geri_chan | Reading Without Walls

I came across a cool challenge via the public library: Reading Without Walls, which was originally started by graphic novel artist/author Gene Luen Yang. The way it works is:

1. Read a book about a character who doesn’t look like you or live like you.

2. Read a book about a topic you don’t know much about.

3. Read a book in a format that you don’t normally read for fun. This might be a chapter book, a graphic novel, a book in verse, a picture book, or a hybrid book.

If you really want to go for the gold star, read a book that fits all three criteria!

When you finish, take a photo of you and the book (or just the book if you’re shy) and post it on Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #ReadingWithoutWalls. You’ll inspire others to do the same!

I decided to try and tackle all three criteria, and borrowed the audiobook version of Sherman Alexie's The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian: (1) I am not male, a teenager, or Native American; (2) I wouldn't say that I know nothing about it, but I definitely wouldn't presume to say I know a lot about Native American culture or life on a reservation and how that contrasts with the rich, white school the main character is sent to; and (3) I usually don't listen to audiobooks. (Audiobooks aren't listed in the examples, but I don't see why it shouldn't count, and I'm only doing it for fun, anyway.) It's been on my "I've heard that's a good book, I'll get around to it someday" list for years, so I figured that now was the time!

I am a dinosaur who doesn't have a Twitter or Instagram account, so I'll post here about my thoughts when I'm done with the book.