Some of my early memories include characters in books. I remember them the way I remember childhood friends. Some were fleeting and I only knew them through a story I read once. Others were there for a longer period of time, perhaps a series that I read over the course of several years. Some were those special old friends who I revisited many times over the years as I jumped back into a favorite book. Some were friends I couldn’t wait to introduce my children to and hope they formed as special of a friendship.
Through books, I’ve cared for baby Wilbur along with Fern. I solved crimes with Nancy Drew. I learned magic with Harry Potter. I fought the evil squirrels with Miss Suzy. I was there when the wild rumpus started. I’ve cried with fictional characters. I’ve visited castles, islands, foreign lands, the places where fairytales exist with amazing friends as guides. While that life has existed inside of the pages of books, those friends I’ve met there, have changed me, made me a better person.
The one thing I never expected was for books to bring so many human friends into my life. I’ve shared so many favorite books with so many friends who were just as excited to dive into the story as I was. I’ve had brief conversations with people at library book sales when we’ve pointed out books we recommended to each other. I’ve had deep conversations about book series with friends that have lasted through all the books. I’ve received pictures texted to me of a book page with the message “you need to read this.” I’ve found books left on my front steps by dear friends who were excited to share them with me. I’ve learned through all those interactions that reading isn’t necessarily a solo event. Reading is social in its own way.
I never expected when I started writing about children’s books back on HamletHub’s Books Ink 12 years ago, that I would meet so many incredible people both in the pages of so many amazing books and in the community around me. My introduction to my dear friend, Sally, was literally “she loves books as much as you do, you will be great friends.” Sally introduced to my incredible friend, Kerry Anne, who has been one of the biggest cheerleaders of me writing this column.
While the characters in books become friends, stay with us, help us grow, challenge us, change us, and are always there for us, I’m so incredibly grateful for the real-life friends I’ve made because of books. Books are so much more than simply words on pages. If you are as lucky as I am, books will introduce you to some of the greatest people, both on paper and in real life.