: Micah Williams, Montgomery

Second place: Stacie Terry, Huntsville

Third place: Caroline Coleman, Lineville