I cannot read without a pencil in my hand.

I judge a book's greatness by the number of pencil markings I have left in it. The book that I cannot read without a pencil is the book that I love. It's the book to which I will return, the book of which I will read excerpts to my friends. The margins of such a book are filled with my notes, with smiley faces, and with exclamation points.

This afternoon, I began reading The Space Between Us by Thrity Imirigar. I have only read the prologue and I am mesmerized. My pencil is moving rapidly. On Monday, I will share an excerpt with my students.