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Disney Classics
For my birthday, among the blocks and toys, I received several large books based on classic Disney movies. I tugged at the pages, more interested in the big, bright pictures than the words on the page. -
Guess How Much I Love You/ Goodnight Moon
These were the first books I distinctly remember my grandmother would read to me to help me fall asleep. I knew them by heart, and would try to impress her by reciting the pages. -
Library Trips
In the summer, my great grandmother would take me to the library to listen to special readings or to simply browse the children's section. I loved the library, and would spend as much time as I could there. -
Magic Tree House collection
In my early years of elementary school, I moved away from the short picture books and into my first chapter books. I loved Magic Tree House and the adventures the characters would embark on. -
Early Writing
The more I enjoyed reading, the more I wanted to write. There was a writing contest in my elementary school, which I wrote a story about an imaginary friend and macaroni and cheese. The story won a prize, and my family displayed the award proudly. -
Charlotte's Web
In third grade, I was required to write a book report on a book of the teacher's choosing. I was given Charlotte's Web, and I instantly became obsessed. I re-read the book several times, wrote journal entires as if I was characters in the book, and completed the assignment easily. -
Series of Unfortunate Events
In fifth grade, my life at home began drastically changing, with moving from parent to parent to grandparent, across the road and across the state border. I clung to this series as an escape, and also out of pure enjoyment. I requested only the next book as a gift for whatever occasion. -
Middle School
During middle school, I moved to a low-income neighborhood and an over-populated school. My friends at the time did not like reading, and reading/doing well in school wasn't "cool". I read less, didn't brag about my good grades, and instead spent time socializing and doing other things. -
Pre-AP Classes
In tenth grade, I was enrolled in a Pre-AP class, where the reading consisted of Animal Farm and 1984. I fell back in love with reading, and started to analyze what exactly I was reading and how culture, world events, and experiences affected the story. -
Sun Also Rises
In my AP Language class, I was required to read this novel by Hemingway. It became and stayed my favorite book for several years. -
Medieval Literature Class
In college, I took a class about Medieval Literature. I was nervous because the texts seemed intimidating, but it turned out to be one of my favorite time periods in literature. Some of my favorite medieval literature include the Arthurian Romances and Tristan and Isolde.
