This is a story I wrote for my English class during my senior year at Penn State. I wanted to share it here because it shows a glimpse into my love for stories and how it's inspired me to pursue a career in book publishing.
This is a photo of me working at my independent bookstore holding some of my favorite books at the time!
If I could make a candle from the scent of my elementary school’s library, I would. It would smell like dusty paper, colorfully waxy crayons, worn carpet and a crisp, fall day. The library was more than just a place that held books for me. It was a chance to explore other worlds, to make friends with characters, and to experience the joy that is losing yourself in a story.
I never truly understood how much my elementary school library meant to me until a class reunion my senior year of high school. Everyone who went to Oaks Elementary was invited back to say hello to teachers and reminisce about the memories before going off to college.
As my classmates and I walked along the narrow hallways that felt a whole lot smaller than before, I peeked into classrooms and noticed the arts and crafts lining the concrete walls, from painted turkey handprints to macaroni noodle necklaces. With each step, I couldn’t help but feel like a kid again, with no worries other than what I was going to eat at lunchtime.
“Look, Elise!” My best friend Sara pointed to the room on our right as we rounded the corner. “Your favorite place.”
We both smiled because it was true. I couldn’t even remember the last time I entered Oaks’ library.
“Ohhh my gosh, do you guys remember that one time we had to dress up as our favorite characters?” my other friend Caroline squealed.
“Yes! I feel like the last time I actually read a book was in elementary school….” said Sara. But their conversation started to feel like white noise in my brain as I took in my surroundings.
Wooden bookmarks placed in a bin for students to use. Fuzzy rugs and bright-colored pillows. A stack of Scholastic magazines. I was breathing in pure nostalgia everywhere I turned.
I ventured further and came across the corner where I used to read. My corner. Behind the third aisle of wooden shelves, where I would nestle under a blanket of books to read. My heart felt like it was being squeezed as the memories of sitting in that exact spot rushed back to me.
“We're heading over to the music room, do you wanna come?” I heard one of my friends call. But I wasn’t ready to leave just yet.
“I’ll be over in a few minutes!”
I squatted on my knees and skimmed along the shelves, picking out a stack of some of my most favorite books. Then, I grabbed one of the soft floor pillows to sit on and cozied up in my spot.
I carefully opened a chapter book and saw the wrinkles spread on the cover of the “Baby-Sitters Club.” I began to read Chapter One.
“Elise! So glad you could join us!” Kristy, the leader of the Baby-Sitters Club, exclaimed.
I flipped my head up and saw Kristy staring at me as we sat on the floor of her bedroom.
Claudia smoothed her dark hair in the mirror and turned towards me. “Are you able to babysit tonight? I need to finish my art project.”
Mary Anne was sprawled out on the floor, writing notes as the secretary of the club.
“Uh, yeah sure I can!” I replied.
“Perfect!” Mary Anne grinned as she scribbled down my name.
“Anyone want to take a break and go to the park?” Kristy asked. All the girls nodded and started heading out the door.
“I’ll be out in a second!” I called before opening up Kristy’s closet to grab my jacket. An intense, brisk breeze hit my face, and flakes of bright white snow plastered my hair.
Stepping further and further into her closet, I found myself walking into a forest. Tumnus, a half-human, half-goat, strolled by me. Narnia! It was so cold I could see my breath float in the air; I tried wrapping my arms around myself to get warm before Lucy tapped my shoulder.
“I’m freezing, too. Come inside and have tea with me and Mr. Tumnus!” She grabbed my hand and pulled me along into the small hut with her. Warm light glowed from candles placed throughout the room.
“Join us, won’t you?” said Mr. Tumnus as he gently handed me a steaming cup of tea. I instantly felt warmer, like someone had just given me a big hug.
“Have you seen Edmund?” Lucy asked as she tucked a piece of her short hair behind her ear. I shook my head no and turned to Mr. Tumnus.
“Perhaps he went off with Peter and Susan for the day,” he replied, although Lucy had a questioning look in her eye as she bit her lip.
“I think we should find them. Elise, want to check outside since we’ve warmed up a bit?”
I didn’t want to leave the cozy cabin, but I figured it would give me a chance to explore more of Narnia. So, I thanked Mr. Tumnus for the tea, opened the door, took a step to exit and—WHOA!
I stumbled back as I realized I was now high in the air, looking down at miles of green oak trees and a loud, gurgling creek beneath me.
“That was awesome, Annie!” someone said. I turned around to see Jack and Annie standing in their treehouse. But not just any treehouse. A magic treehouse!
“Can you believe we were on a real-life pirate ship?”
I ran over to them and looked at the treasure map Jack was holding. Both of them still smelled like salty ocean water.
“I can’t believe you missed it, Elise!” said Annie, throwing her arms around me. “It was the best. Even better than that time we swam with dolphins, remember?”
It was like I had forgotten all about that until now.
“Can we travel somewhere else?” I asked.
Jack and Annie smirked at each other.
“Well…. Mom did say we had to come in for dinner,” said Annie. “But, since you’re here…. why not?”
Yes! We all high-fived as Jack pulled out a book from his shelf with a huge T-Rex on the cover. It was time to travel back to the time of dinosaurs. He cracked open the book’s spine and grabbed Annie’s hand and mine as we stood in our circle.
“Ready, everyone?”
We squeezed hands as the treehouse began to shake underneath us like an earthquake was rumbling in our corner of Frog Creek, Pennsylvania.
Our hands unclenched, and I fell to the floor, but when I looked up there were no flying pterodactyls or triceratops munching on plants. The only triceratops I saw was on a sign in front of a record store. The sign was advertising a new album from the band called the “Triceratop Pops.”
“I cannot WAIT to hear the latest songs!” said Cam Jansen as she flung open the store’s door, and the little bell chimed. Her friend Eric strode in behind her, holding open the door for me to join. Cam rushed over to the display, only to find all the CDs gone.
“What? How are they already gone?” Eric said.
An employee rushed over to help, and a confused look appeared on his face as he too stared at the empty shelves.
“Huh. I just put six new recordings on the shelf five minutes ago,” the employee picked at his fingernails and kept looking around the room. “I definitely didn’t sell all of them.”
“Cam, did you happen to see anything?” I asked, knowing that her nickname came from her photographic memory.
Cam blinked her eyes. Click. “I need to remember this. Something’s….off.”
It was like I could see the wheels turning in her brain as she thought through the mystery. I had always tried to solve the mystery before Cam, but it was rare that I did.
Cam whipped out a notebook and started scribbling away. I peered over her shoulder to see her suspects. First on the list was… Junie B. Jones?
“The B stands for Beatrice. Except I don’t like Beatrice. I just like B and that’s all.”
Junie B. stood in front of me with her crooked purple glasses and messy hair.
“You were just who I was looking for!” said Junie B. as she linked her arm with mine. “Now all we need is our other bestest friend, That Grace.”
I couldn’t help but grin. I’ve had some of my most fun storybook memories with Junie B., laughing until my face hurts.
“Did I tell you what Mrs. got our class for Valentime’s Day?” Junie B. said in her one-of-a-kind way.
We were not in the record store anymore, but in a school. We skipped around together, and I noticed her school looked a whole lot like Oaks Elementary.
“What did she—”
Junie B. cut me off.
“Sorry! I couldn’t wait. Anyways. She got us CANDY! The chocolatey kind and the sour kind. Can you believe that?”
As we rounded the corner, That Grace stood in front of the library and waved to us.
Junie B. and I sprinted to her.
“Time for recess!” Junie B. and That Grace shouted, ready to head out the back door with the other students.
I stayed behind, knowing that my time was over for the day. Tears welled up in my eyes, and I felt a pain in my heart, wishing I didn’t have to leave.
Twirling with excitement to play on the swings, Junie B. stopped and turned around, looking back at me with a frown.
“Aren’t you coming?”
“Not today,” I said as I wiped away a tear and shook my head. “But this has been so much fun.”
Junie B. gave the widest grin, showing the gaps where her missing teeth were waiting to grow in.
“I’ve missed you! You better come back soon, okay?”
I smiled back and made a promise to her, and myself, that I would be back. Turning away, suddenly I was back in my little corner of the library. Stacks of books were piled around me, from The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe to the entire Magic Tree House series.
I thought I knew what I wanted to do for a career. I was planning to major in journalism at Penn State that fall and enter into either the broadcasting or magazine field. But I knew that my true passion was for books.
That feeling of truly losing yourself in the pages of a novel is unlike anything else. You become invested in the stories, make best friends with the characters, and find a home in the setting.
The books I read as a child —especially the ones in that very spot of the library in elementary school—shaped me. They were there for me when I needed an escape. They sparked a love of literature for me that has lasted nearly 22 years. That visit to Oaks Elementary helped me realize I wanted to work with books. I wanted to play a role, no matter how small, in helping children discover their love for reading and the wonder and joy that comes from losing yourself in a book you love. If I can make that impact, then I never have to lose this sense of nostalgia I love so much. I never need to say goodbye to my favorite characters because I will always be around them.
Working in book publishing won’t enable me to bottle up the scent of my library. But I think having a career that helps spread a love of literature to more children will feel even better.
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