“Oh, magic hour when a child first knows it can read printed words! For quite a while, Francie had been spelling out letters, sounding them and then putting the sounds together to mean a word. But, one day, she looked at a page and the word "mouse" had instantaneous meaning. She looked at the word, and a picture of a gray mouse scampered through her mind. She looked further and when she saw "horse," she heard him pawing the ground and saw the sun glint on his glossy coat. The word "running" hit her suddenly and she breathed hard as though running herself. The barrier between he individual sound of each letter and the whole meaning of the word was removed and the printed word meant a thing at one quick glance. She read a few pages rapidly and almost became ill with excitement. She wanted to shout it out. She could read! She could read! From that time on, the world was hers for the reading. She would never be lonely again, never miss the lack of intimate friends. Books became her friends and there was one for every mood. There was poetry for quiet companionship. There was adventure when she tired of quiet hours. There would be love stories when she came to adolescence and when she wanted to feel a closeness to someone she could read a biography. On that day when she first knew she could read, she made a vow to read one book a day as long as she lived.”
Quote by Betty Smith
Work
This classic novel, published in 1943, is a poignant and inspiring story of resilience and the American Dream. The narrative is rich in detail, capturing the essence of life in a working-class family during a time of economic hardship and social change. The protagonist, Francie Nolan, navigates the challenges of poverty, education, and love, ultimately achieving her dreams against all odds. more
Author
Betty Smith was an American author known for her novel 'Peter Pan'. Her works are typically written from a child's perspective and have been beloved by readers of all ages. more
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