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State Winners Letters About Literature 2007
Each year, six National and 12 National Honor letters are chosen from the tens of thousands of entries. National winners can name the library of their choice to receive a $10,000 award from Target, and the students receive a $500 Target GiftCard. National Honor winners can name a library to receive a $1,000 award from Target, and the students receive a $50 Target GiftCard.
| State | Level I | Level II | Level III |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Isabelle White, Birmingham, to Joan Bauer, author of “Hope Was Here” | Victoria Kent, Birmingham, to Natasha Friend, author of “Perfect” | Deanne Revel, Helena, to Max Barry, author of “Jennifer Government” |
| Alaska | Jennifer Ruiz, Dutch Harbor, to Jennifer L. Holm, author of “Our Only May Amelia” | Flora Kielland, Fairbanks, to Carl Hiaasen, author of “Hoot” | Maya Johnson, Kenai, to Astrid Lindgren, author of “Pippi Longstocking” |
| Arizona | Zac DeJovine, Glendale, to Hilari Bell, author of “The Goblin Wood” | Kellynn Payne, Tucson, to Julius Lester, author of “When Dad Killed Mom” | Cameron Holmes, Williams, to Elie Wiesel, author of “Night” |
| Arkansas | Treslyn Fletcher, Conway, to Patricia Reilly Giff, author of “Pictures of Hollis Woods” | Amy Anderson, Conway, to Nathaniel Hawthorne, author of “The Scarlet Letter” | Connor Schmidt, Fort Smith, to Diane Shader Smith, author of “A Test of Will” |
| California | Julie Greiner, Thousand Oaks, to Shel Silverstein, author of “The Giving Tree” | Michael Sturgis, Upland, to Louis Sachar, author of “Small Steps” | Nick Oeffinger, San Mateo, to Malcolm X, author of “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” |
| Colorado | Annalisa Galgano, Highlands Ranch, to Scott Westerfeld, author of “Uglies” | Stefan Norgaard, Boulder, to Dr. Seuss, author of “The Sneetches” | Erin Hassett, Longmont, to L. M. Montgomery, author of “Anne of Green Gables” |
| Connecticut | Danielle Honigstein, Westport, to D. J. McHale, author of “Quillan Games” | Leila Fletcher. (Due to the closely personal nature of Leila’s essay, we have respected the Fletcher family’s request to withhold the author’s name and title, as well as not to publish Leila’s letter.) | Eliza Orleans, Fairfield, to Alice Walker, author of “The Color Purple” |
| Delaware | NO WINNING ENTRY SELECTED THIS YEAR | NO WINNING ENTRY SELECTED THIS YEAR | Anneleise Westergard, Wilmington, to Yann Martel, author of “Life of Pi” |
| District of Columbia | Abigail Melick, to Eric Scholosser and Charles Wilson, authors of “Chew on This” | John Nessman, to Daniel Keyes, author of “Flowers for Algernon” | Talia Harris, to Sista Souljah, author of “No Disrespect” |
| Florida | Charlie Woods, Panama City, to Robert Louis Stevenson, author of “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” | Christopher Mignacca, Davie, to Ray Bradbury, author of “Fahrenheit 451” | ** Amber Jin, Greenacres, to Elie Wiesel, author of “Night” |
| Georgia | ** Katja Martin, Alpharetta, Robert Frost, author of “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening ” | Sang Ho Chun, Ringgold, to Mary Shelley, author of “Frankenstein” | Linda Fong, Alpharetta, to Kate Chopin, author of “The Awakening” |
| Hawaii | Jenna Bleu Forti, Honolulu, to Gail Carson Levine, author of “Ella Enchanted” | Gerrit DeWeese, Haleiwa, to Frederick Lenz, author of “Surfing the Himalayas” | Sarah Panoke, Waianae, to William Golding, author of “The Lord of the Flies” |
| Idaho | Braden Connolly, Boise, to J.R.R. Tolkien, author of “Lord of the Rings” | Marley Nielson, Idaho Falls, to David Pelzer, author of “A Child Called It” | Brittney Terry, Pocatello, to Jerry Spinelli, author of “Stargirl” |
| Illinois | Jori Goldberg, Burr Ridge, to Deborah Wiles, author of “Each Little Bird that Sings” | Alejandra Ruiz, Schaumburg, to Pam Muñoz Ryan, author of “Esperanza Rising” | Faye Cheng, Oak Brook, to Alexandra Robbins, author of “The Overachievers” |
| Indiana | Jamie Baer, Fort Wayne, to Katherine Hannigan, author of “Ida B.” | Megan Huhn, West Lafayette, to A. C. H. Smith, author of “Labyrinth” | Kenwyn Brosmer, Jasper, to Sarah Dessen, author of “The Truth about Forever” |
| Iowa | Quinn Severs, Des Moines, to Mitch Albom, author of “The Five People You Meet in Heaven” | Cole Rhatigan, Cedar Rapids, to Sharon Creech, author of “Chasing Redbird” | ** Audrey Keranen, Iowa City, to Khaled Hosseini, author of “The Kite Runner” |
| Kansas | Grayce McAllister, Americus, to Susan Wojciechowski, author of “The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey” | Francesca Hutton, Wichita, to Lemony Snicket, author of “A Series of Unfortunate Events” | Jamie Allan, Ottawa, to Dr. Seuss, author of “Oh, The Places You'll Go” |
| Kentucky | Charles J. Martinez, Bowling Green, to J. K. Rowling, author of “Harry Potter” Series | NO WINNING ENTRY SELECTED THIS YEAR | Carley Smith, Harrodsburg, to Judith Guest, author of “Ordinary People” |
| Louisiana | Will Hollier, Lafayette, to Robert K. Smith, author of “The War with Grandpa” | Brooke Kidder, Lafayette, to Cynthia Voigt, author of “Homecoming” | William Creed, Baton Rouge, to George Griffith, author of “The Captains” |
| Maine | Caroline George, Limington, to Roderick Townley, author of “The Great Good Thing” | Annie Fagan, Camden, to John Knowles, author of “A Separate Peace” | Jessica Staples, Auburn, to Masahi Kishimoto, author of “Naruto” series |
| Maryland | Elizabeth Smith, Silver Spring, to Carl Hiassen, author of “Hoot” | Ryan Martin Eaves, New Midway, to Mary Downing Hahn, author of “The Dead Man in Indian Creek” | David Kalikhman, Ellicott City, to Primo Levi, author of “Survival in Auschwitz” |
| Massachusetts | Madison St. Amour, Marlboro, to E. L. Konigsburg,author of “From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler” | Adriano Lima, Boston, to Louis Sachar, author of “Holes” | Ali Urban, Millers Falls, to L.M. Montgomery, author of “Anne of Green Gables” |
| Michigan | Nick Leto, Grosse Pointe Farms, to Gary Paulsen, author of “Hatchet” | Eric Shahly, Clarkston, to Frank Herbert, author of “Dune” | B. J. Hunt, Troy, to Sharon Draper, author of “Tears of a Tiger” |
| Minnesota | Kate Wackett, Maplewood, to Chris Crowe, author of “Mississippi Trial, 1955” | Anushua Bhattacharya, Woodbury, to Betty Mahmoody, author of “Not Without My Daughter” | Ericka Sell, Duluth, to Chris Van Allsburg, author of “The Polar Express” |
| Mississippi | NO WINNING ENTRY SELECTED THIS YEAR | NO WINNING ENTRY SELECTED THIS YEAR | NO WINNING ENTRY SELECTED THIS YEAR |
| Missouri | Brian Phan, Olivette, to Jean Van Leeuwen, author of “Cabin on Trouble Creek” | Catherine Moore, Kirkwood, to Paul Fleischman, author of “Seedfolks” | Kelsey Ray, Fenton, to Ray Bradbury, author of “Dandelion Wine” |
| Montana | Cara Robertus, Bozeman, to Eleanor Estes, author of “The Hundred Dresses” | Kelsey Weyerbacher, Kinsey, to Sarah Dessen, author of “The Truth About Forever” | Tessa Berg, Missoula, to James Howe, author of “The Misfits” |
| Nebraska | Kassy Pepper, Bellevue, to Margaret Peterson Haddix, author of “House on the Gulf” | Tayler Hough, Omaha, to Ann Martin, author of “A Corner of the Universe” | Carrie Chen, Lincoln, to Louisa May Alcott, author of “Little Women” |
| Nevada | Shyanne Fillmore, Gardenerville, to Theodore Taylor, author of “The Cay” | Brianna Randall, Minden, to Jerry Spinelli, author of “Stargirl” | Randy Khong, Reno, to Alex Sanchez, author of “Rainbow Boys” |
| New Hampshire | Marissa McCoo, Pembroke, to Frances Hodgson Burnett, author of “A Little Princess” | Livie Lane, Dover, to Davida Wills Hurwin, author of “A Time for Dancing” | Rachel Arnold, Milford, to Anne Rice, author of “Memnoch The Devil” |
| New Jersey | Tina Liu, Princeton, to Lawrence Yep, author of “Dragonwings” | Jane Riccardi, Kendall Park, to J.R.R. Tolkien, author of “Lord of the Rings” | Laura Feibush, Pennington, to Willa Cather, author of “Song of the Lark” |
| New Mexico | NO WINNING ENTRY SELECTED THIS YEAR | NO WINNING ENTRY SELECTED THIS YEAR | NO WINNING ENTRY SELECTED THIS YEAR |
| New York | Lily Meyersohn, New York City, to Kate DiCamillo, author of “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane” | Sarah Naftzger, Albany, to Madeleine L'Engle, author of “A Wrinkle in Time” | Kelly Fleming, West Islip, to Sylvia Plath, author of “The Bell Jar” |
| North Carolina | Sabrina Gonzalez, Elizabeth City, to Jerry Spinelli, author of “Maniac McGee” | Anna Keeley, Shelby, to Jane Austin, author of “Pride and Prejudice” | Hope Hendricks, Southern Shores, to Barbara Haworth-Attard, author of “Theories of Relativity” |
| North Dakota | ** Alexis Haaland, Bismarck, to Markus Zusak, author of “The Book Thief” | Phillip Brockman , Thompson, to Terry Deary, author of “Horrible History” series | Hannah Morehouse, Valley City, to Robert Munsch, author of “Love You Forever” |
| Ohio | Mary O’Keefe, Cleveland Heights, to Mildred D. Taylor, author of “Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry” | Thomas Young, Columbus, to Khaled Hosseini,author of “The Kite Runner” | Sarah DeBruin, Amanda, to Corrie Ten Boom, author of “The Hiding Place” |
| Oklahoma | Jessica Shenoi, Tulsa, to Sharon Creech, author of “Bloomability” | Benjamin Day, Oklahoma City, to C. S. Lewis, author of “The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe” | Brianna Vickers, Sand Springs, to J. K. Rowling, author of the “Harry Potter” series |
| Oregon | Emily Boring, Salem, to Madeleine L’Engle,author of “A Wrinkle in Time” | Junior Jaime, Gresham, to Joseph Bruchac, author of “Code Talker” | Keeley Tillotson, Tualatin, to Roald Dahl, author of “The BFG” |
| Pennsylvania | Josh Burd, Saxonburg, to Scott Adams, author of “What Would Wally Do?” | Kui Murage, Newtown Square, to Sue Monk Kidd, author of “The Secret Life of Bees” | Sadie Katarina Eichner, Tarentum, to Ray Bradbury, author of “Fahrenheit 451” |
| Rhode Island | Andrew Miner, East Greenwich, to William Armstrong, author of “Sounder” | ** Elena Suglia, North Kingstown, to “author unknown,” “Legacy of an Adopted Child” | Liz Ruggieri, Cranston, to Jodi Picoult, author of “My Sister’s Keeper” |
| South Carolina | Jordan Caroway, Lancaster, to Charles R. Smith, author of “Rimshots: Basketball Pix, Rolls, Rhythms” | ** Jordan Slisher, Westminster, to J. K. Rowling, author of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” | Jack Sniezak, Columbia, to Lance Armstrong, author of “It's Not About the Bike” |
| South Dakota | Calvin Kraft, Sioux Falls, to Jerry Spinelli, author of “Maniac McGee” | Serina Robinson, Sioux Falls, to Daniel Keyes, author of “Flowers for Algernon” | Mark Brenden, Brookings, to George Orwell, author of “1984” |
| Tennessee | Hanna Dixon, Nashville, to Nina Kiriki Hoffman, author of “A Fistful of Sky” | Megan Rawlins, Murfreesboro, to Natasha Friend, author of “Perfect” | Courtney Pannell, Milan, to William Faulkner, author of “As I Lay Dying” |
| Texas | Max James, The Woodlands, to Kate DiCamillo, author of “The Tale of Despereaux” | Annie Chang, Houston, to Sam McBrathey, author of “Guess How Much I Love You” | Rebecca Habib, Lucas, to Gladys Malvern, author of “Behold Your Queen” |
| Utah | Carrie Gritton, Murray, to Marguerite Henry, author of “Brighty of the Grand Canyon” | Lindsey Curtis, Salt Lake City, to Andrew Clements, author of “Frindle” | Gina Uhlstein, Salt Lake City, to Chaim Potok, author of “My Name Is Asher Lev” |
| Vermont | NO WINNING ENTRY SELECTED THIS YEAR | NO WINNING ENTRY SELECTED THIS YEAR | NO WINNING ENTRY SELECTED THIS YEAR |
| Virginia | Jenny Thomas, Oak Hill, to Kathryn Lasky, author of “Hope In My Heart” | Anna Klinker, Richmond, to J. R. R. Tolkien, author of “The Hobbit” | Nathan Dennison, Charlottesville, to Bill Peet, author of “The Wump World” |
| Washington | Christopher Waite, Bainbridge Island, to Kenneth Hall, author of “Asperger Syndrome, the Universe and Everything” | Ben Boyle, Mercer Island, to John Howard Griffin, author of “Black Like Me” | Janita Harris, Tacoma, to Virginia Euwer Wolff, author of “True Believer” |
| West Virginia | Molly Lovern, Bluefield, to Jane Yolen, author of “The Devil’s Arithmetic” | Mollee Brown, Fairmont, to Fred Gipson, author of “Old Yeller” | Carolyn Garcia, Fairmont, to Douglas Adams, author of “Last Chance To See” |
| Wisconsin | Makayla Imrie, Pewaukee, to Markus Zusak, author of “The Book Thief” | Alex Inman, Onalaska, to Ray Bradbury, author of “Fahrenheit 451” | Danielle Breidung, Waunakee, to Jonathan Kozol, author of “The Shame of the Nation” |
| Wyoming | Briana Hedlund, Casper, to Nancy Krulik, author of “Katie Kazoo Switcheroo” | Katie DeMunbrun, Gillette, to Dee Brown, author of “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee” | Jordan Marzilli-Quintana, Sheridan, to John Knowles, author of “A Separate Peace” |
