1. BOOKS THAT MADE A DIFFERENCE TO… Amanda Blaha

2. Can reading really make a difference? I have never really been big into reading. But, once I find a book that sparks my interest, it’s really hard for me to put it down. The author who changed my opinion the most on reading would have to be Nicholas Sparks. My favorite things to read are love stories, and books that keep me laughing, and he manages to capture both of my interests every time. He is also the only author who has had me laughing one second and then crying like a baby the next. When I read, it seems to take my mind off of everything else. When I’m having a bad day, I always like to sit down and open a good book and not think about anything else. Reading has made a big difference to me, and it has changed my opinion on how I look at certain things. Nicholas Sparks

3. Title: Kite Runner Author: Khaled Hosseini Genre: Realistic Fiction Kite Runner is a story about a boy named Amir who feels he has to make up for his mother’s death to his father, by winning a kite tournament. He deals with really hard life choices, such as watching his best friend get raped, or doing something about it. He also loses close family, and he has a chance to redeem himself. He carries the feeling of guilt with him throughout the whole story. Multiple options come about for him to open up and confess everything, but the question is when he will. Kite Runner was an exceptional story, that I read in my English class in 10 th grade. I really enjoyed this book, and it was really hard for me to put it down once I started it. You can almost feel what he is going through in the book, and the choices he is trying to make. It makes you feel really bad for the life he has to live, but on the other hand it is really aggravating because you know what decision you want him to make, but he always seems to make the wrong one. Summary of the book: Why it made a difference:

4. Title: Goodnight Moon Author: Margaret Wise Brown Genre: Fiction Goodnight Moon was a children’s book that me and my mom used to read together every night until I was about 6 years old. It was a story that told everyone and everything goodnight that lived inside the house. It also told something outside of the house goodnight too, that were important. We always read this book right before bed time, and then I fell asleep. I had memorized all of the words so we would read it together. Sometimes, she would miss words just so I could fill them in and feel special. Then, once my baby sister was born, I read it to her as well. This story brings back really good memories. I hope to pass this story on as more family members come along, so they can enjoy it hopefully just as much as I did.

5. Title: The Notebook Author: Nicholas Sparks Genre: Fiction The Notebook was a story about true love. Two families tries to tear the couple apart though. But, despite the problems they faced, and the people they came across, they found their way back to each other. Their time apart made their love for each other even stronger than it was before. It is a really inspiring story because this is the type of love that everybody needs. I never put this book down once I got it. It was so catching, and it had me crying one second and laughing the next. This is by far my favorite book ever! I have read it at least five times already, and it never gets old.