State Library of Kansas  :  Kansas Center for the Book  :  Letters About Literature  :  Past Winners

2010 Winner: Kaylee Dale (Level 1)

Book Title: Touching Spirit Bear

Book Author: Ben Mikaelsen

Dear Ben Mikaelsen,

Thank you for writing Touching Spirit Bear. My parents divorced when I was three. When I was seven and eight I was living with my dad. My dad was a “workaholic”. He worked twenty-four seven. He was always away working, and my brother was always at a friend’s house. I was left to cook and eat by myself, just as Cole had been left on the island to do with what he had.

This book helped me to forgive my dad and forget my past. This book helped me realize that I’m not the only person with divorced parents or a parent that works all the time just to hold roof over their family’s heads.

Cole had anger and he took it out on someone else. This book helped me realize that is shouldn’t take my anger out on someone else because of the possible consequences. I think Cole developed his rage because of his parents and that’s the same way I developed mine. I can hope all my life that my parents will remarry, but I know in my heart they will never be together again.

Touching Spirit Bear touched me.

Sincerely,

Kaylee Dale

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