In March of this year, Pearl River Central’s upper elementary school took their reading fair winners to regionals in Hattiesburg.
Andrew Lee, a fifth grader at PRC, brought home first place at regionals and advanced to the state reading fair in Jackson which took place on April 21.
Lee’s project was centered around a nonfiction book titled “The Boy’s of War”, which gives accurate accounts of young boys lying about their age in order to enlist in the Civil War. The subject is one Lee has been passionate about almost all his life.
“This boy has been obsessed with the Civil War since he was 5-years-old,” said Lee’s mother Jennifer.
At the state competition, Lee had to make a display board detailing the book, as well as list facts about the book such as the author’s purpose and the book’s genre, Jennifer said.
There were a total of four students present at state, representing the four regions of Mississippi. By winning first place at regionals, Lee was representing himself, his school, and his region at the state competition. Lee was the first student to ever represent PRC at the state reading fair, Jennifer said.
There were three different judges present at the state competition. While the judging was going on, any teachers and parents present were asked to wait in a different room. The judges walked around individually to each student’s project, and asked him or her questions regarding the book they chose, Jennifer said.
“The judges were very impressed that he was so knowledgeable on his subject,” Jennifer said.
Lee won first place in the nonfiction category for the state of Mississippi.