Through the weeds and reeds, past swampy ditches with the small, beady eyes of gators, stood a trailer park beside a murky pond filled with dragonflies and turtles. With salt twisting through the Gulf wind, a young girl’s imagination grew wild in the summer.
With her fingertips grazing the soft paper of a new book, her world opened to unseen adventures. With each page, she struggled to read, but her eyes opened wider. She discovered unknown worlds and lessons that brought understanding beyond the one she lived in.
Growing up, I had many difficulties with reading and writing due to my learning disabilities. All I ever wanted was to read the books my mother bought me and to write my own. My imagination was vast, and not being able to explore it fully because of my limitations was deeply painful.
I remember, very early on in school, wanting to read the way my classmates did. The words did not make sense, and the letters jumbled together in my brain. It was heartbreaking. There were many times I believed I did not deserve to learn. It crushes a child when it feels like no one truly wants to try to teach them.
My mother saw how badly I wanted to read, so she bought me audiobooks of my favorite stories. These helped me more than anything else. I would listen while holding the book, pressing my finger to the page as I followed along. It was not easy, and I still struggled, but it helped teach me how to read. Once I began improving, my world opened far more than I ever imagined.
It makes me sad that so many people do not read anymore. Books are doorways to new adventures and unseen worlds. They also teach lessons that can guide you through life. Growing up, there were two books I loved listening to and reading, and the lessons from them have stayed with me even now.
The first novel was Island of the Blue Dolphins.
Island of the Blue Dolphins is a classic 1960 children’s novel by Scott O’Dell, based on the true story of a Nicoleño Native American girl named Karana, who was left alone on San Nicolas Island off the coast of California for eighteen years during the nineteenth century.
I do not remember exactly when I first read it. It may have been in my elementary school library, but I clearly remember my mother buying the audiobook. I listened to it over and over. When she finally bought me the physical book, I was thrilled.
This novel was my first experience with scary adventure. It is not technically a horror novel, but it can feel spooky once you understand what it is about. Being alone on an island for eighteen years, feeling abandoned, fighting the elements, hiding from cruel colonizers, losing your brother, and learning how to survive alone. That is terrifying in its own way.
I remember feeling uneasy during the scenes where Karana had to sleep, especially on the rock. I never knew what would happen next. It kept me on edge and taught me that I loved suspense and mystery. The excitement of not knowing what came next stayed with me.
This novel also taught me important lessons. One of the biggest was listening to warnings.
Spoiler alert for anyone who has not read the book. Karana’s brother dies because he does not listen to her. As a child, I was furious with him. As an adult, I understand he was young and wanted to feel useful. Still, her warnings mattered. This taught me that while it is important to have your own opinions, you should also consider the warnings and perspectives of others.
It also taught me perseverance. Karana lost her brother, was left alone, and faced unimaginable hardship. She had every reason to give up, yet she kept going. She found small things to live for and to believe in. No matter how lonely or desperate she felt, she continued on.
This showed me that even when you feel alone or have very little, there are still things worth living for. Sometimes they are simple, like watching animals in their natural habitat. One thing I wish I had never looked up was what happened after she left the island. The book ends on a hopeful note, but her real life afterward was deeply sad. That taught me another lesson. The grass is not always greener on the other side. Sometimes what you long for does not turn out the way you imagined.
This novel taught me gratitude. It is okay to want more and to strive for more, but you should never forget what you already have. Even the small things deserve appreciation. I love this book. It is beautifully written, eerie in its own way, uplifting, and it helped shape my love for mysterious and unsettling stories.
Meet Addy by Connie Porter is the first book in the American Girl series about Addy Walker, a young enslaved girl in 1864 North Carolina who escapes to freedom with her mother. They face dangers such as Confederate soldiers and treacherous terrain before reuniting with family in Philadelphia, learning about courage and hope during the Civil War era.
This was one of my favorite books as a child. It is filled with lessons, history, and truth. It shows horror, pain, and hope all at once. My mother bought several American Girl books, but Addy was always my favorite. It tells a part of history that everyone should learn, especially now when some people try to pretend these atrocities never happened. My mother also bought the audiobook, which is wonderfully narrated. Even as an adult, I still listen to it. The narrator brings the characters to life in a powerful way.
As a child, I understood the weight of what the story was saying. The reality of slavery made me uncomfortable, and that mattered.
At the very beginning of the book, Addy is forced to eat bugs as punishment. It is devastating. Some may think this is too much for children, but I disagree. Children need to understand history, even the difficult parts. Being uncomfortable while learning is sometimes necessary so the lesson truly sinks in.
The novel follows Addy and her mother as they escape slavery, facing one hardship after another. Every page left me anxious for their safety. I wanted them to succeed, to find freedom and happiness. The tension during their escape made my skin crawl, and I hoped desperately that they would survive. This book teaches harsh truths about life. It shows cruelty, injustice, and how people can harm each other, even within the same group.
After gaining freedom, Addy learns that judgment does not disappear. I remember being confused and hurt by how cruel others could be, especially when they understood suffering themselves. Addy learns that sharing common ground does not guarantee kindness. She also learns that cruelty often comes from pain. This book teaches empathy, reflection, and restraint. It shows that while kindness is harder than judgment, it is far more important.
The novel teaches children about slavery in a way that is honest yet appropriate. It leaves a lasting impact. I believe every child should read this book to understand history and recognize injustice. Even today, people still face cruelty and judgment. We are all human, and I will never understand judging someone for being different.
Reading this book taught me to pause before judging others. I am not perfect, but it reminded me that everyone carries unseen burdens. Kindness is a choice, and understanding takes effort.
Addy also taught me that freedom does not mean life suddenly becomes easy. Happiness is often found in small moments, such as receiving an ice cream machine or fixing a broken window. Those small victories matter. Both of these novels taught me countless lessons, and I am grateful my mother introduced them to me. I still listen to the audiobooks today.
It saddens me that so many children are not being read to and that many adults no longer read at all. Books are powerful. They teach, they challenge, and they transport us to new worlds. I truly believe every child should read Island of the Blue Dolphins and Addy’s story. They teach compassion, resilience, and understanding, and the world needs more of that than people realize.
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“Souille is a riveting novella that artfully blends elements of horror and science fiction to craft a high-stakes adventure that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. When Natalie’s life is thrown into chaos after a terrible hurricane leaves her hometown in ruins, she’s thrust into a deadly face-off against strange and malicious entities in her desperate struggle for survival.”
Coushatta LaRue 
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