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First time reading and Super Why
When I was around three years old, I remember sitting next to the big bookshelf of books I couldn't read on my own and pulling out a book. I started to read the words as best as I could, sounding out each letter like I'd learned in PBS Kids show Super Why (which I also started watching at around three years old). -
Thief
I must have been really absorbed in this one book in Pre-K because I apparently stole that book from the library and brought it home. I think I was still reading it when I had to leave. I don't remember the name of the book anymore. -
Reading level N
In kindergarten, I remember being called smart because I could read books on level N at five years old. That was nice, but not as interesting as the books themselves. Some of my favorite books were the Magic Treehouse books. -
Junie B. Jones and Gooney Bird Greene
They were some of the easier books I read, but they really got me with the alliteration. I liked reading about silly little girls who did their own thing, apparently. This was around first grade. -
Ran out of books
At one point, I think around first or second grade, I had reached the end of the classroom library. I'd read most of the interesting books on my reading level, so I was devastated that there wasn't any more to read. -
Midnight and Charms
In first grade (or just early elementary school) I remember writing a story about a girl named Midnight. She used magic and had powers because of a magical charm. She had black hair, but all her friends also referenced anime girls on the internet. -
Encyclopedia Brown
Instead of reading encyclopedias as a kid, I grew up with computers. But at the time, computers were for playing Cool Math Games and books were for information. One of my favorite series in third grade wasn't anything like Warrior Cats or Animorph, but Encyclopedia Brown. If people had encyclopedias, I had a fictional boy around my age who seemed to know everything like an encyclopedia. I didn't have a crush on him. I envied his knowledge and wanted it for myself, probably. -
Asahi and Experiments
I don't know where I referenced it. But in fourth grade I remember writing a story about a girl named Asahi. She had black hair and red eyes, and she also had friends. They all had powers and they were all part of a lab where they were experimented on. They were taken in by someone kind, but I don't know how I got to writing that. -
Reading Level Z's Test
Some time at the end of fourth grade, I remember failing my reading test to advance me to reading level Z. That frustrated me, because I felt I was ready and didn't want to fall behind my classmates Alex and Lazlo in reading level. I had failed because I couldn't define the word cacophony, but I remember having a good definition but not wanting to say it during the questioning because I was unsure. I was told the definition after the test, and I was sad. -
Period: to
Summer Vacation
I remembered the definition of cacophony all summer and then a little bit more, just to get to reading level Z. -
Reading Level Z
I got promoted to reading level Z on the first reading test I took in the year, and it made me cheer. The last reading test was done by my fifth grade teacher, so I think she knows I improved. I felt so accomplished. -
Rick Riordan books, and The Secret Series
I think around fourth and fifth grade, my friends started recommending me Rick Riordan books. They seemed shocked that I hadn't read them. I read them after and liked them very much, but I also discovered the Secret Series. I liked it more than the Rick Riordan books, which is why I begged my parents to buy the Secret Series. I couldn't tell you why I liked those books so much. -
the internet Exists
My sister introduced me to fan writing on the internet, making sure to keep me focused on sad but appropriate writing.