Students at Five Falls Christian School in Great Falls, Mont., are required to send portions of their writing to outside sources for possible publication. This fall, Hannah Curtis and Meranie Vercio, both fifth-grade students, entered a letter-writing contest, Letters About Literature, with Humanities Montana, Montana Center for the Book, and Center for the Book in the Library of Congress.

Choosing an author to correspond with was difficult; however both girls settled on books written by Christian authors who had affected their lives. After writing and rewriting, they sent off their entries. Nearly 600 students participated in the competition.

This March, both girls were notified their letters were among the top 50 in the state. Curtis' letter received honorable mention and Vercio's letter won first place and will be judged in Washington, D.C., this spring. Not only were the girls able to write well and describe how literature changes their lives, they were also able to witness to the judges who read their letters about what Jesus and being a Christian means to them.