I think for most people, and certainly myself, there is one book that they can look back on as having a profound effect on them. It’s probably not a classic, or it might be. Depending on how voraciously you read it might have come earlier or later in your life.

I remember very clearly that book.

I was about 8 years old, not exactly sure, but I could probably dig up the age range because it was while my father was living on a neighboring island. I’m sure I would have forgotten this weekend if it weren’t for that book. As it is, I can recall climbing up a tree for my dad to wire an orchid he’d bought on a branch. I spent a lot of time climbing trees as a kid, so asking me to go up was quicker and easier than digging out a ladder, which he might not have had renting the house. Whatever, my skills were useful, and as the youngest of four, being asked to do anything that wasn’t drudgework was exciting.

That evening he went to the bookshelf and picked one out. Now, we, my whole family aside from my mother, are Readers. It is our default escapist activity, not television, but books. He wandered over and handed me a paperback, saying that he thought I’d like it. I liked the cover, a lot. It had a girl and baby dragons. It looked perfect.

It was Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey.

My father was a quiet man by nature and profession, but all those years wondering if he loved me, I just have to recall a few memories and know that he always did. This book was perfect. Menolly’s struggle encapsulated how I felt stuck on a tiny island in the middle of the ocean with no escape. Wishing for more and feeling forgotten as the last and least pressing problem, aka child. I think I spent more hours scouring the wave-pitted rocks than swimming that summer in search of fire lizard eggs. I knew they didn’t really exist, but I was certain something important was waiting for me to find it, a fire lizard would be a plus—totally was not ruling them out.

Things I found:

Moray eels, up close and personal. Just a tip, don’t stick your head in first while checking out a cave.
All the ripest sea grapes, which after sucking down sea water all day tastes pretty darn sweet.
A patch of fire coral to avoid, and of course it had juvenile jewel damselfish that my sister was obsessed about catching for our aquarium and involved HOURS to catch with a large glass peanut butter jar. Telling you, I have skills.

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Truth is, I’ve read this book a few times and multiple versions because between moving and hurricanes, books are not always permanent. I often donate books and either borrow them again or buy another copy if I really want it. So, thinking back I’m not sure which cover was the one that graced that first reading.

Now Me wants the memory to be the first cover, but I think I would have been even more excited and remembered the red-haired heroine on the cover. I suspect it was the more stylized image with the prominent pipes featured. Regardless of the cover, Dragonsong made me believe that even the least important member of the family had a chance of being more.