Writing Assignment 3, Draft 1: Letters About Literature

Dear Ellen Hopkins,

Reading all four of your free verse poetry books has not only been a pleasure, but, ultimately, an uplifting experience. The way you use poetry to tell the stories of love and struggle makes me believe in every word you write. Not only am I touched by your style of writing, but I am moved by the stories you tell.

While reading Crank and Glass, I didn't know that the story was about your daughter, but when I read the end note for both books, which told that these books were based on the true story of your daughter's crytstal meth addiction, I was blown away. I look up to you as an author who is able write about a very personal experience, and still make it sound graceful by putting it in poetry form.

Out of your four books, Impluse was the most relevant to me. Going through a similar experience myself, reading about three teens who attempted suicide and were admited to a psychiatric hostpital was comforting. Although it was fictional, knowing that other people go through the same thing that I did was uplifting. Writing the three stories in a poetic way gave them a deeper meaning.

Your style of writing and subject matter are inspirational to me, and both have changed the way I see the world
Thank you

Sincerely,
Emily Thomas