Winners in California, 2004

Level I – Grades 4-6

Winner: Alexandra Dwight, Walter Hays Elementary School, wrote Pam Muñoz Ryan, author of Esperanza Rising

Finalists:
Kiana Bohm, Feather River Elem School, Portola, CA, wrote Philip Pullman, author of His Dark Materials trilogy
Jon Hanock, Castaic Middle School, Castaic, CA, wrote J.K. Rowling author of the Harry Potter series
Takumi Iwai, Seeds University Elementary, Playa Vista, CA, wrote Graham Salisbury, author of Under the Blood Red Sun
Ryan Nowicki, Phillips Brooks School, Woodside, CA, wrote Chris Priestely author of Battle of Britain
Ollie Peng, Harker School, San Jose, CA, wrote Brian Jacques, author of Loamhedge
Emily Ryles, Phillips Brooks School, Atherton, CA, wrote Catherine Thimmesh, author of Girls Think of Everything
Stephanie Shipman, Breen Elementary School, Rocklin, CA, wrote Anne Frank, author of The Diary of Anne Frank
Shay Vyas, Hall Middle School, Corte Madera, CA, wrote Brian Jacques, author of Mattimeo
Katrina Wong, Preuss School, UCSD, San Diego, CA, wrote Patricia McCormick, author of Cut

Level II – Grades 7-8

Winner: Alex Bland, Cali Calmecac Charter School, Windsor, CA, wrote Terry Trueman, author of Stuck in Neutral

Finalists:
Steven Chau, Pioneer Junior High School, Upland, CA, wrote Elie Wiesel, author of Night
Jesika Fernandez, Monterey County Home Charter, Salinas, CA, wrote Erin Gruwell & the Freedom Writers, authors of The Freedom Writer's Diary
Jeffrey Ebersole, Cavitt Junior High School, Granite Bay, CA, wrote Jay McGraw, author of Life Strategies for Teens
Jessica Griffin, Lawrence Cook Middle School, Santa Rosa, CA, wrote Chris Laddish, author of Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul
Margaret Lynn Hatch, Pioneer Junior High School, Upland, CA, wrote Madeleine L'Engle, author of A Ring of Endless Light
William Luebkeman, Graham Middle School, Mountain View, CA, wrote Terry Trueman, author of Stuck in Neutral
Michelle Tran, Nightingale Middle School, Los Angeles, CA, wrote Frances Hodgson Burnett, author of The Secret Garden
Sarah Waliany, Flintridge Preparatory School, Arcadia, CA, wrote Mildred E. Taylor, author of Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
Jack Xie, First Avenue Middle School, Arcadia, CA, wrote Brian Jacques, author of The Angel's Command

Level III – Grades 9-12

Winner: Altaf Saadi, Northwood High School, Irvine, CA, wrote Lawrence Thornton about Imagining Argentina

Finalists:
Talia Coutin, Upland High School, Upland, CA, wrote J.D. Salinger, author of The Catcher in the Rye
Joey Hubbard, Bakersfield High School, Bakersfield, CA, wrote Joshua Piven & David Borgenicht, authors of The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook
Kevin Jalaie, American High School, Fremont, CA, wrote Patricia McCormick, author of Cut
Jacqueline Kallberg, Palisades High School, Pacific Palisades, CA, wrote Julia Alvarez, author of In the Time of Butterflies
Terence Latimer, Palisades Charter High School, Pacific Palisades, CA, wrote Langston Hughes, author of Cross
Maria Lemus, Thomas Downey High School, Modesto, CA, wrote J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series
Dione Milleson, Fontana High School, Fontana, CA, wrote Bruce Coville about "Am I Blue?
James Tan, American High School, Fremont, CA, wrote Erich Maria Remarque, author of All Quiet on the Western Front
Bethelhiem Tekle, Hamilton High School, Los Angeles, CA, wrote Henry David Thoreau, author of Civil Disobedience