Meet Gitanjali Rao, 2nd Place Winner - 2nd & 3rd Grades Category

Gitanjali Rao (Anjali) is the 2nd place winner of the 2nd and 3rd Grades Category of the 2012 Spark READiness Freedom to Read Essay Contest.  She wrote about her favorite book,    Ella Enchanted, by Gail Carson Levine.

Below is Anjali's entry:

     My favorite book is Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine.  This is my favorite book because it has colorful pictures that help imagine the story, it has details that explain the story well, it keeps me guessing what will happen next.

     The story also has nice characters like:  Lucinda, Ella, Mandy.  I like these characters because they do magic tricks and there is a new magical adventure.  I like this book because it has structure and it is well illustrated.

     I like books that has (have) realistic fictional stories and beautiful imaginary setting such as castles, forests and rainbows.  Realistic fiction are fiction stories with real characters such as knigts (knights), cute dogs and kind people.

     My favorite book has feelings and the characters show emotions.  They usually have a happy ending.  When I read my favorite book, I feel like one of the characters and want to meet the author to find out what can happen next.

     Ella Enchanted is one such book that I will remember throughout my whole life.

Anjali just turned 7 years old.  She is a second grader at Edmondson Elementary School in Brentwood.  She loves to paint, play chess with her Grandfather, swim, and play the piano. She has a lot of fun writing fantasy stories.  Anjali also enjoys reading mystery books.

Judges commented that Anjali's entry was "well written and thoughtful" and "impressive."  As the second place winner in our 2nd and 3rd Grades Category, Anjali received $20 gift certificate to Parnassus Books and a certificate honoring her achievement.  

Congratulations and keep writing!