-
Reading to Rianne
Although my parents didn't read to me, I remember reading to my little sister when she was just a newborn. Although I was still quite young, my mother needed my help looking after her. I remember being annoyed that she wasn't really paying attention to the words, but my mother insisting that it was fine, because she liked to sit next to me and hear my voice. -
Mom read a lot
I remember my mom reading to herself often; she was strict about us kids interrupting her when she was reading, and there was a very specific protocol to follow. 1) Say "excuse me, Mom," 2) Mom would respond by holding up her pointer finger, signaling us to wait, 3) Mom would finish reading up until the next good stopping point while we waited, 4) Mom would look at us and respond, “Yes?”
It took my father the longest to learn, but he got the hang of it eventually. -
Midnight is a Place
I remember reading one novel in particular, Midnight is a Place by Joan Aiken, and just thinking how cool it was to think of time as a place. Additionally, it was set during the Industrial Revolution; the protagonist was a young boy trying to find a way to keep his younger sister from having to work long hours in a factory, like he has to. It may have been the first time I fell for Historical Fiction. -
A Book of Whales
In elementary school, I wrote and illustrated my own book about whales. I spent a long time researching about how whales are endangered and why. I also spent a lot of time on the full page illustrations, which I drew several drafts of before writing the text on the page. I still have that book, which I bound with twine through several hole-punches down the sides of each page. -
Roald Dahl
In fifth grade, everyone (including me) loved our teacher, Mrs. Brabeck. While she had many other incredible qualities, one thing she did every day was to read out loud to us from a Roald Dahl novel. -
Fear Street
That same year, my best friend Christina introduced me to R.L. Stine – but because we thought ourselves too sophisticated for Goosebumps, we jumped right into the Fear Street series; also thriller, but for teenagers. -
Are you there God?
In addition to reading the Fear Street series, my friend Christina and I read, Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume. We laughed so hard at some of the scenes, and would re-enact them at each other's houses. It helped us feel that our weird adolescent bodies and questions weren't so strange after all. -
Pride & Prejudice
In sixth grade, my teacher, Mrs. Cross, recommended that I try reading Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen. She said it might be a little challenging, but that she thought it was something I might like. Because of her belief in my reading abilities, I read the entire novel. And though I didn't understand all of the satire, I certainly understood the love story. It's been my favorite book ever since - I've read it more times than I can count. -
Undercover Reading
By the time I reached high school I was a voracious reader. I took two different AP Literature Classes and loved every novel assigned.
One time my mom grounded me because she said I was reading too much and it was effecting other areas of my life. I continued to sneak read under my bed covers after my mom went to bed. -
Teaching Reading
As a sixth grade Reading and Language Arts teacher, I get to teach four novels: The Giver, The Cay, Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry, and The Outsiders. All excellent novels, and each of my students always ends up loving at least one of them every year. -
Book Clubs
Not only do I run the Middle School Book Club at my school, but I participate in two adult book clubs on island that meet monthly, and I try to always read at least one more book a month than my three book club books. One friend of mine calls me a Professional Book Clubber - I think its a compliment? -
Summer Reading!
I don't love summer because I get a two month vacation - I love summer because I get to read as much as I want! Currently, it's 11.22.63 by Stephen King, whom I don't usually read, but I really want to watch the mini-series, and well, I just can't watch something that is in print form without reading it first. I'm also listening to an audio book for the first time while driving down the East Coast visiting friends and family. Listening just isn't the same as reading, but it is growing on me.
