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State Library of Kansas : Kansas Center for the Book : Letters About Literature : Past Winners
2008 Winner: Jamie Yearout, Stilwell (Level 1)
Book Title: A Corner of the Universe
Book Author: Ann Martin
Dear Ann Martin,
Christmas is coming! Everybody knows it, you can tell by the smells of sweets, the holiday music and the mistletoe above every door way. I used to be the kind of person who just bought gifts and received gifts. But, after I read your book A Corner of the Universe, I realized that Christmas is about friendship and compassion. Your book taught me that not only are the holidays an important time to show love to others, but you need to show compassion to people everyday. Not only that, but your book also taught me that life isn’t about being like two peas in a pod with one or two friends, but it is better to be good friends with everybody. This Christmas and all the Christmas’s in the future I will not only be giving and receiving gifts, but I will be working on showing compassion to every body around me. You taught me how I should spend my life. You taught me what life is all about.
When I started to read A Corner of the Universe, I noticed how Hattie’s grandmother treated Adam like a pet she owned. She told him when to eat, sleep, sit, get dressed; everything Adam did was to her command. The grandparent’s thought it was the best thing for Adam, but they only made his life more miserable. Even though Hattie didn’t know it, she was making Adam’s life easier, by doing something that no one did. Hattie was a friend. This really got me thinking that if everyone in the world had a friend, then some terrible and tragic things wouldn’t have happened, like shootings at schools, fights, burglaries, terrorists’ attacks, or murders. If people had friends, the world would be a better place.
I used to only talk to my friends, but now I welcome new students at my school. It really pays off too, I have more friends and rarely do I feel alone. Your book not only taught me to be kind, but it taught me to stand up for what I believe in and to come out of the closet with courage and bravery. The saddest part in the book taught me this; I learned this lesson at Adam’s funeral. Hattie is a shy girl, but when her uncle hangs himself, she speaks up and talks about Adam to everyone. In my opinion, if people went out of their comfort zone, by doing new things and meeting new people, the world wouldn’t be in millions of different groups. The world would be one big and compassionate group. I think if this happened some very dangerous and angry people would be cared for by their friends and eventually could be helped. Basically, what I am trying to say is that if everyone actually strived to use all the Blue Valley Virtues and really went out of their way to perfect them, we wouldn’t have a disastrous world; we would have what everyone is seeking…World peace.
Some people might be unaware of my transformation, but in my heart I know that I will never in my life be the same way. I will put myself in others shoes, strive to perfect the Blue Valley Virtues and most importantly I will be a friend. Your book has taught me what life should be about; your book taught me how to spend my life. Your book has changed me forever. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Jamie Yearout
Blue Skyways | State Library of Kansas
Kansas EZ Library | State Data Center | Talking Books
Kansas Center for the Book, 300 SW 10th Room 343N, Topeka KS 66612-1593
kcfb@library.ks.gov | Phone: 785.296.3296 or toll free: 800.432.3919
