Kylan Jerrell by Kylan Wheeler Jerrell

Fairy Tales (0-4 Years)

kylanwheeler1 — 2025-08-20 21:54:09 UTC

My Grandma begins to read classic Fairy tales, such as "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" and "Rapunzel" to me.

The Magic Tree House (Years 6-7)

kylanwheeler1 — 2025-08-20 21:55:29 UTC

In Elementary school, I begin to pick up books such as Captain Underpants, The Magic Treehouse, and Big Nate by Dav Pilkey, Mary Pope Osborne, and Lincoln Peirce, respectively. Roald Dahl becomes one of my favorite authors.

Early Middle School (11-12 Years)

kylanwheeler1 — 2025-08-20 21:56:59 UTC

I begin to read JK Rowling's "Harry Potter" books.

Science Fiction (13 Years)

kylanwheeler1 — 2025-08-20 21:57:44 UTC

I move from smaller books to others, such as Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy collection.

Accelerated Reader Prize (Year 8)

kylanwheeler1 — 2025-08-20 21:59:45 UTC

I win first place for having the most reading points in my grade and am encouraged to read more challenging books.

Video Games and Movies (Years 13-15)

kylanwheeler1 — 2025-08-20 22:01:54 UTC

I begin to play video games and swap stories with friends, quickly developing a love for storytelling.

Lord of the Flies (15)

kylanwheeler1 — 2025-08-20 22:03:08 UTC

I read The Lord of the Flies by William Golding in my sophomore year of high school; I didn't enjoy it.

Percy Jackson (Year 12)

kylanwheeler1 — 2025-08-20 22:04:30 UTC

I read the five original Percy Jackson books by Rick Riordan and expand my love of fantasy novels.

Poetry (15)

kylanwheeler1 — 2025-08-20 22:05:46 UTC

I begin a fascination with the poet Emily Dickinson.

The Life of Pi and The Catcher in the Rye (15)

kylanwheeler1 — 2025-08-20 22:07:03 UTC

Both books listed make me have an emotional response like never before, whether it be weeping or incredulity at the endings; I begin to read more and more, discussing with my eldest brother as I go.

English Class (Age 16)

kylanwheeler1 — 2025-08-20 22:08:00 UTC

I take my heaviest English class and read F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried, and multiple short stories, as well as other novels. The instructor fosters a long-lasting love of literature in me.

Stream-of-consciousness (Age 17)

kylanwheeler1 — 2025-08-20 22:10:32 UTC

My older brother presents Faulkner's As I Lay Dying, which blows my mind and further stretches what writing can be to me; I develop an interest in other stream-of-consciousness works such as Toni Morrison's Beloved and am both captivated and confounded forever.

First Shakespeare (Age 14)

kylanwheeler1 — 2025-08-20 22:12:26 UTC

I am required to read a summarized version of Romeo and Juliet due to time constraints, which I find upsetting.

Return to Shakespeare (16)

kylanwheeler1 — 2025-08-20 22:13:06 UTC

I return to Shakespeare and begin to love his work.

Decision to Major in English (Age 18)

kylanwheeler1 — 2025-08-20 22:15:10 UTC

Switches from a Music Major Path to that of English.

Continuing Studies (Age 19)

kylanwheeler1 — 2025-08-20 22:15:46 UTC

Continues with the English Major path and considers teaching English in secondary education.

Anything and Everything (Ages 4-5)

kylanwheeler1 — 2025-08-20 22:17:15 UTC

I go through my family's bookshelves to see what I can find, magazines included. Comic books stand out to me.

Introducing Myself

kylanwheeler1 — 2025-08-20 22:35:01 UTC

Hello, everyone! My name is Kylan Jerrell, and I am in my third semester here at SIUE. My literature journey began small, like most of us, but, at least for me, little by little grew into what it is now. From fairy tales to meta-fiction and modernism (and all what lies between and beyond), my curiosity has never waned with the help of friends, family, and colleagues, and I am always looking for my next good read and discussion, either assigned or chosen. I am grateful for my eldest brother, Langdon, who has always fostered curiosity within me and always has me asking the question “why”?--A question I never want to stop asking.

The Boxcar Children (Age 6)

kylanwheeler1 — 2025-08-20 23:10:48 UTC

My aunt Jean Jean introduces my twin and me to the Boxcar Children books by Gertrude Chandler Warner, having us hang on every word.