I took a purple crayon and I drew the letter h on every page.
The story sparks laughter now, but I do recall my Mothers upset at my "destruction" of the family copy of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom! 

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom!
Will there be enough room?
Here comes h 
up the coconut tree.

I found comfort and meaning in my books. 
I longed to feel just as much a part of them as they were apart of me.

If there wasn't room for h at the lunch table, I knew I was always welcome in the library.
Librarians became my best friends and almost like drug dealers, provided me with my weekly fix.

I tore though book series
Invested my soul into stories
and at times I swear my child hear truly believed I was part of something in those pages. 

To escape the cruel people in class I simply slipped away to a world where dragons can be slayed.
And yes, I know this all sounds cliche, but It was like traveling to a whole new planet.

A planet on which h could live on every page.
Hannah could save Narnia
And my imagination was not something to be stifled, but to live in.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
I found my place and not a moment too soon.


Part One of Reading Memoir (Hannah and the Purple crayon)

She made us read her book
I do not recall the title 
however, middle school giggles have reinforced her name
Babcock
or BAD COCK as my creatively immature prepubescent classmates called her.

Her book.
It was as the eloquent 7th grade Hannah would say "complete and utter rubbish"
The plot with attempts to be "relatable" wrapped around luck, magic, and football.

The teacher so proud of her work required all of our class to take the book, read it, and LOVE it. 

Any disagreement was written off as uneducated opinion we simpletons did not deserve the luxury of. 
This all due to our lacking status as a published author. 

I should like to address some concerns now that I have earned a pinch more respect as a college student;

Her analogies.
Analogies seemed to be her "thing"
Though they felt pushed in the way of a workbook assignment.

"He had zits on his face like pepperoni on a pizza".
Not only did she cause me discomfort through her bluff as a poet,
she also upset my stomach. 

But as a student I DARE not speak a word of my dislike of her book.
Firstly because my mother taught me that might be rude.
But secondly I knew I'd be shot down the moment my objections left my mouth.

This was after all
HER book that
SHE wrote because
SHE was a PUBLISHED AUTHOR
I'd better pipe down and learn a lesson from her excellency.

I felt as if my voice did not matter so it was better to stay silent.

I now know how much power my voice holds and why my teacher preferred to protect her story by keeping my silent. 

Years later I would find all of this to hold true in matters of required textbooks written by my professors.

At least I didn't shell our a hundred bucks for Babcocks book. 

 



Part Two of Reading Memoir (Hannah doesn't like Babcocks' book)

I finished my favorite book two days after handing in my book report.

If it's assigned I don't have time
If this book serves a purpose in your class, I'll probably miss it completely

I will suddenly lack all motivation to read 
once you place a study guide in front of me.

I will sparknotes until the cows come home if
you ask me to prepare for class discussion tomorrow. 

And if I owe you a book report 
I'm either watching the movie or pulling an all-nighter.

If I pick a book off any shelf and choose 
to read it myself...
thats a whole different story.

I will keep it in my hands will I've consumed every page.
I will skip my plans and read it straight for days.

I will embrace every theme
I will adore every character
I will hold to the story as if life depended upon it

And if it is nonfiction, 
I will study the words with intention 
that compares to an archeologist holding a new carved bone

If the book is not for class
I suddenly have endless
hours to commit

If I'm reading with no agenda
I find magic and truth and gripping story within the pages

The moment the book becomes assigned
it goes onto my check list of tasks I mush master
Right up there with cleaning my room and studying for math

After turning in my BS'd paper on The Five People you meet in Heaven, I picked up the book and read it

This is why I purchase every text for class,
Knowing I will read it
just not yet.






Part Three of Reading Memoir (Hannah finds she currently can't stand assigned readings)

Project for Freshman year English at Ball State University 

Hannah K Yeoman