Winners in California, 2008

Level I – Grades 4-6

California: Level I First Place Winner Augustine Chemparathy John Baldwin School, Danville Wrote to James Herriot, author of All Creatures Great and Small

Finalists:

Stephanie Chan, Stone Ranch, wrote to Margaret Haddix, author of Because of Anya
Isaac Halfon, Los Angeles, wrote to Wendy Moss, author of A Mango-Shaped Space
Hanna Liao, Deerfield, wrote to E. B. White, author of Trumpet of the Swan
Sierra Taylor Maciorowski, Sonoma, wrote to Tamora Pierce, author of Lady Knight
Veronica Mellring, Balboa, wrote to Madeleine L'Engle, author of A Swiftly Tilting Planet
Hannah Ngo, Sierra Vista, wrote to Andrew Clements, author of Frindle
Joss Saltzman, Santa Monica, wrote to Sharon Creech, author of Walk Two Moons
Thomas Seo, Deerfield, wrote to William Steig, author of Abel's Island

Click here to view the Level I Semi-Finalists

• Evette Andraos, Hacienda Heights, wrote to Jean Merrill, author of The Toothpaste Millionaire
  Haley Bowe, Irvine, wrote to Jerry Spinelli, author of Stargirl
  De'Shaun Brown, Oceanside, wrote to Elizabeth Levy, author of Big Trouble in Little Twinsville
  Vivian Ding, Irvine, wrote to Lois Walfrid Johnson, author of Creeping Shadows
  Morgan Ellis, Ventura, wrote to Lois Lowry, author of Number the Stars
  Taylor Fountain, Ventura, wrote to Jerry Spinelli, author of Stargirl
  Tyler Blair Gibson, Hacienda Heights, wrote to Martin Luther King, author of I Have a Dream
  Chace Henning, Los Angeles, wrote to J. K. Rowling, author of Harry Potter series
  Alexandra Kukoff, Thousand Oaks, wrote to Fern. G. Brown, author of Daisy and the Girl Scouts
  Qinguang Liang, Upland, wrote to Cornelia Funke, author of Dragon Rider
  Nathan Lopez, Los Angeles, wrote to J.K. Rowling, author of Harry Potter series
  Sabrina Lui, Palo Alto, wrote to Ernest Gaines, author of A Lesson Before Dying
  Kelcie Main, Palo Cedro, wrote to Michelle Paver, author of Wolf Brother
  Lauren Murvihill, Fremont, wrote to Christopher Paolini, author of Eragon
  Jenny Neese, El Segundo, wrote to Lurlene McDaniel, author of Mother, Help Me Live
  Claudia Noto, Newport Beach, wrote to Margaret Peterson Haddix, author of Among the Hidden
  Hyun Soo Park, Los Angeles, wrote to Kate DiCamillo, author of Because of Winn Dixie
  Jenny Seo, Irvine, wrote to E. L. Konigsburg, author of The View from Saturday
  Justice Shellan, Palm Springs, wrote to Stuart Hill, author of Blade of Fire
  Ella Sperling, Los Angeles, wrote to Edith Nesbit, author of The Story of the Amulet
  Ashton Thomas, Cameron Park, wrote to Deborah Wiles, author of Each Little Bird That Sings
  Paige Wagar, Ventura, wrote to Richard Paul Evans, author of The Christmas Box
  Halie Warnock, Merced, wrote to Deborah Wiles, author of Love, Ruby Lavender
  Robert Webber, Santa Rosa, wrote to J.R.R. Tolkien, author of The Hobbit
  Charlotte Zell, San Diego, wrote to Bodil Bredsdorff, author of The Crow-Girl
  Jimmy Zhou, Arcadia, wrote to Carol Lynch Williams, author of My Angelica
  Tina Zhu, Irvine, wrote to Jean Merrill, author of The Pushcart War
  

Level II – Grades 7-8

California: Level II First Place Winner Francesca Libutti Pioneer Junior High School, Upland Wrote to Patricia McCormick, author of Sold

Finalists:

Frances Guo, San Jose, wrote to Shel Silverstein, author of The Giving Tree
Ty Hack, San Juan Capistrano, wrote to Jack London, author of The Call of the Wild
Nikke Huelle, Anaheim, wrote to George Orwell, author of 1984
K.M., Lake Forest, wrote to Cynthia Kadohata, author of Kira - Kira
Christopher Rivera, Union City, wrote to Mary E. Pearson, author of Scribbler of Dreams
Mariah Steiger, Windsor, wrote to Jodi Picoult, author of My Sister's Keeper
Mairead Swyney, Newhall, wrote to Tamora Pierce, author of First Test
Priscilla Wu, Union City, wrote to Eric Liu, author of The Accidental Asian

Click here to view the Level II Semi-Finalists

• Linda Acosta, Union City, wrote to Ernest Hemingway, author of The Old Man and the Sea
  Marsella Alvarez, San Diego, wrote to S. E. Hinton, author of The Outsiders
  William Applegate, Galt, wrote to J.R.R. Tolkien, author of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
  Rose Applen, Redding, wrote to Virginia Euwer Wolff, author of Make Lemonade
  Nicole Bonilla, Union City, wrote to Jackie Koller, author of A Wizard Named Nell
  Stefanie Brunswick, Newport Beach, wrote to Shel Silverstein, author of Where the Sidewalk Ends
  Stella Chua, San Ramon, wrote to Frances O'Roark Dowell, author of The Secret Language of Girls
  Jeffrey Chu, Union City, wrote to Carl Hiaasen, author of Hoot
  Raven Correia, Ventura, wrote to Jerry Spinelli, author of Loser
  Kaitlyn de Long, Yorba Linda, wrote to Meg Cabot, author of The Mediator
  Danielle Douglass, Saratoga, wrote to Jaclyn Moriarty, author of The Year of Secret Assignments
  Morgan Faulkner, Cameron Park, wrote to Susan B. Anthony, author of Speech After Being Convicted of Voting in the 1872 Presidential Election
  Linda Fong, Union City, wrote to Jean Craighead George, author of Going to the Sun
  Maddie Foster, Las Flores, wrote to David McCullough, author of 1776
  Andrea Guillen, Santa Ana, wrote to Lisi Harrison, author of The Clique
  Shayda Haddad, San Ramon, wrote to Laura and Tom McNeal, author of Decoding of Lana Morris
  Dibora Haile, Pasadena, wrote to Dave Pelzer, author of A Child Called It
  Laura Hannibal, Saratoga, wrote to E.B. White, author of Charlotte's Web
  Cheyenne Harris-Martin, Galt, wrote to Piers Anthony, author of On a Pale Horse
  Alyssa Heister, Rancho Palos Verdes, wrote to Cynthia Kadohata, author of Kira-Kira
  Ines Hernandez, Los Angeles, wrote to Ernest Hemingway, author of The Old Man and the Sea
  Karin Yamazaki, San Francisco, wrote to Sarah Weeks, author of Sarah Weeks
  Gee Yoon Kang, Rancho Cucamonga, wrote to S.E. Hinton, author of The Outsiders
  Bethany Kawa, Redondo Beach, wrote to Linda Sue Park, author of When My Name Was Keoko
  Phillip Kim, Carmel, wrote to Eoin Colfer, author of The Wish List
  Brendan Kuhlman, Newhall, wrote to Christopher Paolini, author of Eldest
  Jacqueline Le, La Jolla, wrote to Lois Lowry, author of Number the Stars
  Triana Leal, Ventura, wrote to Wilson Rawls, author of Where the Red Fern Grows
  Christopher LeClair, Santa Clarita, wrote to Jerry Spinelli, author of Stargirl
  Michelle Li, San Francisco, wrote to Scott Westerfeld, author of Uglies
  Rachel Maddox, Newhall, wrote to Corrie Ten Boom, author of The Hiding Place
  Jenna McNaughton, San Ramon, wrote to Pamela Curtis Swallow, author of It Only Looks Easy
  Jenni Miller, Saratoga, wrote to Beverly Cleary, author of The Mouse and the Motorcycle
  Alanah Myrick, Newhall, wrote to Mildred G. Taylor, author of Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
  Hannah Narvaez, San Juan Capistrano, wrote to John Steinbeck, author of The Pearl
  Mina Nayeri, San Ramon, wrote to Harper Lee, author of To Kill a Mockingbird
  Vanessa Newell, Alamo, wrote to Katherine Paterson, author of Bridge to Terabithia
  Isamar Nungacay, Los Angeles, wrote to Criss Angel, author of Mindfreak
  Angela Polito, Lake Forest, wrote to Bette Green, author of Summer of My German Soldier
  Andi Quilalang, San Ramon, wrote to Natasha Friend, author of Perfect
  Jeff Raney, Granite Bay, wrote to Louis Sachar, author of Small Steps
  Miguel A. Reynoso, Woodlake, wrote to Lemony Snicket, author of A Series of Unfortunate Events
  Baggio Saldivar, Newhall, wrote to Mike Lupica, author of Heat
  Shane Shahrestani, Yorba Linda, wrote to Herman Melville, author of Moby Dick
  Nikki Speck, Las Flores, wrote to David McCullough, author of John Adams
  Rachel Sumption, Redding, wrote to Jerry Spinelli, author of Stargirl
  Anna Sutherland, Redding, wrote to Deborah Wiles, author of Each Little Bird That Sings
  Nick Thomas, Las Flores wrote to A.J. Langguth, author of Patriots
  Emily Venable, San Juan Capistrano wrote to Natalie Babbitt, author of Tuck Everlasting
  Tia Vu, San Francisco wrote to Tamora Pierce, author of Alanna: the First Adventure
  Sarah Walsh, San Ramon wrote to Dan Greenburg, author of Claws
  Jason Zhang, Union City wrote to Brian Jacques, author of Voyage of Slaves
  

Level III – Grades 9-12

California: Level III First Place Winner Sarah Zarrin Saratoga High School, Saratoga Wrote to Alex Haley, author of Roots

Finalists:

Alexandra Carmona-Yaver, South Pasadena, wrote to James Howe, author of The Misfits
Nicole Endacott, South Pasadena, wrote to Dr. Seuss, author of The Lorax
Margaret Friewald, Sacramento, wrote to Cherie Bennett, author of Zink
Crystal Hand, Garden Valley, wrote to Dave Pelzer, author of A Child Called It
Nicole Lundquist, Palm Desert, wrote to Jeannette Walls, author of The Glass Castle
Michael Morrison, San Jose, wrote to Stephen Ambrose, author of Band of Brothers
Amy Peterson, Oakdale, wrote to William Ernest Henley, author of Invictus
Karissa Savory, Redding, wrote to Raymond A. Foss, author of Granpa's Arms
Nicole Tu, Alhambra, wrote to Sarah Dessen, author of Keeping the Moons

Click here to view the Level III Semi-Finalists

• Brianna Anglemoyer, Garden Valley, wrote to J.K. Rowling, author of Harry Potter series
  Nasim Attaripour, Palm Desert, wrote to Laura Fitzgerald, author of Veil of Roses
  Cheyenne Baskett, Los Angeles, wrote to Janet Fitch, author of White Oleander
  Emily Bill, Redding, wrote to Anne McCaffrey, author of Dragonsinger
  Suzanne Boretz, Upland, wrote to Lois Lowry, author of The Giver
  Allison Burgos, Upland, wrote to Nicholas Sparks, author of A Walk to Remember
  Carly Carlos, Palm Desert, wrote to Betty J. Eadie, author of The Ripple Effect
  Jessica Carroll, Downey, wrote to J.K. Rowling, author of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
  Nikki Chang, Saratoga, wrote to Sandra Scoppettone, author of The Late Great Me
  Loraine Chang, San Gabriel, wrote to Amy Tan, author of The Joy Luck Club
  Andrew Chang, San Gabriel, wrote to Amy Tan, author of The Joy Luck Club
  Bill Chen, San Gabriel, wrote to Alice Walker, author of The Color Purple
  Katherine Chen, Gilroy, wrote to Jodi Picoult, author of My Sister's Keeper
  Marcus Consunji, Sacramento, wrote to J.K. Rowling, author of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
  Gabriela De La Cruz, Downey, wrote to George Orwell, author of 1984
  Saumya Dena, Los Angeles, wrote to Charlotte Brontë, author of Jane Eyre
  Rachel Dittman, San Carlos, wrote to Lurlene McDaniel, author of Let Him Live
  Ernestine Fu, Northridge, wrote to Dai Sijie, author of Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress
  Sara Gambord, Saratoga, wrote to Felice Belle, author of Exceptions
  Danielle Gibbel, Rancho Palos Verdes, wrote to James Herriot, author of All Things Bright and Beautiful
  Jessica Gipe, Saratoga, wrote to Madeleine L'Engle, author of A Wind in the Door
  Courtney Greenwood, Palm Desert, wrote to Laurie Halse Anderson, author of Speak
  Libby Griffin, San Jose, wrote to Jaclyn Moriarty, author of Feeling Sorry for Celia
  Rachel Hanson, Lakewood, wrote to Sue Monk Kidd, author of The Secret Life of Bees
  Emily Heckman, Redding, wrote to James Frey, author of A Million Little Pieces
  Stephanie Ho, Upland, wrote to Amy Tan, author of Mother Tongue (essay)
  Natalie Hooker, Rosamund, wrote to Haven Kimmel, author of A Girl Named Zippy
  Mabel Hsu, Saratoga, wrote to Amy Tan, author of The Kitchen God's Wife
  Donna Belle Ibarra, San Lorenzo, wrote to Mitch Albom, author of For One More Day
  Eugene Ichinose, San Gabriel, wrote to Mark Haddon, author of Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
  Menetta Kelley, Hoopa, wrote to Cherie Bennet, author of Zink: The Myth, The Legend, The Zebra
  Jordan Laugero, Oakdale, wrote to Mia Hamm, author of Go for the Goal
  Min Lee, La Palma, wrote to Richard Rodriguez, author of Hunger of Memory
  Irene Lee, Rancho Palos Verdes, wrote to Stephenie Meyer, author of Twilight
  Kristi Lui, Palo Alto, wrote to Mitch Albom, author of The Five People You Meet in Heaven
  Taylor Marie Lyons, Oakland, wrote to Langston Hughes, author of Montage of a Dream Deferred
  Christina Mich, Sacramento, wrote to Ligia Seman, author of Dragostei Funiile
  Hannah Muller, Guinda, wrote to Jerry Spinelli, author of Stargirl
  Jennifer Nguyen, San Gabriel, wrote to Kurt Vonnegut, author of Slaughterhouse Five
  Anissa Olivares, Hayward, wrote to J.K. Rowling, author of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
  Savanna Paine, Apple Valley, wrote to David Clement-Davies, author of Fell
  Laura Palosaari, Rolling Hills, wrote to Mitch Albom, author of Tuesdays with Morrie
  Dina Popal, Garden Valley, wrote to Ann M. Martin, author of A Corner of the Universe
  Vikki Preston, Hoopa, wrote to Sherman Alexie, author of Reservation Blues
  Lauren Prichard, Elverta, wrote to Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of Little House on the Prairie
  Kimberly Ramsarup, Rocklin, wrote to Toni Morrison, author of The Bluest Eye
  Anna-Kay Richards, Milpitas, wrote to Chinua Achebe, author of Things Fall Apart
  James Richie, Rocklin, wrote to Robert Frost, author of The Road Not Taken
  Devin Rigg, San Jose, wrote to Louis Sachar, author of Holes
  Christine Dianne Robles, Los Angeles, wrote to Daniel Defoe, author of Robinson Crusoe
  Sam Ruhman, Los Angeles, wrote to Oscar Wilde, author of The Picture of Dorian Gray
  Austin Ruth, Palos Verdes Estates, wrote to Christopher Reeve, author of Still Me
  Hannah Sample, Garden Valley, wrote to St. Matthew, author of The Book of Matthew
  Tegan Schmidt, Rocklin, wrote to Tamora Pierce, author of Alanna: The First Adventure
  Katherine Segal, Rancho Palos Verdes, wrote to David Ives, author of Time Flies
  Erin Simons, Upland, wrote to Stephenie Meyer, author of Twilight
  Alexander Strachan, Los Angeles, wrote to Erich Maria Remarque, author of All Quiet on the Western Front
  Spencer Strong, Rocklin, wrote to Brian Jacques, author of The Outcast of Redwall
  Nicholas Su, Santa Barbara, wrote to J.D. Salinger, author of The Catcher in the Rye
  Mey Taing, Torrance, wrote to Adeline Yen Mah, author of Chinese Cinderella
  Tiffany Tseng, Saratoga, wrote to Dave Pelzer, author of A Child Called It
  Kimberly Umpornpuckdi, La Palma, wrote to Sharon Creech, author of Walk Two Moons
  Gloria Vo, Hayward, wrote to Sherry Garland, author of Shadows of the Dragon
  Nicole Wakayama, Rancho Palos Verdes, wrote to Mark Haddon, author of Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
  Ashley Winsor, Garden Valley, wrote to Steven Cosgrove, author of Leo the Lop
  Brenda Wong, San Gabriel, wrote to Amy Tan, author of The Joy Luck Club
  Esther Yang, Rancho Palos Verdes, wrote to Amy Tan, author of The Joy Luck Club
  Kaitlin Yefsky, Palos Verdes Estates, wrote to Elie Wiesel, author of Night