Books have been a constant companion to me since my childhood. When I look back at old photos or home videos, there's always a moment where my mom is reading to me and my siblings or I'm pretending to read a book on my own, my finger gliding across the words even though I didn't have a clue what any of them meant yet. There are also moments of us watching Reading Rainbow or going to the public library, tote bags in tow, to find new books or watch a local theatre group bring a book to life for an enraptured audience of kids. I was a quiet kid growing up, and I preferred to be on my own, so for me, reading was more than just an escape from life's anxieties; it was also a chance for me to experience new worlds and different perspectives. This knowledge then allowed me to examine myself and who I am as a person. As I've gotten older, I know that reading affords many different opportunities, but I think the inner and outer learning experiences are the most important. With the world being the way it is right now, it's more important than ever for people to be empathetic, compassionate, and community oriented. And I think reading is a strong foundation for creating that kind of person. Reading does more than teach us about different groups of people; it also challenges us to investigate our own inherent biases. Reading helps us to gain critical thinking skills so that when we walk around in the real world, we're able to determine what the truth is over attempts at manipulation. Reading encourages us to explore how we want to identify, where we fit in in this world, and how to engage with those around us. Learning to read is a necessary milestone as a child, but I think it's a crucial activity to maintain, not just for the individual, but also in how we come together as a community. You are never too old to learn something new. That's an important mindset to have and one that actively reading whenever you can will never let you forget.
Queer Lit
Fiction
Nonfiction
Historical Fiction
Graphic Novels
Mystery
Horror
Poetry
