There is a quote by George R. R. Martin that goes, “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, the man who never reads lives only one.” I have found this to be true all my life. I’ve read more books than I can count on my fingers and the number is only growing. Over the years, I have sailed the ocean and saved the world countless times. Since my favorite authors have given so much to me, I decided it was right for me to give them something as well. 

The first series that I fell in love with was Harry Potter. I received all seven books for Christmas when I was in second grade. Since then, I have read the series a total of three times and have been engulfed by this magical, incredible fantasy world. J.K Rowling created the first character I related to: Hermione Granger. I loved reading about this smart, important girl who looked very similar to me. She was strong, clever, and fearlessly protected her friends. These books have been a monumental part of my life for a long time and will continue to be. 

When I was in sixth grade, I was introduced to the incredible world of Rick Riordan. I flew through his first two series; Percy Jackson and the Olympians and The Heroes of Olympus. Both series fed the love for Greek mythology that I had fostered when I was younger. The books were both hilarious and heartbreaking at the same time. My favorite book from Percy Jackson and the Olympians was The Last Olympian. It is the final book in the series, and I have always loved that the majority of the book was the final, suspenseful battle. I have always enjoyed a good fight scene, and Riordan’s books have always contained plenty. My favorite book from The Heroes of Olympus was The Mark of Athena. The first two books consisted of world-building and in the third book, all the main characters were together for the first time and together they embarked on their quest to save the world. I have loved this book because all of my favorite characters are together and I got to enjoy reading their adventures as a group. I have also enjoyed the diversity of Riordan’s characters. He has always been great about creating a variety of different characters, and in recent years, has only used his vast platform for good. No matter how old I get, these books will always hold a special place in my heart. 

The final author that I consider one of my favorites is Libba Bray. She wrote the Diviners saga, whose final novel releases next year. Her writing style is poetic and contains beautiful figurative language. The series follows a group of teenagers living in New York in 1927 and the paranormal events that occur around them. Most of the main characters have supernatural powers, which is a literary trope that I have always loved. The characters are also very diverse, which is uncommon for a historical novel. The story shows the side of history that has often been erased from history.  The plot also appears to have many complex storylines going at once, but every plotline is intertwined with each other. My favorite is Before the Devil Breaks You. The main characters were all working together, the suspense increased, and I did not see the end coming. Although Bray is an author I discovered recently, she has easily become one of my favorites. 

Every one of these authors has shaped the way I think and how I view the world. J.K Rowling taught me to find the magic in everything. Rick Riordan taught me that anyone can be a hero, and Libba Bray taught me that there is more than meets the eye. They have been my greatest inspirations and played monumental roles in my life. While they may not mean much to you, they mean so much to me. 

Sophomore Olivia Post is a staff writer for the 2019-2020 Colonel. She is a member of Concert Choir and the secretary for the Class of 2022.  When she isn’t watching the Yankees or Brooklyn Nine-Nine, she enjoys reading.