Staff Reports
NEW PALESTINE — Trent Farmer mailed off his entries to the annual Indiana Letters About Literature competition in December thinking his students might do well, but never imagining he would have a winner.
When the results were announced in March, Maria Sostre, a New Palestine Intermediate School sixth-grader, had placed first in the contest; her classmate, fellow sixth-grader Haley Shields, was a semi-finalist.
Letters About Literature is an Indiana reading and writing contest for students in grades 4 through 12. Students are asked to read a book, poem, essay or speech and write to the author (living or deceased) about how the author’s work impacted their self-concepts or how they see the world.
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Maria, an avid reader, chose to write to author Jerry Craft after reading Craft’s most recent novel “New Kid.”
“New Kid” tells the story of seventh-grader Jordan Banks, whose parents enroll him in a prestigious private school known for its academics — and where Jordan is one of the few kids of color in his entire grade. As Jordan commutes from his Washington Heights apartment to the upscale Riverdale Academy Day School, he soon finds himself torn between two worlds — and not really fitting into either one.
Maria wrote to Craft because she could relate.
“His book was about a kid being bullied for his race,” said Maria, whose mother was born in Guatemala. “I told him how a lot of people tell me I look like Dora the Explorer. I don’t like being labeled as something I’m not.”
Haley wrote to Cynthia Kadohata, who wrote “Checked,” a book about a young hockey player who has to put his career on hold to pay for chemo for his sick dog.
But Maria and Haley aren’t the only winners. Farmer was honored as Indiana Writing Teacher of the Year by the Indiana Center for the Book. He was awarded a $150 cash prize to use in his classroom.
Farmer has had his students participate in the contest for the past four years. He’s had honorable mentions before, but never a winner.
“It’s really important,” Farmer said, “that their work gets seen by somebody in the public, either by publishing or a contest.”
Farmer wasn’t surprised that Maria’s letter won.
“I think Maria writes from the heart,” he said. “It wasn’t a fan letter, but more about how the book touched her.”
“New Kid” is the first graphic novel to ever win the Caldecott Medal for most distinguished picture book.
Unfortunately, Farmer, Maria and Haley were unable to attend the April awards ceremony. It, along with so many other events, was canceled to do Gov. Eric Holcomb’s stay-at-home order per COVID-19.
Maria missed school but was happy for the extra time to read.
“Once I knew I could read,” Maria said, “I started reading and I enjoyed it a lot. That’s what I do in my free time. I read and write.”
