My kids are reading at home now more than ever… and I love it! #PenguinKidsPartner With school being done remotely now, many teachers have been encouraging free-reading and I think it’s incredible. I’m someone who has always loved to read, but it hasn’t always been that easy with my sons. They like to read, but they don’t love to read. In order for them to really get locked into a story, they need to LOVE the book.
.
.
Whenever I find books that my sons can’t put down, I share them immediately with my friends. My son Ben hasn’t been able to put down the book WINK from @penguinkids down. I think what drew him in at first was how bright and bold the book cover is, but then I told him to read the first chapter and tell me what he thought. .
.
What did he think? He just kept reading! Honestly - this was music to my ears (or my eyes!). I had a feeling he’d like it because it’s a hilarious and heart-wrenching story about surviving middle school–with an unthinkable diagnosis–and while embracing life’s weirdness. Ben’s in middle school, so I knew that connection would be a good one for him. Not to mention… he’s in 7th grade, as is Ross Maloy (the main character). Ross just wants to be a normal seventh grader. He doesn’t want to lose his hair, or wear a weird hat, or deal with the disappearing friends who don’t know what to say to “the cancer kid.” But with his recent diagnosis of a rare eye cancer, blending in is off the table.
.
.
WINK is based on author @robbtopp ‘s real life experience, and is packed with comic panels and spot art. This incredibly personal and poignant novel is an unforgettable, heartbreaking, hilarious, and uplifting story of survival and finding the music, magic, and laughter in life’s weirdness.
.
.
WINK is a meaningful, special and beautiful book. I highly recommend it for your middle school aged child (I read it as well and fell love with it, reading as a parent touched my heart). You’ll have a deeper appreciate for a simple wink… that I promise you! #WinkforKindness