For the month of December, we are going to talk about our work in literacy. Each friday, we are going to post a photo of a notable City Year community member getting caught reading!

Our first person is Kathryn Robinson, National Literacy Manager at HQ.

CY: What book are you reading?

Kathryn: I’m currently reading Estrella’s Quinceañera by Malín Alegría. It’s a great young adult book that focuses on main character Estrella Alvarez’s attempts at balancing the cultural influences of her home life with the seemingly more sophisticated lifestyles of her friends at her new private school.

CY: What do you like about it?

Kathryn: I picked this book up at the library because I was immediately drawn to the fact that it was a book about quinceañeras (a young woman’s fifteenth birthday party) and of course the picture of the big, froufrou dress on the front. I’m only a few chapters into the book right now, but what I like about it so far are the author’s vivid descriptions of these parties. They bring back memories I have of attending some of my classmates’ quinceañeras at our local Knights of Columbus hall in my hometown of Brazoria, Texas.

CY: Why is reading important?

Kathryn: Reading is important for so many reasons, but I think one of the biggest reasons for its importance is its ability to help people develop empathy. It affords you the ability to experience different cultures, take on varied perspectives, and learn from others in a way that many would otherwise not be able to do. This has been always been an important aspect of my own reading journey, and it is one I always hope to pass on to the students with which I work.