Letters About Literature is a national competition of the Library of Congress in partnership with Target Stores and the state affiliate Centers for the Book. Students in grades 4 through 12 write a personal letter to an author, living or dead, explaining how that author's work changed the students' way of thinking about the world or about themselves.

In 2007, over 1,000 letters were submitted by South Carolina students to the national contest. Letters were reviewed by a national committee which selected 30 finalists in each of the three levels for further review by a South Carolina committee, which identified the state winners.

First, second, and third place prizes were awarded in each of three competition levels: Level I for students in grades 4 through 6, Level II for students in grades 7 and 8, and Level III for students in grades 9 through 12.

Level I

• First Place--Jordan Caroway, North Elementary School, Lancaster
• Second Place--Lauren Cercopely, Pinewood Preparatory School, Summerville
• Third Place--DeAri Jackson, Little Mountain Elementary, Little Mountain

Level II

• First Place--Jodan Slisher, Westminster Middle School, Westminster
• Second Place--Caitlin Lejeune, Dawkins Middle School, Moore
• Third Place--Anna Lynn, Dent Middle School, Columbia

Level III

• First Place--John Sniezak, Dreher High School, Columbia
• Second Place--Ismael Lopez, Mid Carolina High School, Prosperity
• Third Place--Annabel Lang, Dreher High School, Columbia

The nine finalists will be honored at an awards ceremony on Thursday, April 26th at 10:00 a.m. at the South Carolina State Library. The students will read their winning letters and receive prizes. The event is open to the public.