2003 Read for Speed Winners

Grand Prize

Josh Posten, age 15 - Sugar Land, TX

Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte
"Jane Eyre is the story of an orphan girl who lived with her cousins and aunt at Gateshead Hall. They treated her cruelly for no reason at all. Her aunt sent her to Lowood School where again she was treated harshly. After she had gotten older and taught at Lowood, she was hired by Mr. Rochester to be a governess to a young girl at Thornsfield Hall. Jane fell in love with this man and almost married him when she found out he was already married to an insane woman named Bertha Mason. Jane leaves Thornsfield and ends up at Marsh End. She spends time with the people that live there and finds out they are her cousins. One of her cousins, John Rivers, proposes to Jane. Jane hears Mr. Rochesters voice calling to her so she returned to Thornsfield only to discover that his insane wife burned the mansion to the ground and committed suicide. Jane goes to Mr. Rochester at his other mansion, Ferndean, and marries him."

Runners-Up

Megan Lundgren, age 14 - Mankato, MN

Holes, by Louis Sachar
"This book is about Stanley Yelnats who gets sent to a all boys camp where it is said they are to build character, but actually they spend all day every day digging holes five feet deep five feet wide. The name of the camp is Camp Green Lake, but there is no lake at this camp just a big hot desert. Stanley soon realizes that they are doing more than just digging hole. They are actually helping the warden to find something by digging these holes. Stanley soon finds out what the warden was looking for when they uncover a suitcase of jewels and a stack of papers that are part of Stanley's family. Stanley ends up getting award money and doesn't have to dig holes anymore. This book is really good and once you start reading you can't put it down."

Bryant Davis, age 11 - San Diego, CA - United San Diego Athletes Youth Track Club

More Stories Huey Tells, by Ann Cameron
"This book is a collection of stories about Huey and his adventures. In one story Huey tries to get his dad to stop smoking. His dad eventually stops and they flush all his cigarettes down the toilet. In another story Huey tries to grow some sunflowers. When they start to die his mom tells him about planting the small seeds inside the flower. He tries that for years to come."