The first book that truly changed me

Books, whether they are paper and ink or files on a device, have the power to change us. These changes can happen on a grand scale, like when someone says how a motivational book inspired them to turn their lives around. But they can also happen on a smaller scale, changing our emotions one sentence at a time. Countless times, books have moved my emotions in ways few things can (The Fault in our Stars, anyone?) but I will always remember the first book that truly broke my heart: Where the Red Fern Grows. All throughout grade school I read books filled with adventure and whimsy, titles that had beautiful imagery and rhymes. I didn't discover the true power of books, however, until I read Wilson Rawls' tale about Billy's dogs Old Dan and Little Ann. I remember being captivated by their loyalty, drawn to their escapades and absolutely devastated when they both passed away. I can't recall exactly what grade I was in but I will never forget the tear-soaked pages in my hands as I tried to grasp what had just happened. I read this book around the same point in my life that I dealt with death for the first time. My best friend and I, barely ten years old, were in his family room when his father passed away suddenly from a stroke. I remember it like it was yesterday. I couldn't possibly comprehend what was happening around us. Despite having adults to talk to and counselors to help work through what I felt I don't think I truly grasped what loss meant. This book helped me cope. Even today this book shapes the person I have become and the life I live. I am not a hunter but I do find a comforting symmetry in the fact that my dogs look incredibly similar to Billy's (see right). Where the Red Fern Grows helped me deal with with unbearable sadness and taught me that grieving helps you heal. It also showed me that family members can come in the four-legged variety. When I opened this book for the first time twenty years ago I was prepared for a great adventure – a story of a boy and his dogs. I was not prepared for the lifelong impact that it would leave on me. That's what is so great about books though. They change us. What was the first book that changed you? Adam Sockel is a Marketing and Communications Specialist with OverDrive and completely obsessed with his pups.

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