The Library of Congress today announced the winners of its “A Book That Shaped Me”: Summer Writing Contest, a program that asks rising fifth- and sixth-graders to reflect on a book that has made a personal impact in their lives.

More than 300 young readers submitted essays to participating public libraries in the Mid-Atlantic region in this seventh year of the contest. Launched in 2012 with the DC Public Library, “A Book That Shaped Me” expanded with the help of public libraries in Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The local libraries offered the contest as part of their summer-reading programs.

Thirty finalists total, from the states that received entries, were chosen in an initial round of judging. The finalists each will receive a $50 gift-card prize.

Judging was conducted by members of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), a division of the American Library Association (ALA). The AASL works to ensure all elementary- and secondary-school librarians participate as collaborative partners in the teaching and learning process.

The grand-prize judging round, which selected state and grand-prize winners from the pool of state finalists, was conducted by a panel assembled by the Library of Congress that included educators, children’s authors and Library of Congress staff.

Each state winner will receive another $50 gift-card prize. The first-, second- and third-place grand-prize winners will be awarded additional gift-card prizes in the amounts of $200, $150 and $100 respectively.

Grand-prize winners will read their essays during the “A Book That Shaped Me” awards presentation at the Library of Congress National Book Festival. The contest presentation will take place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018 at 11:50 a.m. at the Children’s Green Stage and will be emceed by Eun Yang, NBC4 Washington television anchor. 

Grand Prize & State Winners

1st Place Grand Prize & Pennsylvania State Winner Tyler Williams, Spring City Free Library – Chester County Library System, who wrote about the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling.

2nd Place Grand Prize Winner & Virginia State Winner Aria Patnaik, Reston Regional Library - Fairfax County Public Library, who wrote about “One for the Murphys” by Lynda Mullay Hunt.

3rd Place Grand Prize & Washington, D.C. Winner Zuri Kenyatte, Anacostia Neighborhood Library - DC Public Library, who wrote about “Lucky Broken Girl” by Ruth Behar.

Delaware State Winner Sarah Jane McMann, Hockessin Library - New Castle County Libraries, who wrote about “Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets” by J.K. Rowling.

Maryland State Winner Alyssa Yu, Germantown Library – Montgomery County Public Libraries, who wrote about “Amina’s Voice” by Hena Kahn.

State Finalists (winners indicated by asterisks)

District of Columbia Finalists Safya Biswal, Chevy Chase Neighborhood Library - DC Public Library Raphael Fox, Tenley-Friendship Neighborhood Library - DC Public Library *Zuri Kenyatte, Anacostia Neighborhood Library - DC Public Library Ben Smith, Chevy Chase Neighborhood Library - DC Public Library Brooke Talbott, Shaw (Watha T. Daniel) Neighborhood Library - DC Public Library Miles Walters, Chevy Chase Neighborhood Library - DC Public Library

Maryland Finalists Brea Ampaw, Montgomery County Public Libraries Ellyce Butuyan, Connie Morella (Bethesda) Library - Montgomery County Public Libraries Grace Hollenbach, White Oak Library - Montgomery County Public Libraries Julliette Mamalian, Potomac Library - Montgomery County Public Libraries Joseph K. Mathew, Germantown Library - Montgomery County Public Libraries *Alyssa Yu, Germantown Library - Montgomery County Public Libraries

Virginia Finalists Bella DeFilippi, Central Library - Arlington Public Library Deven Hagen, Arlington Public Library Eleanor G. Hoopengardner, Central Library - Arlington Public Library Julienne Lim, Montclair Community Library - Prince William County Public Library *Aria Patnaik, Reston Regional Library - Fairfax County Public Library Landon Pollard, Bedford Central Library - Bedford Public Library

Delaware Finalists Maggie Clarke-Fields, Brandywine Hundred Library - New Castle County Reese Corbett, Dover Public Library Tianyu Mao, Hockessin Library - New Castle County Libraries *Sarah Jane McMann, Hockessin Library - New Castle County Libraries Amrita Rai, Kirkwood Library - New Castle County Libraries Michelle Ratanraj, Hockessin Library - New Castle County Libraries

Pennsylvania Finalists Sienna Camlin, Perkasie Branch Library - Bucks County Free Library Michaela Clement-St. Louis Brayden Samuelsen, Oley Valley Community Library – Berks County Public Library Hannah Strawhecker, Avon Grove Library - Chester County Library Annabelle Troup, Quakertown Library - Bucks County Free Library *Tyler Williams, Spring City Free Library - Chester County Library

The detailed list of current and previous winners, along with more information about the "A Book That Shaped Me" program, is available at loc.gov/bookfest/kids-teachers/booksthatshape/. For further details, contact [email protected].

The 18^th National Book Festival will be held Saturday, Sept. 1 from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 8:30 a.m.) at the Washington Convention Center. The event is free and open to everyone.

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