Happy Valentine's Day, everybody! Since today is all about sharing the love, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to share a link I recently stumbled across.
Every year, the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress (along with Target), sponsors a contest inviting readers in grades 4 through 12 to submit a letter to their favorite author, telling them how their books have changed their lives.
The winning letters are posted online, and there's not a one of them that didn't make me smiley and teary at the same time.
As if by fate, I read the book The Cricket in Times Square at the beginning of fourth grade, right before I got sick. My diagnosis in the middle of one scary Saturday night whisked me away from everything familiar to me without warning. Thoughts of Chester surviving in his new world inspired me to fight with all my strength and to keep fighting through the long haul. Chester and I not only survived, but thrived, despite the terrible odds against us. And, along the way, we both made some incredible new friends. Mine included a brave little cricket, and for that, I thank you.
With gratitude,
Christian Lusardi (grade 8)
You can read the other winning letters here. (The one from 6th grader Maryam is an especially terrific read).
Have you ever written to an author to tell them what their books meant to you?
The only letter I ever remember writing to an author was one to LM Montgomery (yes, I knew she was dead but I had to relieve my feelings) about the major character death in Rilla of Ingleside. If I recall correctly, I suggested that she should have killed off Carl Meredith instead.
ReplyDeleteI often wish after they are dead that I wrote to authors while they were alive to thank them for their books - Lloyd Alexander, Brian Jacques, Diana Wynne Jones ... too late, on all of them.
Now, of course, there's blogging and Twitter and FB, and contacting an author to thank him or her for the books is much easier.
I know just what you mean about the RoI death...I wonder how LMM would have responded if she'd been able to read that letter!
DeleteI loved this post, and am going to be checking out the website. I often think to write letters to authors to let them know what their books mean to me, but I usually don't go through with it because I am afraid to gush too much. I did send an email to Joe Hill telling him what an amazing author I think he is, but sadly, he never responded back :(
ReplyDeleteHappy Valentine's Day to you!
Why oh why did I have to see this post now - I'm tearing up at work reading some of these letters - this one especially.
ReplyDeleteThat one got me, too, Tanya. Crying like a baby.
DeleteOh wow. Too cool. And what a great snippet.
ReplyDeletePS Happy Valentine's Day :)
ReplyDeleteTo answer your question, I think I sorta wrote a (positive and happy) letter to Stephenie Meyer once. (not that I sent it)
Aww, you should have sent it!
DeleteOh how wonderful!! I never wrote to an author (unless it was in the form of a book review) but I imagine it must be so completely gratifying to the author and the writer. Thanks for this post!
ReplyDeleteCath -
ReplyDeleteThe Office of the Secretary of State, Library Division (where I am a librarian) sponsors this in Washington and we have a nice ceremony for our state level winners. There are certificates for all and the winners get to read their letters to the crowd. The letters are also posted on our website (http://www.sos.wa.gov/library/lal/LettersAboutLiterature2012.aspx). I love helping at this event. The letters usually bring tears to my eyes, they are so heartfelt. It is truly a great program!