Out of 2,034 Texas entries, three students – Nadia Garcia, Colby Menefee and Sheri Donaldson – were finalists in this year’s Letters About Literature competition. AP students wrote to authors about how their books affected them personally. Garcia wrote to John Steinbeck and Donaldson wrote to Suzanne Collins, while Menefee wrote to Lauren Drain, who wrote a book titled Banished. Once the final level of finals was done, Menefee was named as the second-place winner in the state.

“I am very proud of myself because I’m terrible at writing,” Garcia said. “It was great to know that my letter made it to the finals.”

Garcia wrote about Of Mice and Men and how who we choose as friends can cause us to be alone. She also wrote about betrayal and how easily someone who is a friend can betray and isolate.

“The book touched me and I thought it was worth writing about,” Garcia said, “I hope to get better and maybe place next year”

Menefee wrote about Banished and how the author of the book escaped from the Westboro Baptist Church. He wrote about how brave she was and how she had the strength to leave her family.

“I feel great about winning second place,” Menefee said. “I hope to compete next year and get first.”

Donaldson wrote about the Hunger Games series and the extremities that people go to in order to survive during desperate times, including how people will betray those they love to survive.

“I took my time writing and researching,” Donaldson said, “but I never thought I would be a finalist.”