Letters About Literature
Thank you to all who participated in the 2019 contest!
2019 LAL Tennessee State Winners
Level 1 (4th-6th Grade)
- 1st Place: Ilana Gunther, Christiana Middle School, Christiana
Read Ilana’s letter to Cynthia Kadohata about Kira Kira - 2nd Place: Lily Little, Hutchison School, Memphis
- 3rd Place: Lyla Grenvicz, Edmondson Elementary, Brentwood
Level 2 (7th-8th Grade)
- 1st Place: Celia Poag, Hutchison School, Memphis
Read Celia’s letter to Cherie Bennett and Jeff Gottesfeld about A Heart Divided - 2nd Place: Brooke Fair, Hutchison School, Memphis
- 3rd Place: Jacob Geiser, White Station Middle, Memphis
Level 3 (9th-12th Grade)
- 1st Place: NaTivia Esson, White Station High School, Memphis
Read NaTivia’s letter to Nayyirah Waheed about “Salt.” - 2nd Place: Chinmayi Alli, White Station High School, Memphis
- 3rd Place: Caitlin Tate, White Station High School, Memphis
2018 LAL Tennessee State Winners
Level 1 (4th-6th Grade)
- 1st Place: Serenity Donnell, Christiana Elementary School, Christiana
Click here to read Serenity’s letter to Francesco Adamo about Iqbal - 2nd Place: Annabelle Gary, Hutchison School, Memphis
- 3rd Place (Tie): Nuriyah Bilal, Hutchison School, Memphis
- 3rd Place (Tie): Bebe Falkner, Christiana Middle School, Christiana
Level 2 (7th-8th Grade)
- 1st Place: Hamna Tameez, Hutchison School, Memphis
Click here to read Hamna’s letter to Andrea Davis Pinkney about The Red Pencil - 2nd Place: Lillie Hollabagh, Hutchison School, Memphis
- 3rd Place: Minnu Reddivari, White Station Middle School, Memphis
Level 3 (9th-12th Grade)
- 1st Place: Sukanya Barman, White Station High School, Memphis
Click here to read Sukanya’s letter to Laurie Halse Anderson about Catalyst - 2nd Place: Xinyi Tan, White Station High School, Memphis
- 3rd Place: Name withheld upon request.
Past National Letters About Literature winners from Tennessee
- 2018: Sukanya Barman was a National Honor winner for her letter to Laurie Halse Anderson about Catalyst.
- 2010: Siori Koerner for her letter to J.D. Salinger about Catcher in the Rye. Siori earned Christiana Middle School in Christiana a $10,000 reading grant from Target.
- 2010: Malli Swamy won a National Honorable Mention for her letter to Paolo Coelho about The Alchemist. Malli earned White Station High School in Memphis a $1,000 reading grant.
- 2009: Caroline Hoskins for her letter to Cynthia Lord about Rules. Caroline earned St. Mary’s Episcopal School in Memphis a $10,000 reading grant.
- 2008: Ayesha Usmani for her letter to Amy Tan about The Joy Luck Club. Ayesha earned White Station High School in Memphis a $10,000 reading grant.
- 2006: Martha Park for her letter to J.D. Salinger about Catcher in the Rye. Martha was invited to read her letter at the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.