6 Books That Shaped Me

I'm a self proclaimed book worm. Reading is my favorite past time. When I was a little girl, I remember going to the library and filling up a basket with beginning chapter books, staying up late with a flashlight and reading as much as I could before they were due to be returned. In high school, the only time I got in trouble was for reading during geometry lessons (I know... i'm totally lame). As  a teacher, I collect books September - May to read over the Summer months. During the school year, I have less time to pick up physical books... so I listen to audible every time i'm in the car. I have a long commute and a book is my favorite way to start the day.

Some people love to run, sing, play sports, dance, craft, cook... I just love to read. I have read countless books but a few have touched my heart and genuinely shaped who I am as a person. Obviously these are books I would recommend over and over again, but more than that, these are books that have helped make me who I am as a reader... and as a human being.

Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone
By: JK Rowling

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I am not a person who reads books more than once, except for this one. Every time I read this story I see even more clearly the lessons it teaches us as human beings. It teaches us that friendship can heal a broken heart, that family means something different to everyone, that bravery doesn't have to be showy or boastful,  and that our choices mean far more than our abilities. I read this book as a child and it ignited my love for reading. I can look back and say that this book is the reason I fell in love with fantasy writing. I can tell you it's the reason I got hooked on series because they give you an opportunity to get to know characters so well. For awhile, I refused to read any stand alone books, because I was always so disappointed I wouldn't get to know what was next for my favorite characters. As an adult, I read this book to each of my classes of 2nd graders. There is nothing I love more than watching and listening as they experience this story for the first time. This past week I had two sixth grade boys come back to my classroom to visit, and to tell me that they had just finished the last book in the Harry Potter series. There is nothing quite like knowing you helped inspire someone in the next generation to read thousands of pages of quality literature... when those someones are sixth grade boys. This entire series transcends age and culture and can be enjoyed by anyone. If you haven't experienced the story, the books are all free on kindle unlimited and also available on audible... read by my favorite narrator of all time, Jim Dale. 

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Hello
By: Liza Wiemer
A few years ago, I was fortunate enough to meet Liza, the author of this book at a small shop on Washington Island. I was visiting family and wandered into the bookshop to see that a local author was visiting. I absolutely love meeting authors and hearing about the inspiration for their writing firsthand. Liza made an impression on me with her kindness and passion for writing and touching the lives of her readers. I tore through her book, Hello, before we left the island a few days later. When I finished the book I felt like I needed to share it with everyone I knew, especially those who have been affected in any way by anxiety or depression. This is a topic that is near and dear to my heart and Liza approached it in the most humanizing, realistic, beautiful way. This story is about loss, but more than that it is about genuine connections and how true love can change your life. It is about healing and how even the smallest interaction can have an immeasurable impact on someone who is struggling in ways you may not understand. I frequently recommend this book to friends and colleagues and keep it front and center on my bookshelf.

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Searching for David's Heart
By: Cherie Bennett
This is the first book that ever made me cry. I selected this title out of a Scholastic Book Order right before Christmas Break my 6th Grade year, and started reading it right away. I couldn't put it down and when I finally turned the last page, I couldn't stop crying. It is still one of the most emotionally impactful books I have ever read. This is the story of a boy who dies in an accident and his sister's search for the recipient of his heart. This book is about guilt, forgiveness, the indescribable connection between siblings and the process of healing after a heartbreaking tragedy.  I would recommend this book for any reader from preteen to adult. It is a great book to read as a family or just when you need a good cry. This was the first book that made me realize how much a person can connect their own life and feelings to a fictional text. Because of this story, my bookshelf is full of books about love and loss and everything that fills the space between.

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Into The Wild
By: Jon Krakauer
Whenever I recommend this book to people, I get odd looks. I don't blame them. This book isn't one I would match up with myself. A book about a privileged, well educated young man disappearing into the Alaskan wilderness wouldn't normally appeal to me. This story was recommended to me by Steve, a hipster librarian at the tiny, public library in the small town where I grew up. I spent a lot of time in the library. He recommended books, movies, magazines and even saved me CDs that the library didn't have a place for. They were all indie artists and if i'm being honest... completely shaped my taste in music. I wonder if he has any idea that my Spotify is filled with songs from that box of rejected library CDs. One of Steve's best book suggestions was Into the Wild, by Jon Krakauer which he had waiting behind the desk for me after school one day. He said to give it chance. It was about more than just a trip to the Alaskan wilderness. He was right. This book taught me such an important lesson. It doesn't matter what you have, if you have everything and anything you could ever want... but you don't have intrinsic joy, these things will never bring you happiness. This true story is heartbreaking, but it's also beautiful and will change the way you see the world if you give it the chance to.


Chasing Redbird and Heartbeat
By: Sharon Creech

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Sharon Creech's books are unexplainably special. My elementary school Library Aid, who I have actually reached out to reconnected with as I wrote this post, introduced me to Creech's books. Together we wrote Sharon a letter... I could hardly believe it when she wrote back. This changed the way I looked at authors, as I started to see them as real people instead of far away celebrities. I have read every single one of Sharon Creech's books. Chasing Redbird follows a 13 year old girl who has lost a close family member. Soon after, she discovers a lost trail on her family's property, and makes it her new summer project to uncover it in it's entirety. This trail becomes almost like a secret garden for her, a place all to herself. As she explores the trail she finds answers to her questions about life. This book teaches that no one is perfect, that healing takes time and that happiness is waiting around every corner.  Heartbeat is a truly joyful story. The main character in this book is given an assignment to draw an apple one hundred times. While she works her way through the one hundred drawings, her life is changing along with her sketches. This book is built around the idea that life has a rhythm... like a heartbeat or your feet on the pavement during a run. I actually read this book aloud and recorded it on cassette tapes in eighth grade as a gift for the Library Aide who introduced me to Sharon's writing as a child. Reading this story aloud only made it's beauty more evident. I have a special shelf filled with all of Creech's books on my shelf and love to pull them out from time to and remember why I love reading so much.

Looking back at this post... i'm realizing that most if not all of the books that have shaped me have some sort of loss woven into their pages. I think this is because the real emotions in these books can be connected to by anyone. They fostered empathy and my ambition to make the world a little bit happier, wherever I could find the opportunity.