Natalie+G.

October 7, 2009 Dear Natalie, I hope that you’ve had a chance to get further into //The Compound//. Eli is the protagonist. I think that you’ll find him to be a pretty average kid in a VERY unusual circumstance. I read that book to my reading class (before the switch) and it seemed that most everybody enjoyed that book. Like lots of books, it takes a while to develop, but once the plot gets rolling, it is hard to put it down. Give it a little more time, and if it isn’t working for you, we’ll bail on it and get something else in your hands. Thanks for your honest comments about reading. I understand. As a middle-schooler, and even as a high-schooler, I would tear through books that I found interesting, but pretty much not read at all if a book wasn’t flipping my switch. So we have to find you the right books. Is there anything that you’ve read in the past that worked for you? A particular genre, author, subject matter? I think you mentioned on your reading survey that you like mysteries. Maybe that is an avenue that we can explore. How about athletic-based novels? We’ll keep looking. As good a writer as you are, I would imagine that reading would come easily if we can locate the right books. Glad to have you in class, and thanks for the honest letter. Happy reading, Mr. McFadden