It means giving back, changing lives.
As a child reading wasn’t something I enjoyed but more something I was forced to do at school. I hated reading. That changed during my eighth grade year of school. A fellow student left a copy of Stephen King’s Pet Sematary on my desk. Inside the crisp, new paper I found a small sheet of heart stickers, but no note. I still to this day have no clue who gave me the book, but one thing is certain. They changed my life. Pet Sematary was the first book I ever loved and spurred a reading frenzy. I’d never read anything like it. My mother didn’t like horror then and still doesn’t like it now, but for me it was the missing piece of the puzzle. From that one book I went on to read everything Stephen King had published and when I reached the end I moved onto to other authors, and eventually other genres. I’ve been hooked on books ever since.
What if that’s all it takes? What if the children who dislike reading haven’t found the right book? When I applied to be a giver for World Book Night I thought what if I could do that for another young person.
Change their life with one book.
On Monday April 23, 2012 I will be giving out copies of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Maybe I will be lucky enough to spur a reading frenzy in another young teen.
Where I will be: Jittery Joe’s in Watkinsville, GA
What time: 7:00 p.m.
Amanda Makepeace's Imagination Run Amok 
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Thank you, Dean. I’ve been very busy preparing for this event. I hope to have a chance to visit your blog more–I love what I’ve been reading so far.
great to hear, Amanda – looking forward to that
It’s good for the soul, isn’t it? When I’m finished with books I donate them to my local community library. If they haven’t the need they can dispose of the books or sell them. Mostly, the books are in good condition and end up going right onto the shelves. I try to get the kids to enter the libarary, if only to use the bathroom since it’s next to the park, get them to walk around, to come to understand the adventures tucked within the tomes. Once inside, we’ve got them.
I have to admit I buy more books than I donate, but we have on occasion left some for the library to sell in their yearly book sale. I was lucky with my daughter, she took to reading immediately. The big issue for her is finding a book at the library she hasn’t read and stopping her from buying every book in sight at Barnes & Noble! 😉
Tha’s a very nice thing to do! I hope it goes well for you! I really enjoyed reading when I was a kid, but not so much anymore. I should get back into it someday.
Michael, you should! Reading is food for the brain (and soul). 🙂
Beautiful Amanda, have you noticed all the men who follow your blog?! heh heh … are you blushing? well, then … I have done the righteous work of a blog follower.
I love your story … really … you had your very own reading angel. What is the name of the patron saint of readers? Or is there even one?
I have long thought that Mr. King deserved more credit for turning nonreaders into readers … he rocks! I look forward to hearing about your night. Did I tell you that I had a couple of women at the store carrying boxes of books … they were going to give out/away copies of the Kite Runner. Another good book … I read it when I was teaching english in South Korea.
Good story. Good blog. Great friend! 🙂
I had not really noticed that. LOL 😀