Dallas Harwood

Literacy Narrative
UWRT 1103
January 27, 2015

The BFG that Walked Two Moons

I was in the third grade. I was new to the school. And I was scared. No, scratch that I was
terrified. Being new was something I wasnt used to at the ripe young age of 8. I walked in to a
new classroom with new classmates and a new teacher. In my mind I was walking through the
gates of hell and I was going to be a lone ranger, however, I was wrong, Boy, was I was wrong. I
had never been so wrong in my whole life.
Welcome to our classroom! was the first thing I heard when I finally had the courage
to open the door. Standing before me was the nicest looking lady I had ever laid eyes on. She had
short, dark hair, the friendliest smile I had ever see

n, the brightest colored

clothes I had ever seen, and she called herself Mrs. Busey. I was suddenly surrounded by kids
and my teacher and given a welcome that was fit for a queen. But then it was time to get down to
business.
Mrs. Busey started off the day by reading aloud to us. This was something else that I
could add to the New To Me list. This story was about a big friendly giant who called himself
the BFG. I have never been so excited to hear a story about a giant that wasnt a cannybull and
a giant that didnt even like to eat human beans! As I sat on the colorful alphabet rug listening
Mrs. Busey read to me, there was a light that ignited inside of me. I just couldnt get enough of
reading. I read every book in our third grade classroom that I could get my hands on. I had never
felt the desire to read everything, but now I did.
Reading was the best thing that happened to me in that classroom. Sure, I learned other
things. I learned to write in cursive. I learned my multiplication tables. I learned various facts
about history. But the most important thing I learned was to read. Now Im not saying I was
some illiterate 8 year old. I had read Clifford the Big Red Dog and books about Spot running

away, but this was different. Before I read to get my homework done, and that was it. The BFG
inspired me to read for my own enjoyment.
I went home after that first day in third grade and I was a changed child. My birthday was
coming up and when the question What do you want for your birthday? arose, I answered with
Books, I want books. My parents jaws dropped to the floor, they couldnt believe what I had
said. So my birthday came, and there was one book. One stinking book. One stinking book about
princesses. One stinking book was all I got. I was thankful for the one stinking book I got, but I
was so disappointed. I wanted more. Later that night I read the whole princess book. One night
was all it took. And then my dad realized that I wanted books.
It didnt take long for my dad to see that I wanted to read non-stop. I saw my dad reading
and I would read whatever it was after he put it down. And when I say that I read non-stop, that
was no exaggeration. I read in the car. I read when I was taking a bath. I read when I was eating.
I read while my family watched movies. I read in bed at night. I read in any free time I could
find. I just wanted to read.
So when I ran out of books I would read labels, direction manuals, magazines, and
anything else I could get my hands on. I got to the point where I had stacks of books in my room,
by my bed and anywhere I could fit them.
And then by the time I got my very own collection of books, it was time for third grade to
be over. I dont think I have ever been so upset to move forward in my life. I didnt want to leave
my new classroom with my new classmates or my new teacher. They had become some of my
best friends, and Mrs. Busey was the most inspirational educator I have ever encountered. I hated
that it was over.

So the end came, and on the very last day I got a present. Mrs.
Busey, one of the greatest Harvard graduates and my personal favorite, brought me a book. She
wanted me to have one of her personal books and I felt like I was on top of the world. I cried. I
laughed. I cried some more. And I gave her the biggest hug that my little body could handle.
Walk Two Moons changed my life, little Dallas. I hope it can change yours, and I hope you
change the world with it., those were the last words I heard that year from Mrs Busey.
I walked out of third grade a better reader than I have ever been, and a better reader than I
probably am today. So I did what any 8 year old that loved to read would do. I went home as
quick as I could and I cracked open my brand new hand me down book. Walk Two Moons was
name of it and it did indeed change my life.

Dont judge a man until youve walked two moons in his moccasins.

Walk Two Moons was the book that single handedly changed who I was as a person and how I
saw the world. I never dreamed that a book could change a person. Granted both The BFG and
Walk Two Moons did change me. They gave me an appreciation for reading, as well as an
appreciation for the little things.

Reading does something to people. It makes people think, and I think thats part of the
reason that people have strayed away from reading in general. Reading made me think. Reading
made me question. Reading asked me questions. Reading was everything to me as an 8 year old.
I will never forget how my first day in my new classroom with my new classmates and
my new teacher made me such an avid reader. However, with age comes change, and change I
did.
As I grew older, reading became more of a hassle that I didnt have time for anymore. I
read when I had to for SSR in middle school or an assigned reading later on in high school. I got
to the point where I didn't enjoy reading at all, I detested it. I hated reading because there was
writing attached. I hated reading because I had no choice in what I was reading. I hated reading
because it wasnt what I wanted.
And then I came to college. I took a big step into what was going to be the rest of my life.
It was then that I realized that I needed reading. Reading had been my solace from the time I was
8 years old until it was ruined for me with age. I looked back upon a younger me and decided
that I needed to read. I needed to be able to escape this reality I was living sometimes. I needed
my books.

Peer Review
Hey, Dallas!
Overall, I really liked your literacy narrative. It was interesting, and it made me want to know
more. If I were you, I would consider adding a few more details, particularly about the books you
loved, to make the story even more compelling. I also felt like the shift from when you loved

reading to when you stopped loving it as much was pretty abrupt. You might want to add a
sentence or so transitioning between the two just so that the narrative reads a little smoother. As
far as grammar goes, you seemed to be fine for the most part. I did notice a couple run-on
sentences, though, and Im not sure if MC will take off points for that. If I were you, I would just
read back through it and make sure that you use commas before the conjunctions in your
compound sentences and things like that. I can point out an example of that in class if you want
me to. Thats all I can really think of right now, but if you have any questions or if you want my
opinion on anything else, just let me know!
See you in class!
Sam