Sit Still! No Talking!

It was 1980. My family moved to the country. I thought I was going to love it, but I didn’t. In fact, it was an incredibly hard transition for me. I was in 6^th grade, and for the first time in my life, I began to get in trouble on the school bus. Before long, I was assigned a seat and ordered not to speak to anyone.

For months, I rode the bus in silence, avoiding those around me by reading novels from the school and public library. Somehow, during those long bus rides, those stories became my companions. Often, I would continue reading during lunch, study hall and even at home. Before long, I forgot about my punishment and looked forward to my bus rides because it afforded me the opportunity to read.

I want to write a middle grade novel. Hopefully, the stories I include will help some young person out there develop a life long love of reading.