Have you ever started a book and realized it just wasn’t for you? Don’t let that discourage you.

In today’s Freedom Friday Message, we want to encourage you with this powerful quote from Franz Kafka, author of The Metamorphosis.

​It’s okay to stop reading a book that doesn’t resonate with you or feels difficult. Sometimes, all it takes is finding the right book. Maybe one genre doesn’t interest you right now, but another sparks your curiosity and helps you feel connected. That book becomes “the ice-axe that breaks the sea frozen inside us.”

Reading can be awakening. The right book can inspire us, challenge us, and open our minds in unexpected ways.

What do you think about this quote? Have you ever changed books and found one that truly awakened your interest? Share your thoughts with us!

In today’s Freedom Friday message, we want to encourage you to continue on your literacy journey. Literacy can help you grow in many important ways!

As we grow in literacy, it shows! We feel more confident, gain a new perspective, and become more independent. Literacy can take you higher in every aspect of your life.

​What do you think? Does being literate make you feel victorious, independent, or confident? Share your thoughts with us—we love reading your comments!

The Metro East Literacy Project (MELP) holds a drawing to encourage families to keep reading. The prize is a $25 gift card, and the winner can choose one store: Walmart, Amazon, ALDI, or the Dollar Store.

Congrats to the winner! 🎉 Thank you to everyone who participated—we appreciate you! See you at the next one!