A Bainbridge Island middle school student
is one of three champions of the state
Letters About Literature competition. The competition,
sponsored by the Washington State Library and
the Library of
Congress, encourages students to write letters to their
favorite authors. About 3,400 letters were submitted.
Woodward Middle School seventh grader Julia Batson won her age group with a letter to Randa Abdel-Fattah, author of “Ten Things I Hate About Me.” In her letter, Batson discussed how the book changed her thoughts on discrimination, friendship, and the struggle to find a place in a peer group.
“… it became clear to me that even though being myself is hard, the people who will admire me for doing so outnumber those who will make fun of me for it.” Batson wrote. “Being myself feels gratifying and rewarding, like I’m finally free of some heavy burden.”
Batson’s winning letter will now be sent to the Library of Congress for the national competition. Winners will be announced in late April.
