For the ninth instalment of the Rockstar Readers series, we sat down with Year 7 student Japjeet Sandhu to ask what reading gives him. “Reading gives my life entertainment and relaxation,” he explains, “but more than that, reading has increased my vocabulary and given me more ideas for my writing to make it more engaging.”  

Japjeet regularly comes into the Library seeking books in various genres that will broaden his frame of reference, “Reading has expanded my perspective because when I was younger, I used to be very reserved but when I started reading, I learned new ways to communicate and understand other people,” he explains, “I started to open up more to my friends and also to make new friends.” Reading literature certainly increases our emotional intelligence, and we at the Library are thrilled to hear how books have positively impacted students’ wellbeing, as well as their academic outcomes.

When asked where his commitment to reading started he says, “The book that turned me into an avid reader was The 65 Story Treehouse. The humour really motivated me to read more.” The bestselling Treehouse series has taken out Australian Book Industry Awards, been adapted for stage productions and turned many learners into voracious readers since 2005.

Our conversation turns to the books Japjeet would recommend to our budding readers at Hume Anglican Grammar, “I would definitely recommend reading both the Seven Signs and the Amulet series. There is a wide variety of personalities and plot twists in these books and the characters have captivated me.” 

The Library team are thrilled with Japjeet Sandhu’s commitment to his reading practice, and we look forward to hearing more about the ways that books give him insight into many different facets of the world.

Siana Einfeld - Teacher Librarian