I just felt the need to write this down because it just happened.  I currently work in a middle school library.  It is considered one of the best schools in the district.  Very good test scores, high parent involvement, higher socio economic status.  I have a lot of “regulars” who come into the library to check out books.

One young man came in today and was checking out the next in a series he has been reading since last year.  It is a very popular series of books called “Warriors” written by Erin Hunter.  Erin Hunter is actually a group of about 5 writers who all contribute either individually or collaboratively to these books.  As such, it seems like there are  a million in the series and all the sub series that have sprung up.  The series consists of  the adventures of bands of animals – cats, dogs, etc.  I haven’t yet had a chance to read them, but my kids really, REALLY enjoy them.  Generally they are checked out by girls, but there is a small, but ardent contingent of boys that read them as well.

This young man was putting a stretchy book cover on the book as he was checking it out and I took notice of that.  I asked him if he always put book covers on his books.  He said yes.  I thanked him for taking the time to care for our books.  He said two things.  1.  He like to make sure he didn’t get scratches on the books.  2.  He didn’t want to get made fun of.

That hurts my heart.

I don’t know what to do with this information, but I didn’t want to just forget it.