Photo: Sydney DeGeest and Iowa Poet Laureate Mary Swander
Dear J.K. Rowling,
I struggled to learn how to read. My parents had to force me to read little kid stories to them, having to remind me constantly the T-H-E spells the. Once I had finally mastered the basics, and could read independently, I found books boring and uninteresting. I read only when I had to and reading was a chore. I could never find any books I enjoyed and I stopped caring about school. During school conferences, my parents were told that I was below average and I needed to work harder.
My mother introduced me to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, when I was in third grade. When my mom gave me the Harry Potter book, I did not think much of it because my mom had tried to get me into hundreds of books before. But as soon I stated reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, I knew this book was different. I fell in love with Hermione Granger, the bossy know it all. I idolized her in every respect. She was so smart and brave, I wanted to be just like her. I read all the books that were published after that.
I started trying harder to be like Hermione. I worked hard in school, and raised my hand a lot, just like Hermione. In fifth grade, I was one of the smartest kids in my class. After I finished the Harry potter series, I became interested in the world inside books. I read book after book. Suddenly, the teachers were raving about my work in school, and telling me to please not read in class! I dressed up like Hermione, pretended to go to Hogwarts and used an old chopstick for my magic wand.
Hermione inspired me to do well in school. Sometimes being smart and doing your homework can make you feel like a "goodie goodie". Some people don't believe that being smart is cool. Hermione taught me that learning is important because it will help you later in life. If it wasn't for you, J.K. Rowling and your character, Hermione, I might still be an unenthusiastic reader, and have bad grades in school. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was the first book I actually enjoyed, and it opened up my love for books.
Thank you,
Sydney DeGeest