Recently, I was reminded of Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach, one of the first books I read for eighth grade English in grammar school. This picture is the exact one I read in eighth grade – my name and homeroom, “8A,” are written on the inside cover. I remember following Jonathan’s journey to get faster and faster, and watching him practice over and over. I think his story is relevant today, and a good one for a teacher to assign students who may be looking for an extra credit book report to boost their grades at the end of the year. It’s a short, quick read, but full of meaning. It’s also a good read for anyone looking for inspiration or motivation, but not a self-help book. “We choose our next world through what we learn in this one. Learn nothing, and the next world is the same” (62).
