Introducing my sister, former book-hater

Today, I’m excited to introduce my sister Sydney. We’re 18 months apart (I’m older) and very close. However, I have always been the “reader” of the family because Sydney swore off reading at a pretty young age. (I still wince when I think of the things she has said about books.)

And then this past summer, I somehow convinced her to read Divergent and she devoured all three books in two days! (She’s a speed reader – definitely faster than I am!)

Her summer assignment for her AP Lang class was to write a letter to someone who influenced her relationship with reading. She was to describe her personal relationship with reading – whatever it may be. (Had her relationship with reading changed? What had contributed to these feelings, either positive or negative?) Of course, it had to tell a story.

Sydney wrote her letter to me, and I wanted to share it simply because I think it’s hilarious and also because it is entirely possible to change the mind of the most stubborn non-reader. Enjoy! (I’ve bolded a few of the lines I find especially funny.)

Dear Brooke,

I can’t believe that you are already in college. It seems like just yesterday you were starting high school. *I miss you so much; I miss your annoying laugh when we watch Psych together and I know I always get mad at you, but I miss all of your unneeded commentary when we watch TV or movies.

So you may not know, but I have recently gotten back into reading. My favorite books right now are cheesy romance novels, but I am gravitating towards more appropriate books for my age level. Since I have been missing you, and haven’t heard you nagging me to read, I started to read the books on our kindles. So far this year I have read 25 books. I finally read The Hunger Games, The Raven Boys (your favorite book), The Fault in our Stars, and Matched! I am what you would call a reading machine. I don’t know why my mind has been corrupted to think that I do not enjoy reading. When I was a little girl, I loved reading books. I remember at night, you, Dad, and I would lie on the futon and dad would read to us. We would snuggle up next to dad before bedtime and he would read the books to us. We read the whole Narnia series together! Once we got older, we didn’t give up reading time, we just started reading our own books. You guys would always get mad at me because I whisper the book out loud because it was easier for me to understand it. Thankfully I have outgrown that habit.

When I was about ten or eleven I started believing that reading was “uncool” or “nerdy,” so I stopped cold turkey. I would tell people that you read and wrote enough for the both of us! I guess the thought kind of stuck in my brain and now I have to conquer it by reading nonstop! I may begin to enjoy reading again, but I don’t think I will ever outgrow my hatred of libraries. **I don’t know what it is about that place but it gives me the creeps. It has a specific smell that I cannot take. Well the whole concept of the library freaks me out. The thought of touching and reading out of the same book that a million other people have checked out sounds like a germ fest. Who knows what people do with those books! Reading from my kindle is less germy, so that is what I have been reading lately.

Anyways, I wanted to write to you to thank you for always being there for me. I also wanted to say thank you for pushing me to read and to improve my writing. You and Dad are always encouraging me to read more. You actually turned me onto my favorite series. Do you remember the Gallagher Girls books? There are 6 in the series and I have read them at least three times each. Well, enough of my babbling, how is college? It is weird how grown up you are. ***Just don’t forget little old me when you become a best selling author and live in New York in a gorgeous penthouse!

Love,

Sydney H

*I’m actually living from home. So I still see her every day.

**I am a huge fan of libraries. (We are NOT an anti-library family. Only Syd feels this way.)

***Aww! Thanks for the vote of confidence, sis. <3

P.S. I did NOT post this to convince you what a TERRIFIC sister I am. (That was just an added bonus.)

14 thoughts on “Introducing my sister, former book-hater

  1. Taylor Lynn

    YAY, we welcome a new bookworm to the fold!! It always makes me sad when people “swear off” reading or brag that, “I haven’t read anything outside of school in years!”. It’s like, NO NO NO, don’t you understand the tragedy in what you’re saying?! BOOKS ARE AWESOME DON’T ABANDON THEM!! I’m so glad your sister decided to jump back into reading! Also, it sounds like you guys have a good relationship, which is always awesome. 🙂 Big hugs to you both!

    Reply
    1. brooke Post author

      Awww, thanks! Yes, I feel the same, and I’ve been trying to explain it to her for years! SHE IS EATING HER WORDS. I am careful not to shove too much down her face at once, but we are definitely making progress. Also, my parents are super happy about it because Syd is approaching SAT season and we were all worried about her vocabulary. Ha, ha. 🙂

      Reply
      1. Taylor Lynn

        Ooh, yes, books are amazing for building vocabulary! My sisters tease me because I use such “big” words all the time, but I can’t help it; I read and write so much that it’s just how I talk now, haha!

        Reply
        1. brooke Post author

          Same! Although I admit occasionally I use words incorrectly, even though I’m so sure I know exactly what it means. And then people look at me funny and I just laugh.

          Reply
          1. Taylor Lynn

            Or I’ll know the correct meaning of a word, but when I try to use it in conversation I’ll mispronounce it because I’ve only ever read it in books…hey, it happens to the best of us! 😉

            Reply
  2. Tara (T. T. Kesley)

    Aw, that’s an awesome letter! Sydney kind of reminds me of my little sister. My sister’s only eight so she’s got plenty of time to read but right now she hates it and as a bookworm, I find it very hard to believe.

    Reply
    1. brooke Post author

      I think all of us bookworms have people in our lives (sometimes siblings!) who just really hate to read. And it’s so frustrating, because we have such a deep appreciation for it that we really want to share with others! Your sister definitely has time…but she is relying on you to show her the way! Operation Convert Sister has begun. Mwa-ha-ha. 😉

      Reply
  3. Sundae McMillan

    This brought tears of joy to my eyes. Love you both and I am so proud of you both. Carter as you know loves to read while Connor until recently had turned away from reading. He is now loving it again. Hugs and much love to you young ladies. 😉

    Reply
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