Thanks to a gift from her grandmother, Sonja Sherrer learned at an early age not only that words have power, but they can also lead to discovering your passion. In today’s installment of Thank-a-Book Tuesday, Sherrer shares the book that changed her life.

Name: Sonja Sherrer

Occupation: Juvenile Offender Caseworker

What is the book that changed your life? Maya Angelou: Poems

Tell me about the book. A compilation of poems written by Maya Angelou.

Why did it impact you? During 1990–1991, when I was about 12 years old, my maternal grandmother gave me this book because I was always interested in reading other poetry from authors like Langston Hughes. I think those years of a young girl’s life are pivotal. In culmination with being a pre-teen, I had just lost my grandfather. He and I had a very close relationship. This book pulled me in and made me feel good about anything that I was dealing with during those years. While many girls were showing off their nice clothes or hairstyles, I was excited about my new book. I would take it down the street in the neighborhood to share with my older aunt and cousins. Sometimes they would borrow my book to see why it was such a big deal. Not only did this book take me away from anything I was dealing with, it introduced me to my love of words and writing. Words and writing have saved me ever since that time. I write regardless of emotion. If I am feeling down, I write and instantly feel like a load was lifted from my shoulders. I feel free. I feel happy. I have coined Maya Angelou as my favorite superhero because it was her words that gave me life and a realization of my passion.

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