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Texas Center for the Book
Letters About Literature Essay Contest 2007
Level One (Grades 4-6) Winner
Max James
John Cooper School, The Woodlands
Dear Kate Dicamillo,
When I was just starting fifth grade, I had gone through a lot of teasing about my size. I knew and my friends knew that the teasing would never stop. Although my friends and family tried to comfort me when I was blue by saying that I would grow, I knew that the tallest that I would ever be was 5'5. I had always been fine with being small, but one day it all fell apart. On that day I had a Little League game to play, but that game obliterated my last nerve. I had been made fun of by every kid on the team and during the clap out; one kid punched me in the gut and said, "Take that Shorty." When I got home my jersey was drenched in tears. Then as I was walking I tripped over your book The Tale of Despereaux.
At first it hurt me to read that Despereaux was sent to the dungeon by his own family, but as I read the book, its brave little mouse sewed my two halves of a heart together. The needle was showing me how a misfit can do anything if you not only put your mind to something, but also your heart. The thread was our brother relationship that we had during the book. I used to think that crying would make the pain go away, but now I realize that if I cry all my life, then I will accomplish nothing and wither away into the sands of time.
Despereaux has opened my eyes to all the things I could do instead of feeling sorry for myself. Despereaux has changed the way that I embrace the world by showing me that anything is possible for anyone. He has also changed the way that I react to the people who make fun of me by instead of running to the corner and crying, I now show them that I can be just as good as them. All I need to do is work harder.
Thank you Kate for making my life a little brighter and a whole lot better.
Sincerely
Max James,
Grade 6
© The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. (Used by permission.)