The library where I worked had kids clamoring for books. Like you mention, Cynthia, when you’re the kid with that special book, you become “cool” in the eyes of those who don’t have it yet. And I’ll never forget seeing a group of teenagers sitting on a curb in a parking lot at 12:30 in the morning already tearing into Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.

One of the things I think about a lot is where that zeal for reading tapers off.

Even with video games, movies, and other distractions, I still always enjoyed reading. It was something I looked forward to doing (and still do). Somewhere along the way it really does seem that other things, naturally, take priority in the lifves of teenagers and adults.

But kids still read.

A lot!

It seems to me that every writer wanting an audience for decades should be thinking about what they can do to make the kids reading to day continue reading tomorrow.

If I had that answer, I’d be a rich man…or at least get a lot of comp copies of books from appreciative authors.

I also have some great memories with some of the libraries I visited as a child (even as an adult!). I remember the popular books in my elementary school, too. You know the sort — when you finally managed to get the chance to check one out, friends were practically begging you to loan them the book for a little while because the waiting list for it was so long. Heheheh! Fun times