Nene Award contest winners' works on display

Advertiser Staff

Drawing by Bailey Onaga, fourth grade, Waihe'e Elementary School

Or, if you're artistically inclined, how would you draw your favorite scene from "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"?

These were the challenges that scores of students undertook in this year's Nene Award essay and poster contests. Rowling's "Sorcerer's Stone" was the topic because it received last year's Nene Award. The book award is decided by votes cast by Hawai'i students in grades four through six.

In this year's student competition, artists were asked to draw a scene from "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." Writers were asked to finish the sentence, "If I met J.K. Rowling, I would tell her . . . . " Of the 102 essays and 186 posters sent in, one poster winner and one essay winner each were chosen for the fourth, fifth and sixth grades. The winners were honored at a ceremony last week, and each received a $10 bookstore gift certificate. The winning posters are on display at the Hawai'i State Library. Here are the winning posters and excerpts from the winning entries.

Lauren Chai
Fourth grade, Lunalilo Elementary School

When my dad gave me two Harry Potter books for my birthday, I just started reading and couldn't stop! It was so exciting! My dad is going to get me the third and fourth book. This book encourages me and teaches me. At first, to be honest with you, I did not know what the word "sorcerer" meant. As I read, I learned and knew by then that it meant like a wizard. Also, I found out by asking my aunty. It made me want to ask her.

This book is very special to me. The book was daring, funny, scary, exciting and magical. All five of that in one story! This book allows me to read more and more books. Now I really enjoy reading! Thanks, J.K. Rowling, for your wonderful books!

Suzanne Hodges
Fifth grade, Hickam Elementary School

I began reading "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" early one Saturday morning. I couldn't wait to get a start on it! I even brought it to my karate class! I even once got in trouble for spilling salsa on my lap while reading it during dinner. In school, I got in trouble for reading it while a parent volunteer was reading aloud to the class. I really wanted to finish this book.

I would ask her how could she be so creative. Names like Hagrid or Albus Dumbledore, plots like Harry going through the chess and potions obstacles, or the Mirror of Erised, and villains like Voldemort (or you-know-who). My favorites are the candies like Bertie Bott's Every Flavored Beans (potato chip, pepper, etc.) and sugar quills.

How does she give Harry Potter his special charm? When you read Ms. Rowling's books, you feel like Harry Potter is pulling you into the book, like he's almost real. Harry Potter books also are really good for kids who have lost someone, or are troubled, because it's like being in a whole other world when you read her books, where you can just leave all your worries and troubles behind.

Colleen Farrell
Sixth grade, Our Lady of Perpetual Help School

You have all the qualifications of a good children's book author. You have children of your own so you can write at their interpretation level. The words in your book are not big. You do not make your book confusing. You make reading fun.

Out of all the characters, two are my favorites, Hermione and Harry. Harry is brave, smart, nice, quick-thinking and selfless. Hermione is smart, logical and good at solving problems.

There are some interesting things about this book. It is interesting how Harry got treated. I thought that a platform called 9fl was neat. There also are a lot of different charms and spells.

This book made me realize how mean people can be to people who are different from them. No one should be treated so unfairly.

I love your books a lot. Your books are exciting and interesting because they contain magic. I like these books more than other magic books because the main characters are not wizards with pointy hats with stars on them. Nor are they wizards with a robe and gray beard. They are ordinary humans who have magical powers.

These books have the heart of adventure in them. The characters fly on broomsticks and play magical sports. They forget things and they make mistakes.

The story behind this book is amazing and touching. You're a very talented woman and your hard work is appreciated. Thank you.