Letters About Literature

Presented by The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress
in partnership with Target
Website: http://www.loc.gov/letters

Today you are going to select a book that took you on a surprising or inspiring journey. Reflect on the following questions: Did the characters, conflict or setting mirror your life in some way? What strengths or flaws do you share with a character? What did the book show you about your world that you never noticed before? What surprised you about yourself while you were reading the book? Then, you are going to write a personal letter, or literary letter, explaining how this particular author's work changed your view of the world or yourself. The letter will be addressed to the author, so it is important to remember that we are not going to summarize the plot of the book; the audience being the author already knows it! The author needs to know how the book affected you. Write in your own voice and keep a conversational tone .

LAL offers the following tips for steps:

•  Pre-write discussion : Reflect, Connect, and Express

•  Writing the Letter : You are considered to be level II (grades 7 & 8). Therefore it needs to be 300-600 words.

•  Prepare the letter for submission

Note: This is different from our previous literary letter because we are changing the audience which clearly affects the tone as well as the amount of background information that needs to be included! In essence, we will be mixing the “genre” of literary letter and personal narrative account.

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