Her classmates, Darlie Kerns and Gable Hartman, received honorable mention, ranking them in the top five percent of participants. A total of 3,400 letters were submitted throughout the state.

 

Letters About Literature is a national reading and writing program that asks students in grades four through 12 to write letters to authors whose work has made a significant difference in their lives. It is sponsored nationally by the Library of Congress and Target Stores, with separate competitions for each state. In the last five years, a total of 10 Pine Cobble fifth-grade pupils have been recognized by this competition.

 

Benjamin's winning letter was written to Newbery Medal-winning Beverly Cleary about one of her characters, Ramona Quimby. Benjamin, who was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in kindergarten, recognized aspects of herself in the spirited Ramona.

 

"Ramona and I both felt out of place and each had our own clear mind that nobody else understood," wrote Benjamin in her letter, "not everyone knew the difference between a kid who was being punished for being bad, and me, who just didn't know when to stop.

 

"Creativity, imagination, emotion, and personality are my rewards for pushing through my struggles... everybody has a wild side, but most are just too afraid to look for it. Ramona and I didn't have to look far to find it. I will always struggle with the things that ADHD throws at me, but I'm well on my way to taking control."

 

Kerns wrote to R.J. Palacio about "Wonder," a novel about a child with facial deformities.

 

"Making a difference can change people's lives and perspectives," wrote Kerns. "Having a difference is something that people say when they feel like they don't belong anywhere... In Wonder, August was calling himself the person who was the difference. I, too, can make a difference simply by being me." 

 

Hartman wrote about his favorite book, "The Hobbit," comparing Bilbo's journey to his own experience after his parents' separation. 

 

"Bilbo showed courage by putting himself through a perilous journey," Hartman wrote. "As I read your book, it guided me through my sadness and to the recognition that I have to show courage... Bilbo and I found out how to adjust to changes in the turning points of our lives. We both recognized that love and support can sustain us." 

 

"I'm thrilled for these students," said Sue Wells, Pine Cobble's head of school. "Writing well requires taking risks. It demands a thoughtful creative process and extensive editing. It also demands a great deal of time, support, and sweat. These students have worked very, very hard — both in writing these letters, and during all the years that have led up to this competition. Our faculty, too, have worked extremely hard instilling outstanding writing skills. It's nice to see those efforts recognized." 

 

Benjamin will be honored during a ceremony at the State House in Boston on Tuesday, May 14. Her teacher, Cornelia Alden, will attend the ceremony with her.