Johnny Tremain - Esther Forbes

Day 29: A book you liked but everyone else hated

 

This was tough - it's only in the last year or so that reading has become a social thing for me. Reading has always been a very solitary activity for me. Most of my friends aren't avid readers, and if they are, they don't necessarily read the same books or genres I do. 

 

So I had to go waaaaaay back to 7th grade for this. At this point, all I remember is that my class mates grumbled about having to read a book, and I was thrilled. Possibly because I could read it in class and not worry about the teacher confiscating it. (My entire school career up to that point had been a quest to read in class and not get in trouble for it.)

 

My most vivid memory of this book was being called a liar by my teacher over it.

 

It was short, and I finished it in a day. The next day, I quietly pulled out whatever else I was reading (maybe a Xanth book?) and read that during class. Mrs. M. busted me for not reading the assigned book, and told me there was no way I could have finished it. 

 

She took me out in the hall, and quizzed me about random events. Including things that weren't in the book, to try to trip me up. My answers convinced her I had, in fact, read the book, not just the ending.

 

That was the first "group read" of any kind I've ever done, and it kind of soured me on the experience. I can't say I blame Mrs. M. though. I'm sure many students prior to me had tried to convince her they had read the book when they hadn't. 

 

She was a great teacher - the kind I didn't like then but can appreciate now.  And holy crap, she devoted her entire career to teaching English and reading to middle schoolers. Year after year after year! It takes a special person to put up with smart-mouthed 11, 12 and 13 yos for an entire career.

 

Thanks, Mrs. M. I learned a lot from you. No snark, no sarcasm, no sass. Just pure, sincere appreciation.