HEARTACHE & UNTANGLED OAK TREES: LESSONS FROM GRIEF ONE YEAR ON...

A powerful blog from regular contributor Emma about the lessons to be learned from grief...

Emma says:
I've been writing features for DREAMCATCHER for almost two years - I normally write the 'How To Deal' series - but I rarely post about my own personal issues. However, in March last year I lost someone very close to me, someone truly extraordinary. My Nana had a consistently positive view on life, even when life threw everything possible in her direction. She raised fourteen children and adored her grandchildren, great grandchildren and so on. A year on, here is my personal reflection and the lessons I have learned...

- Gratitude for others is something that should be expressed more often. As I read over my prayer at my Nana's funeral, it made me far more appreciative than ever of her as a person, as well as others around me. Kind sentiments and notes of nostalgia shouldn't be reserved for funerals and eulogy readings. When I think about it, it's a shame the only time the entire family is in one place is for anniversary masses and funerals.

- Having people who care around you makes all the difference. In these situations, people don't always know what to say and often say nothing for fear of saying the wrong thing. However, there were times when the support of close friends and family were the only things that got me through. On the day of my Nana's funeral there was a family gathering in her memory. I felt as if nothing made sense, that the world was a jigsaw puzzle with pieces that wouldn't fit. As I sat there contemplating the irregularity of the earth, I got a phone call from a close friend checking in on me. The phone call lasted an hour or more. I didn't feel like talking to anyone: I was like Ariel in The Little Mermaid... I wanted to speak, I tried to speak, but I didn't know how. However, this particular conversation was the first time I had opened up since my Nana's death. It was the first step to my healing.

- Grief isn't 'one size fits all'. That was a lesson I learned the hard way. I could get through a day thinking it had gone well, that I was managing, then have a nightmare about my Nana's death that same night. The nightmares went on for months on end, and even a year on they still sometimes make an appearance. I had a stereotypical idea of how healing is meant to work, but from my own journey I learned that this is different for us all. I remember sitting in my Religion class not long after it happened, learning about the various stages of grief. I remember getting really angry, because as far as I was concerned it couldn't have been further from the truth. It made me feel like I wasn't 'doing it right' - or that 'they' were lying somehow to soften the blow. In fact, everyone's experience is unique and is to be respected. I know I sound like every 'self help' pamphlet out there, but it does get better. With the daily ups and downs, yin and yang, I wasn't sure I would ever completely heal. The truth is that isn't about completely healing, it's about moving forward and honouring your loved one by doing the best you can as a person. I know my Nana would have wanted me to be happy, make the best life possible for myself and to know that nothing is impossible. Impossible was not in my Nana's vocabulary! She believed that as people we were capable of anything... barriers could be broken, a stumble didn't mean it was the end of the journey and even oak trees could be untangled.

Cathy says:
Thanks Emma for a beautiful and wise post on handling grief... and being kind to yourself in the process. Have YOU ever had to cope with grief or bereavement? COMMENT BELOW to share your experiences...

SARAH: THE FAMINE LETTERS...

Reader Sarah grew up in Ireland but now lives in South Carolina, USA. She has written a heartbreaking story about the Irish famine of the 1840s, a period of time when the potato harvest failed for several years. Many Irish were almost solely dependent on the potato for food; Britain ruled Ireland at this time, and Irish grain and other crops went on being exported in spite of the famine. Roughly one million people starved to death and another million emigrated. 

Sarah's famine story takes the form of letters from a daughter (Fiona) to her mother, who has passed away, leaving Fiona to care for her four younger siblings. Fiona writes letters to her mother and leaves them under an oak tree...

Dear Mother,
Katie passed away last night. I stayed with her until the end. She looked me in the eyes and asked me to sing for her - I said yes, of course. I sang the lullaby you used to sing to me. Katie left me in the middle of the song, but I did not stop singing the lullaby for her. My throat was dry as soon as the song was over and I sobbed loudly. 

The others ran down the stairs to see what was wrong. They looked down at Katie's frail little body, and we sat around by the firelight for what felt like years, the tears pouring down our faces. The twins eventually fell asleep on the worn couch. I carried them up the stairs and tucked them in. 

I went downstairs after everyone was asleep. I spoke to Katie's little body, thanking her for all that she has done for me and telling her what a lovely, sweet person she was. I choked up halfway through and just sat there sobbing. I then just walked upstairs to my room to find Sandra asleep in my bed. I snuggled up next to her, my heart aching for Katie. We are having her burial service tomorrow. 

God save us from this dreadful famine...

Love you always,
Fiona xxx

Cathy says:
Wow... a very powerful and emotional story extract from Sarah, who is just eleven years old! Did YOU know about the Irish famine? And did you enjoy this extract from Sarah's story? 
COMMENT BELOW to have your say!

CAMILLE: THE BRONIE COMMUNITY!

Reader Camille writes about the Bronie fandom community... and why it matters to her!

Camille says:
There's a cartoon currently on TV called My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. The show was originally created for children, mainly girls, but has attracted a much wider fanbase, myself included. Adult fans are called Bronies and a lot of them are male... the appeal is much wider than the makers of the show might have imagined! So far, I have only ever met two other Bronies of my own age in person, but in October I am going to a convention called BronyCon which is basically a weekend long party with tons of other Bronies. There are stalls with art and toys made by fans, and panels with some of the voice actors. Some fans have even written music based on the show and at one convention, a fan created an amazing light show for everyone. It's an amazing community, both online and in the real world.

The problem is that people who haven't watched don't really understand and some of them pick on you. I get teased at school a lot for wearing a pony t-shirt for PE. People say, 'Well, if you don't want to be teased, why do you keep on wearing it?' But this misses the point; I should be able to wear what I like without fear of judgement. I reply: 'Because I'm not afraid. I won't hide what I enjoy just because others hate it.' Men who like the show get even more hassle. People can be really harsh to these adult fans, labelling them with all kinds of names and making judgements on them, which is kind of ridiculous. It's a free world, and we should not judge what we don't understand... people should be free to follow their own interests, even if they are not what others might choose. We are all different.

Most people don't even understand why Bronies get so involved and so enthusiastic. It's because at the end of each episode, one of the Mane Six (the main six characters in the series) will tell their lesson for the day. They call it a friendship lesson, but they are lessons you can take and convert into a lesson for teen or adulthood. Of course, I don't expect everyone to see the appeal in My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, but for me the show has real value and I'm proud to be a fan. Don't judge what you don't understand!

Cathy says:
I know a few of my readers are My Little Pony fans (or should I say Bronies!). I also agree with Camille that somebody with an unusual hobby or interest should never be bullied or harassed because of this... live and let live! Have YOU ever watched the show? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!

CAITLIN: NERVOUS ABOUT MY FIRST DATE...

Reader Caitlin is worried about going on her first ever date... can HONEY TANBERRY offer good advice to set her mind at ease?

Caitlin says:
I've just got into a relationship with my crush and we are going on our first date in the Easter holidays. Neither of us have ever dated anyone before and I am really nervous. How can I avoid letting my crush see this? And what do people DO on dates anyway?

Honey says:
You don't say, but I'm going to assume your crush is a boy (if not, apologies, but this advice should work either way!) First of all, he likes you... he's asked you out and arranged to see you in the holidays, so he is probably as nervous as you are. Second of all, a date is meant to be fun... it's a way to get to know each other better. What do people DO on a date? That depends, and you get to have a choice and a say in it too! For the first few dates, it makes sense to plan something fun, so you avoid awkward silences. Choose something that both of you will enjoy - ice skating, a day at the fair, watching a film you both like the look of or going to a sports event could all be good. Doing something specific means there is less chance you'll end up hanging around the street corner, sharing a lone can of lemonade. (That can be fun too, but only once you know each other better!) If you're doing something together, the conversation should come easily. As for that moment at the end of a date when a kiss seems to be on the horizon - try to relax and see enjoy the moment. A kiss is not compulsory - if you don't feel ready, that's fine. Equally, if you want to take the initiative and start the smooch, that's fine too. Remember, a date is all about fun and getting to know your partner better... enjoy every minute!

Cathy says:
Good advice from Honey... what would YOU add? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!

HAZEL: SAVE OUR LIBRARIES!

Reader Hazel was upset to learn that her local library is under threat of closure... find out how YOU can help her to save it...

Hazel says:
To say my local libraries have played an important part in my life is a slight understatement. I had my first library card at just over two weeks old, and when we moved to California temporarily in 2014, I had a new library card within 24 hours of landing on American soil. I have never been without a well used library card, and go to one library or another every few weeks to stock up on new books. Sadly, there are now plans to close eight out of nine of our local libraries in West Berkshire, and also to discontinue the two mobile libraries. Not only that, they plan to cut some children's centres, the Domestic Abuse Response Team, and the Community Furniture Project. The government has cut 44% of our revenue support grant and that means we have to save nearly £19 million. Libraries are not life-saving services - not in an obvious way anyway - but  I do not believe that closing eight libraries is the right choice.

These cutbacks could be the ruination of libraries in this country. One library for 155,000 people is just not enough. There must be other ways to do this, creative solutions... we must look into everything before the libraries close their doors for good. Libraries play a fundamental role in every community, hosting events and classes, arts and crafts fairs, toddler story time, continued adult learning and internet access amongst other things. Libraries can inspire young people and help them decide what they want to be in life. In my own experience, I have picked up new hobbies and found new interests thanks to things I have seen or found at my local library. Some people say everything is turning to ebooks and that library closures do not matter, but what about children? They need time to browse slowly, to hold different books in their hands as they make their own decisions about what they want to read. They need the chance to pore over every page, to have a wide range of books to explore as their reading levels increase and their interests widen.

In the UK we need to increase literacy rates - and libraries offer the opportunity to explore and learn for free. Young children and the elderly and unemployed do not have access to a school library - and some schools do not have libraries at all. Perhaps we cannot keep every library open, but we must surely do everything in our power to save this amazing community resource. Most of the books I have read in my life have been library books. I have discovered so many amazing authors who've enriched my life, changed how I see things in the world, made me laugh, made me learn. I would hate to rob future generations of the same opportunities.

There is a petition to save Berkshire's libraries... if you can take time to sign the petition, it would be SO appreciated. You can sign the PETITION HERE... and ask your friends and family to sign too.

Cathy says:
You can see Hazel in THIS SLIDESHOW from eighteen months ago, helping to support Liverpool libraries... she's at 1 minute 19 seconds in. Hazel supported me with that fight, and I will support her with Berkshire libraries... will YOU? Please COMMENT BELOW to show Hazel some support and sign that petition if you possibly can!

BETH: GROWING UP WITH CC BOOKS...

Book blogger Beth met Cathy Cassidy at a teen book event recently... and Cathy asked her to recommend some YA reads for older CC readers!

Beth says:
A big thank you to Cathy for this opportunity... I unexpectedly bumped into her at an event a few weeks ago, and now this... it's crazy! So... let's start with how I got into Cathy's books. I began by reading CHERRY CRUSH, borrowed from the library, and it all kicked off from there. Honestly, I absolutely fell in love with Shay - a sweet guy who writes songs and plays guitar? Yes please! Between then and starting to read YA (Young Adult/ older teen) books, I read and adored most of Cathy's books. It became a personal goal of mine to finish them all. I could relate to or fall in love with most of the characters, which is why I love those books so much!

As I got older, I moved on to YA books and began to blog about them... blogging has become a great resource for me, allowing me to connect with other readers and talk about new releases and also those books I adored before YA.

My taste in novels hasn't really changed over the years - I love romance and contemporary and read most of those genres. It's taken me a while to find books I adore *almost* as much as Cathy's novels, but here is my list of favourites... if you're an older teen who likes CC books, try these next!

The Truth About Forever
by Sarah Dessen

Sarah Dessen's books were probably some of the first YA books I read - and I still love them today!

Cathy says:
I have read this and LOVED it. All of Sarah's books are just wonderful!

Second Chance Summer
by Morgan Matson

I cannot recommend Morgan Matson enough. She writes in a light-hearted but deep way about love, friendship and the importance of second chances!

Cathy says:
Oooh... a new author to me, I will have to check this book out!

Beautiful Broken Things 
by Sara Barnard

Unfortunately, there are not many YA books out there that focus solely on friendship - which is why I loved this book so much! I would also recommend How To Be Bad by E Lockhart, if you like reading about teenage friendship (and road trips!)

Oh, and while we're here, everybody go and read Gingersnaps by Cathy herself!

Cathy says:
Love, love, LOVE this book! A great choice!

All The Bright Places 
by Jennifer Niven

I fell in love with this book from the first page. It's absolutely mind-blowing!

Cathy says:
Oh my... awesome. And heart-breaking! Health Warning: please have a box of tissues nearby when reading!

The Love That Split The World
by Emily Henry

...And the 'mind-blowing' tag can definitely be applied to this book too! If you love romance with a twist (and/or time travel/ sci fi,) then here you go!

Cathy says: 
Another new author to me... I will be tracking this book down soon, thanks for the tip, Beth!








There were many other authors I just didn't have the space to include here, but I'd also love to recommend authors like Jenny Han, Stephanie Perkins, Jandy Nelson, Lisa Williamson and Rainbow Rowell, along with many others! Looking for more YA? I write a book blog, which you can find here! Enjoy... and may your shelves forever overflow with books!

Cathy says:
Great suggestions from teen book expert Beth... I think I'll have to ask her back to do more guest blogging soon! Have YOU read any of the books above? Do YOU have any cool recommendations to make? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!

OUR EASTER TRADITIONS...

Readers share their favourite Easter traditions... what are YOURS?

Violet says:
We don't have Easter traditions really... Mum says she's bought me an Easter egg but won't tell me what it is. I'm excited because I usually buy my own, and it's nice to have a surprise! I have pet bunnies and I'll spend some time petting them. We don't really celebrate Easter in a religious way but I'm not about to turn down chocolate and fluffy bunnies!

Lisette says:
Our family are Catholic and the religious side of Easter is important to us. It all starts on Pancake Day, which was originally a feast day before a period of fasting; then it's Ash Wednesday and we get ashes smudged onto our foreheads at a special mass. Then it's lent, which commemorates the time Jesus spent forty days and nights fasting in the wilderness. I usually give up chocolate but this year I gave up Coke as well! It's not easy to start with but you get used to it. On Good Friday there's a service to remember how Jesus was put to death and then on Easter Sunday we start the day with mass to celebrate his rising from the dead. After that we go home to a late breakfast - scrambled eggs - and only then are we allowed to have our chocolate eggs! In the late afternoon, we go to my grandparents house for a big Easter dinner!

Beth says:
I know it's Easter when we make chocolate crispie cakes in Home Ec! They're something I have made lots in the past, really easy and fun!

Kym says:
We usually go along to a National Trust place to do an easter Egg hunt... they're always good! Then Easter dinner at the grandparents' house!

Katie says:
When I was really young, my primary school always did Easter crafts... and one year my mum painted eggs with us! The Easter bunny traditionally comes to our house and leaves chocolate by the door, but this year was different - I witnessed the buying of my Easter chocolate and it's a DC Comics egg which I am very excited about!

Ella says:
Nan hides clues around the house and me and my brother have to follow them to the next room and the next set of clues. They eventually lead to a hidden Easter egg or a basket of little chocolate eggs... there's usually two prizes, because otherwise I would never win!

Karen says:
We do everything you can think of and more! We're christians and it's a big celebration in our house...lots of church stuff, a tea party Sunday. an egg hunt and youth club amongst other things. It's as big as Christmas for us and so much fun!

Picture of yummy chocolate cupcake nests from reader Marie... many thanks!

Cathy says:
We have an Easter tree... blossom branches hung with little wooden eggs and chicks and rabbits... and tiny chocolate eggs are hidden around the house for all to find... and we paint eggs, too, and roll them, How about YOU? COMMENT BELOW to share your Easter traditions!

THE WHITE ROSE: SOPHIE SCHOLL

Sophie Scholl was a German student who had the courage to speak out against Hitler and the Nazi regime - and paid a terrible price for her bravery.

The White Rose movement was a resistance group active in Nazi Germany between 1942 and 1943. The group was small in order to maintain secrecy, and members were young students who attended Munich University - two of those members were Hans and Sophie Scholl, a brother and sister, who were determined to fight the Nazi regime as best they could. Hans and Sophie had been raised in a family which was critical of the Nazi regime, and Sophie held a firm christian faith which gave her the courage to oppose what was happening around her. The White Rose group made and distributed anti-Nazi and anti-war leaflets and painted anti-Nazi graffiti on walls, and in doing so they risked being charged with treason and put to death.

Sophie's boyfriend, Fritz Hartnagel, was a German soldier and had witnessed Russian prisoners of war being shot and buried in a mass grave; he had also heard about the mass killings of Jews and others taking place in concentration camps, and had discussed these things with Sophie and her brother. This pushed them to begin distributing leaflets against the Nazis asking German citizens to resist the regime. Sophie was a vital part of the operation because as a young girl it was felt that she may be less likely to be stopped and searched by the SS.

However, Nazi Germany was a police state and at war with much of Europe; they were enraged at the activities of the White Rose group; as Sophie and her brother Hans handed out copies of the sixth leaflet, they were seen by a Nazi party member and reported to the Gestapo. They were arrested, interrogated and put on trial for treason. When asked about her activities Sophie replied:

'Somebody, after all, had to make a start. What we wrote and said is also believed by many others. They just don't dare express themselves as we did.'

Sophie, her brother and their friend Christoph Probst were pronounced guilty of treason and sentenced to be put to death by guillotine. Sophie remained brave and courageous in spite of a broken leg incurred during her interrogation and her death sentence. Her final words on walking to the guillotine were these:

'Such a fine sunny day, and I have to go, but what does my death matter if through us, thousands of people are awakened and stirred to action?'

Sophie Scholl was just twenty one years old when she was killed. In the following months, the Gestapo arrested and executed the remaining members of the White Rose group and many other students from the university were also executed or sent to concentration camps. When World War Two ended in 1945, the Nazi regime was overthrown and gradually the bravery of Sophie Scholl and the White Rose group came to be recognised and celebrated. The actions of the White Rose group are a symbol of how even a small group of people can take peaceful action to oppose a brutal regime.

Cathy says:
Did you know about the life and death of Sophie Scholl? How far would YOU go to challenge injustice? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!

JULIA: I'M ALWAYS SECOND BEST...

It's problem page time again on DREAMCATCHER... this week, reader Julia has a question for Skye Tanberry!

Julia says:
Skye, I totally identify with how you feel to be in the shadow of Summer. My BFF is smart, beautiful and very talented at drawing. People always ask her to help with spellings or maths questions and sometimes I find myself whispering 'I know the answer...' but nobody even thinks of asking me. Please don't think I am jealous - I'm not - but I feel bad knowing that others don't think I am as capable as her. We have talked about this before, and she knows how I feel. In a funny way, I also feel bad for her, because people do expect her to know all the answers and she is a girl who hates to disappoint.

Skye says:
I really do empathise. I used to feel very overshadowed by my twin Summer, but like you I began to see that there is a dark side to having people expect so much from you. It can be a huge pressure. Summer is the most sparkly, dramatic twin - the one people notice - but it hasn't always made her happy. In the same way, your friend feels anxious to please everyone and that can be a burden sometimes. There are advantages to being the quiet one... when you DO do something cool, people are surprised and impressed. I actually like flying under the radar most of the time - I'm quite shy, and would hate the constant scrutiny and pressure of having others demand so much from me. You have spoken to your friend about the way you feel, and that is good - this must not drive a wedge between you. It's not something either of you have chosen, after all. As you go through school, you may find you can both move outside of the box others have put you in, try new things, exceed expectations. Friendship is a bond between the two of you, and that should always come first... along with a knowledge that both of you are awesome and unique and every bit as good as the other one. Good luck.

Cathy says:
Some good advice from Skye... would YOU add anything to it? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!

COOL NAMES… A LOVE/ HATE RELATIONSHIP?

We talked to more readers about the ups and downs of having a cool, unusual name…

Eddison says:
My mum's friend suggested Edison if I was a boy, and my dad liked it, so it was agreed. As I was a girl, they just added an extra D to make it a bit different. Dad says Edison Lighthouse was the name of a band in the 60s and 70s, and as Dad worked at a recording studio it seemed to fit! I really like my name as it's unusual and makes me stand out. I don't like it when people ask my name and I reply 'Eddison' and they say, 'No dear, your first name!' That can be annoying, but I try to remember that they aren't used to it and are just confused. Mum just calls me Ed as it's shorter and easier, but my grandparents say that Eddison is my name and that's what they will call me!

Hazy says:
My parents decided to name me Hazy because they met at my dad's farm in the middle of the countryside and as they got to know one another more, my mum noticed the beautiful hazy mornings you would always get there. They moved into the farm together and had my brother and sister, Kya and Apphia - Kya means 'diamond of the sky' and Apphia is a Greek godess of the moon. When I was born, they decided on Hazy, looking back at those early hazy mornings when they had first met. It's quite a 'worldly' name, a weather-inspired name I guess, and when my younger brother was born they followed on from this and called him Tarran, which means thunder (quite accurate, I think!) I love my name now but to begin with I wanted a less unusual name. These days I like having a name that is unique!

Oleander says:
My name is Oleander, which most people will agree is pretty unusual! It came about because my mum had seen a movie called White Oleander. I think the film was based on a book by Janet Fitch - an oleander is a kind of flower or tree. I love my name because I think it's really pretty, but a part of me doesn't always like it because sometimes people spell or pronounce it wrong!

Elle- Mae says:
My mum liked the name Ellie but she changed 'Ellie' to the spelling 'Elle' because it was a little bit different - nobody she knew had the name Elle! Mum's birthday is in May, so she put Elle and May together and changed the y to an e! I love my name because it's unusual - it's very special to me! Many teachers pronounce or spell it wrong - it's quiet easy to make a mistake with - but I correct them, and once you know how to spell it it's easy! When's the best time to have a different kind of name? At school, definitely, because your name is mentioned a lot in class, on the register and when your friends call you. When people ask what my name is, they smile a lot because it's so unusual!

Adelaide says:
I think my name is quite unusual… I don't know anyone else called Adelaide! That's why I like it - nobody has the same name as me! People ask me if I'm named after the city in Australia, but I'm not… I did visit there when I was a baby however, and I hope I can go back one day! My mum likes to joke that Adelaide was one of the first names in the baby book, but actually my parents chose it because it means beautiful and noble. When I'm a parent I might pick something a bit easier to spell, though - friends never know how to spell my name and I've actually got it wrong myself once or twice!

Rohan says:
What I like about my name is that when I meet someone new or go to a new place, there's around a 99.9% chance that nobody else will have the same name as me! It's pretty unique, and I like that. What I don't like is when teachers - well, all kinds of people, really - say it wrong, especially if they've only just met met me. It's spelled 'Rohan' but pronounced 'Rowan'… so people often write it as 'Rowan' and I have to correct them, and that gets annoying! My sister is called Lauren and she can get magnets and keyrings and so on with her name on, but I can't… that's annoying, too. But I love my name either way!

Cathy says:
Loving these cool and unusual names... which one is your fave? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!

WHY LIBRARIES ARE COOL!

CC readers share a little library love...

Eva says:
Libraries are full of imagination, full of lives. The lives of those in the books and the lives of those reading, all who have entered the library over the years. For those without friends and family, the library offers comfort and escape... and all for free.

Rebecca says:
Libraries mean a lot... they're my personal escape. Walking down the aisle, running my finger across the spine of every book I walk past. Imagining the stories and theories, feeling how much heart and soul the authors have put in. Libraries are quiet and peaceful, and whenever I read there I find I can imagine myself in the story.

Hayley says:
It's the smell for me, all those books in one place, slightly musty and dusty. The school holidays are the best... you can read a book a day, travel to new times and places... and if the book doesn't 'fit' then you just take it back.

Liz says:
Libraries allow me to go back in time, discover new worlds, walk in other people's shoes... plus I discovered CC through my library, years ago, when Sundae Girl was recommended to me by a librarian!

Rhuadhan says:
For me, libraries are an escape... sure, you can sit in your room with a book, but nothing beats the paisley print carpets and book smell of a library! Books are the best thing in the world, a portal to any land, any time. Libraries are like heaven for me, I love them... and not just the books, some libraries are architectural wonders. However, a library could be a wooden shack and I'd still love it!

Caoilinn says:
Libraries are magic. They allow you to go wherever you want... back in time, forward in time. You can go wherever you want to... to magical kingdoms far away, or into fictional lives that are just like yours. They are hundreds of stories and adventures all in one room!

Kiramae says:
Libraries are a chance to escape the world around us!

Sanika says:
Libraries are bliss! The sound of flipping pages, chairs being discreetly pulled, the smell of pages... and new adventures in the world of a book!

Sarah jade says:
Libraries mean you can still get lost in other worlds even if you can't afford to buy books - the opportunities to escape are endless!

Ishika says:
Entering a library is like entering another world... one made up of stories of fairylands, dreams, mysteries, war and love. My sister always went to the library near our house and one day I went with her... I'm hooked now, and libraries invoke a lot of happiness in me.

Cathy says:
Loving the library shout-outs... awww! Do YOU love your library? COMMENT BELOW to tell me why!