Sarah Gaskins Literacy Narrative English 1103-016 I remember the first time I fell in love with a book.

It was a freshman high school honors English class. Before that day, I had never been too enthused about going to this English class. Mrs. Cannon, my English teacher, was different. It wasnt necessarily her personal views that bothered me so much, but the fact she wore them on her face daily and with every step she took around the classroom, we could all feel them lurking behind her, like 3 different shadows decorated with the same sour, condescending expression. I named her first shadow Step-Mother Fem. Judgmental, critical, snooty, and condescending. One already knew the woman was a hard-core feminist from her attitude, especially if you were a girl. The funny thing was, youd think shed favor girls because of her views, but she was the type that talked to female students like we had failed the world as women. I dreaded having a one on one conversation with her, even if it was before class while everyone was coming in, because as I talked to her I could feel Step-Mother Fem looking me up and down with disapproval. I could imagine her commenting on my clothes and how I was trying too hard to impress boys with all the make up on my face. Or maybe how I was too concerned about my appearance and needed to focus on an education, otherwise Id be oppressed by society forever. Then there was Lady Naturalist. I dont mean naturalist like she never cut her hair, or shaved, or wore make up herself. She was almost like a new age hippie, with short dark greasy curls, odd earthy colored dresses, and either sandals or crazy-knee high boots (there was literally no in between). Her plump, stout figure would saunter around the

Sarah Gaskins Literacy Narrative English 1103-016 classroom eating vegan style tofu yogurt and nut blend. Anytime a student would come in with a Chick-Fil-A cup or leftover chicken minis, shed cringe and say theres no eating in her classroom. But then there was a third shadow that I never got around to naming mostly because I actually grew fond of it. It was the shadow that had an out of control and emotional passion for literature. At first this shadow annoyed me because I didnt understand the outburst of tears from a character dying, or the sudden rage toward another character. Everyone thought she was crazy for caring so much, and I did too, until the day that I was introduced to The Kite Runner. I knew something was different about The Kite Runner from the moment she passed it out. As I surveyed the novel and admired the artists cover artwork, I heard several gasps from around the room. Some of my classmates looked offended by it and I didnt understand until I picked up the half sheet of paper that had floated to the floor and read it. A permission slip? Thats right, I needed to get permission from my parents to read the book. I almost laughed at the absurdity of a book that my parents wouldnt approve of, what was I six? Then my friend leaned over and said she thought this book had been banned from school because a little boy gets gang raped in it. All of a sudden the classroom roared with conversation. Im not reading this book, it sounds disgusting. A little boy getting gang raped? What sick person would write a book about that? Its based in Afghanistan, no wonder its so disturbing.

Sarah Gaskins Literacy Narrative English 1103-016 After Mrs. Cannon yelled at everyone, she began her spiel on the book. Yes, the book is set in Afghanistan. Yes, a little boy is gang raped. And yes the book has been banned from several schools because of its content so I needed my parents to sign a permission slip to allow me to read it. But, she said with a passionate voice, Its such a good book! Then the class burst into an uproar once again. A good book? Is this lady crazy? Did you hear what she just said? I knew this teacher was insane. She would enjoy something sick and twisted like that. This is ridiculous, I cant wait to tell my parents that this woman is encouraging us to read a book about rape. She quieted the class again and continued. She explained that despite the terrible events that take place in the book, its a fantastic story and could teach everyone a valuable lesson about love. She also said that it went along with our new unit our culture and how for the next several weeks we would be discussing the Afghani culture and read current events. More eye rolls. She had read it five times and the first time she read it, she had been sitting in a coffee shop and made a scene because it made her burst into tears and she couldnt stop crying. Big surprise. As I left the class that day, I had every intention of going home and SparkNoting my way through this new unit.

Sarah Gaskins Literacy Narrative English 1103-016 I didnt read the first night, or the second. I didnt even SparkNote for the first quiz, but asked a classmate what had happened. There was no way I was going to read this book. Our first discussion on chapters 1-3 made me sick to my stomach. I could cut the tension in the classroom with a butter knife. Those who had read the chapters had some strong words about it, while the rest of us just sat uncomfortably silent. I didnt do so well on the first quiz. Mrs. Cannon knew most of the class wasnt keeping up with the reading and it reflected in our quiz grades. She gave a warning: Sparknotes alone wasnt going to help us understand the book. We had to read it to know the characters and understand the events that happen. I decided that night my hatred for this book wasnt stronger than my fear of failing her class. So I picked it up and began to read. It wasnt like I thought itd be at all. The first couple pages simply described a young boy about the age of 11 and his family. It wasnt boring, but engaging. Something about the authors writing style brought these characters to life in a way I had never experienced before. Along with the fantastic character development, the book was riveting with Afghani culture like Mrs. Cannon had said. The negative assumptions about the culture were all wrong. It described the Afghani family bonds in a poignant and loving way. It also described the racist views in the country through the eyes of this 11-year-old boy. It was so relevant and I sympathized with some of the characters a lot. Suddenly I became Mrs. Cannons third shadow. I burst into tears throughout more than half of the book. At times it hurt that I couldnt

Sarah Gaskins Literacy Narrative English 1103-016 jump in the story and hug the young boy as he grew up and the war tore his family apart. I became so enraged with the Afghani government and the horrible cruelty of their people. I became physically sick to my stomach reading about the war, the torture, the hardships, the suffering these people had to go through. And I finally understood why I, and my entire English class needed to read this book. Yes, it described terrible events. Yes, parts of the book were twisted, depressing, heart wrenching and I could go on. But it was realistic. The novel wasnt based on a true story, but it was based on real events. These things actually happened and even though the characters were fictional the occurrences were not. This book simply gave me a name and face to care about. Its so much easier for someone to hear of a tragedy and feel sympathy in the moment, but then walk away and forget about it when they didnt have any personal connection with it. But when they know someone directly involved. When they know their heart, their family, their culture, their language, their story so intimately it has a much greater impact. Thats where the emotional, sobbing tears come from. Some may think its a little pathetic to cry over a fictional novel. The second night of reading The Kite Runner, I was an emotional wreck. My soon-to-be brother law walked in and questioned why I was crying. When I told him he laughed in my face. Its just a book Sarah, calm down. Thats when the rage really started. It wasnt just a book to me! I was hooked. I was attached. These were real events. The novel genre was historical fiction! This really

Sarah Gaskins Literacy Narrative English 1103-016 happened whether it was to the characters in the book or another nameless, faceless victim in the world, this stuff was real. And it tore me apart. He just didnt understand. We started arguing and my mom came in and broke it up. She scolded him for giving me such a hard time about it while I left the room. I was suddenly lit on fire with all this passion that I didnt know what to do with. I wanted to text all my friends and ask them if they ended up loving the book as much as I did and couldnt put it down. I finished the book the second night I had picked it up and I wanted more. I couldnt wait for English class the next day. My reaction was quite unique compared to my classmates. They all hated the book. They wouldnt stop talking about how depressing it was and how they didnt understand why they couldnt read something happier. I tried to explain to them the same way I had tried to explain to my brother-in-law, but it was no use. I got the same words back. Sarah, its just a book calm down. Youre starting to sound like crazy Cannon. That made me smile. I sounded like the crazy passionate Mrs. Cannon that I had judged harshly like everyone else? Good. At least I got it. At least I understood why the book was so important and why we should care about the unit on culture. At least I gained a new perspective from the experience and allowed it to change my heart. At least Im recognizing the names and the faces and not just walking away from it to step inside my own little bubble in my own little world. It was almost a

Sarah Gaskins Literacy Narrative English 1103-016 tragedy in itself that I was the only one who could find a way to appreciate the lesson. I just didnt understand why no one else saw what I saw. Did they read the same book that I did? Do they have a sensitive bone in their body? After class that morning I stayed back to discuss the book with Mrs. Cannon. As we stood there face to face, looking in each others eyes, for the first time the two shadows I had grown to hate disappeared like a fog into the early morning sunlight and the 3rd shadow entered into Mrs. Cannons body making them one. I finally understood her crazy passion for literature. We had both fallen deeply in love with the same novel and I felt a connection with her. I stood there and thanked her for making us read The Kite Runner and I told her about my new perspective of culture. She was happy to hear that someone understood the lesson and that there was much more to learn from many other books. She showed me other books like To Kill a Mockingbird, Huck Finn, The Scarlet Letter, Persepolis, and many more. I was so excited to start reading more books and gaining new perspectives! I was so thankful for literature and what it could teach me. I thanked her once again and grabbed To Kill A Mockingbird as I walked out the door. As I flipped to the first page and began reading while I walked down the hall, I felt it again. That beautiful, fiery passion that comes literature and I never wanted the flame to go out ever again.