The Michigan Center for the Book today announced the three state winners of Letters About Literature, a national writing contest in which young readers wrote letters to authors, living or dead, describing how the authors' work changed the students' way of thinking.

Michigan winners will each receive a letter of recognition and a $50 Target gift card.  In addition, each winner's school or community library will receive a $300 donation for the purchase of materials.  Funding for these donations is provided solely by the National Center for the Book in partnership with Target.

"We were delighted with the number of participants and the quality of the letters we received this year," said Michigan Center for the Book Coordinator Karren Reish.  "The letters have shown us how literature touches young adults when they are encouraged to read deeply."

The Michigan winners are:

• Level 1 (upper elementary) - Phoebe Brown of Birmingham (library donation to Cranbrook Brookside School's Jock Denio Library), who wrote to author Sarah Miller about the book Miss Spitfire.
  "The character Annie Sullivan has inspired me completely! Her determination to 'fix' Helen reminded me of how important it is to set a goal, believe in yourself, and never give up," Brown wrote, going on to explain how the book motivated her to overcome her frustration with difficult schoolwork.  "Clearly, this was a big life lesson for me. "Ever since I have read the book, I constantly remind myself that believing in yourself and not wavering from your goal results in success.  Initially, I was not a good writer, but I took my teacher's criticism constructively and took Annie's courage to heart. Today I can safely say that I am much better at writing."
   
• Level 2 (middle school) - Gabrielle Montesanti of Howell (library donation to Howell Carnegie District Library), who wrote to author Jesse Stuart about the book Come to My Tomorrowland. 
  "A few years ago, I had to undergo two operations on my feet. The hideous experience was the biggest obstacle I've ever had to overcome. Like Joy Burton, it was hard for me to keep living to the fullest.  Thankfully, Come to My Tomorrowland arrived on my doorstep as a present from my grandmother one week before the operation," Montesanti wrote.  "I don't think she could possible have known that the inspirational story of Joy Burton and her albino lamb was exactly the gift I needed to overcome my scars. … Joy proved to me that we can be strong people while our legs may be weak. She proved that we can do anything with hope and faith."
   
• Level 3 (secondary) - Katelynn Wright of Battle Creek (library donation to Lakeview High School Media Center), who wrote to author Gerda Weissmann Klein about the book All But My Life.
  Wright wrote about how the book inspired her to try to make a difference in someone's life, which she did by befriending an ailing neighbor.  "That was the only time in my life that I had felt that I had made a difference and that I had the power to change someone's life. I will never forget that moment," she wrote.  "After reading your book, I think we only know when we have reached that point when we are able to sit back and reflect on what we have done in our lives. When I look back at your life and the hardships you have overcome and the way that you continue to change people's lives, my only hope is that I can become half of what you are."

Approximately 59,000 young readers across the country participated in this year's Letters About Literature competition, a reading promotion program of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, presented in partnership with Target.  Six national finalists will receive a $500 Target gift card and $10,000 for their community or school library.

To enter, young readers write a personal letter to an author explaining how his or her work changed their view of the world or themselves. Readers can select authors from any genre -fiction or nonfiction, contemporary or classic. The contest theme encourages young readers to explore their personal response to a book, then express that response in a creative, original way.

Minneapolis-based Target serves guests at 1,591 stores in 47 states nationwide by delivering today's best retail trends at affordable prices. Target (NYSE:TGT) gives more than $3 million a week to its local communities through grants and special programs. Since opening its first store in 1962, Target has partnered with nonprofit organizations, guests and team members to help meet community needs.

The Center for the Book was established in 1977 as a public-private partnership to use the resources of the Library of Congress to stimulate public interest in books and reading.   For information about its activities and national reading promotion networks, visit www.loc.gov/cfbook.

The Michigan Center for the Book (MCFB) organizes Letters about Literature at the state level.  A program of the Library of Michigan and the center's affiliates, MCFB aims to promote an awareness of books, reading, literacy, authors and Michigan's rich literary heritage. New affiliates are welcome.  For more information about the Michigan Center for the Book and its programs, visit www.michigan.gov/mcfb.

The Library of Michigan is part of the Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL).  Dedicated to enriching quality of life and strengthening the economy by providing access to information, preserving and promoting Michigan's heritage and fostering cultural creativity, the department also includes the Mackinac Island State Park Commission, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, the Michigan Film Office and the Michigan Historical Center. For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/hal.

Read more press releases from the Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL).