The year was 1989, and Miss Reidy was my teacher. Like all third-graders, I was trying to find my way in the socially turbulent life of an 8-year old.

And then I met Laura Ingalls. She was a young girl, like me, who was generally well-behaved but sometimes her curiosity and determination came across as mischief. Laura was “stuck” in the middle, with sisters on both sides, and I understood how that felt. And lets just face it; every elementary school has a Nellie Olsen.

I connected with Laura immediately. Ok, so my parents never packed up the family and headed West in a covered wagon (though, there were plenty of trips in the station wagon). I never forged a river, built a log cabin, or waited for my father to bring home game for dinner, but I related to her everyday adventure of being a kid.

I read the entire Little House series that school year, and reread them over the summer. I cried when Mary went blind, and rejoiced when they made it through the blizzard and when Laura met Manny.

In the years since, I sometimes think of Laura Ingalls and her family when I am about to start off on a journey, have to overcome a challenge, or am leaning towards mischief. That is why it is the book that got me hooked.

Tell us what book got you hooked at www.firstbook.org/whatbook.