Andreen wins second place in Letter to Author contest

Fifth grader Hannah Andreen won second place in the state Letter to an Author contest.

Hannah chose to read "A Child Called It" by David Pelzer because her family takes in foster children.

Hannah's mother, Ciley Andreen, said the family has taken in 15 children in the past three years.

Her winning letter to David Pelzer is about understanding that foster children have been through really rough times, Hannah said.

"It's about not wanting to have foster kids because they would take my stuff and everything, but then after reading the book, I realized they don't have very much and I have a lot," Hannah said.

The purpose of the contest was to write a letter to an author about a book that changed your life, Hannah said.

Ciley said she and Hannah read the book together.

"We read it before bed so we could discuss anything that might bother her or that she might have questions about," Ciley said.

In her letter, Hannah wrote, "I used to think they're [foster children] so spoiled, they get whatever they want because they didn't come with anything or why are they scared that we're going to hurt them just because we said we wanted to play? I get why now. I know that most importantly I need to be a friend to them. Don't just be considerate of them, make them feel like they are loved. Take care of them, feed them, bathe them, and dress them, and again love them."