Sissonville writer Amber Elmore visited Pocahontas County on December 5 for the Literature Fair at Marlinton Elementary School.

Prior to her visit, Elmore sent letters to all students from kindergarten through eighth grade. On the elementary level, Elmore wrote the students as her character, Betsy Beansprout, and asked the students to write an essay explaining what they would do with Betsy if she came to the county for the day.

For the middle school students, Elmore wrote as herself and asked the students to write a story as if they were auditioning to be a new author.

Elmore said she was so impressed with the essays from Pocahontas County, that she had a special surprise for everyone.
“I thought that since everyone of you did a great job that I would read a book that will be out in April that no one else has read yet,” Elmore said. “It is a proof of ‘Betsy Beansprout Birdwatching Guide.’”

After Elmore read the new book, she explained to the students how much she enjoyed their essays.

“You fourth graders and middle schoolers, you are going to give me a run for my money as an author one day,” she said. “There were people who explained in every detail exactly what was going on in the essays, and what that does is it makes you guys painters. You’re not painters with colors, you’re painters with words, and that is what a real writer is. They play with words and manipulate them in such a way that they tell a story, and when you put them together and you paint, you can actually make someone fall into your story. You guys did that so beautifully and so wonderfully.”

Elmore said she had a really hard time selecting winners because the essays were so good.

“I read these essays two and three times to where if you told me your name, I could probably tell you what your essay is about,” she said. “I was allowed to pick one winner from each grade and also name honorable mentions. There are 99 bookmarks here. That is a lot of honorable mentions, and I could have kept going.”

All the honorable mention students received a special bookmark and the winners received a certificate and $10 provided by the Local Reading Council.

Winners are:

Kindergarten: Kenzie Doss. Honorable mention: Shannon Anderson’s class.

First grade: Hadyen Walker. Honorable mention: Gavin Walls and Savannah Ignos.

Second grade: Isaac Clifford. Honorable mention: Samuel Williams, Waylon Lucabaugh, Holden Sharp, Amanda Burns, Camryn Moore, Haley Spencer, Jazzlyn Teter, Ryan Friel, Josten Moyers, Traves Lewis, Michelle Yingling, Rebecca Sharp and Madison Seal.

Third grade: Rayna Smith. Honorable mention: Macaden Taylor, Nathan Tawney, Spencer Combs, Hazel Riley, Sarah Warder, Ben Dunz, Colton Wilfong, Delania Luikart, C.J. Long and Allyson Alderman.

Fourth grade: Lanty Rose. Honorable mention: Maria Workman, Emily Henderson, Faith Johnson, Logan Hively, Chloe Hardesty, Lexi Price, Savannah McMillion, Aleaxis Thomas, Seth Day, Ciera Wilfong, Kinley Taylor, T.D. Sparks, Tessa Kiner, Brandon Burns, Conner Spencer, Jesse Bostic, Devon Biggs and Autumn Lane.

Fifth grade: Kearstin Bogart. Honorable mention: Devyn Young, Emily Doss, Emmet Doolittle, Robert Ryder, Shayna Hammons, Abram Leyzorek, Violet McComb, Michael McGee, Charity Morrison, Joseph Teter, Alexis Gibson, Amelia Rose, Emily Casto and Gillie Kelly.

Sixth grade: Taylor Tegetmeyer. Honorable mention: Patience Garretson, Jordan Nutter, Brianna Hefner, Morgan Morrison, Colton Massey, Emalee Arbogast, Regan Haney, Madelene Pritt, J.D. Sharp and Brett Moats.

Seventh grade: Hunter Wilfong. Honorable mention: Marley Brust, Laura Leyzorek, Ryan Bennett, Tessa Knisely, Caitlin Keatley, Katie Gibson, Ashley Wilt, Catlyn Sparks, Levi Ryder, Mark Jordan, Walker Shinaberry, Lauren Shisler, Brair Wilfong, Logan Dilley, Hunter Tankersley, Snow Kelly and Aaron Pritt.

Eighth grade: Wyatt Workman. Honorable mention: Garret Sharp, Jason Brock, Macayla Beck, Emily Ray, Tessa Jordan, Autumn Vance, Chelsey Lee, Kayla Gibson, Carlie Ervine, Savanna Davis, Wyatt McComb, Trey Miller and Cameron Rose.

Suzanne Stewart may be contacted at sastewart@pocahontastimes.com