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A future astronaut, a daughter healing from loss win top honors from Library of Congress

Akosua Haynes, 10, wrote a letter to Margot Lee Shetterly, author of "Hidden Figures: The Story of the African-American Women Who Helped Win the Space Race," letting Shetterly know her book solidified Akosua's decision to become a NASA astronaut.

Rylee Paige Johnson, 13, wrote a letter to Gabrielle Zevin, author of "Elsewhere," thanking Zevin for helping her heal after the sudden death of her mother.

The letters - each a thing of beauty - were part of a Library of Congress writing contest that invites fourth- through 12th-graders to write to authors and let them know the impact of their work. Close to 47,000 students from across the United States entered this year's contest, which began a

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