WHY
REACH?
When people discuss the power of reading, they often describe books as a way to “escape” reality. Turning the pages of a well-written story can make the stress of everyday life seem far away – but now, so can movies, social media, video games, television, and music. The world is saturated with escapism; what it lacks, indiGO Books' author Donna Boock believes, is genuine connection.
“People need a common denominator in order to connect, and books can be that,” Donna said. Growing up, Donna begged her mom, Josie, to read The Monster at the End of This Book over and over again – and every day, she did, with unflagging enthusiasm. This time was theirs alone (a treasure for any middle child with three sisters). While shaking with laughter at lovable old Grover’s antics, they subconsciously shaped core memories. Years later, Donna would still find herself reading The Monster at the End of This Book, but now, it was her own daughter, Riley, and son, Matthew, who eagerly curled up beside her to listen to the story.
A new chapter of Donna’s life began when she and her family moved to Venice, Florida, in 2016. She regularly called her mom, who was still living in Scranton, Pennsylvania, to check in and chat. They also took turns visiting each other throughout the year. During one trip in 2018, Donna noticed that her mom’s short-term memory was off.
“Look at that full moon,” Josie gasped, just as excited as she did the night before.
“We saw that yesterday, Mom,” Donna said.
“No, I don’t think I did.”
What seemed like a simple slip of the mind was actually the onset of dementia. By 2020, Josie’s memory began to decline rapidly, and in light of the global pandemic, she was unable to attend bible study or meet up with friends. Donna continued to call her, but she had a hard time holding a conversation, as Josie would forget what they had been talking about every couple minutes. Fortunately, Donna remembered the one thing that never failed to bring them together: books. When the phone calls became too difficult to carry on, she would ask Josie if she wanted to hear a short chapter from Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace In His Presence, a devotional collection – and, like The Monster at the End of This Book, they would read it over and over again.
Donna, who had recently opened her own publishing house, indiGO Books, saw books as bridges. Even though she and her mom were over a thousand miles apart, reading just a few pages together over the phone made it feel like they were side by side again. Donna witnessed the toll isolation takes on one’s wellness; when Josie passed away in 2023, she discovered how many people were struggling with the same issue.
Loneliness is on the rise in the United States, and its effect on health is devastating – similar to smoking fifteen cigarettes a day, according to Dr. Vivek Murthy. Recalling how books had enriched her relationship with her mom, Donna came up with a solution that could simultaneously reduce isolation and foster a lifelong love of reading.
Donna created the Reading Establishes a Connection Home (REACH) initiative in honor of Josie’s legacy, promoting empathy, compassion, and togetherness across generations. Here is how it works:
1. Young readers choose a REACH Partner – parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin – anyone who could use some connection.
2. Choose your books and start reading and connecting together. Each month, the REACH guides are sent to subscriber inboxes and will feature one suggested children's book with discussion questions and fun activities like crafts, recipes and games designed to coordinate with that book. You can also get creative and come up with activities to share using books you already have and love.
3. Schedule regular reading dates and mark them on your calendar. Don't forget to log your reading sessions in your tracker to track your awesome progress!
“This isn’t just about sharing stories; it’s about creating bonds that dissolve loneliness and its negative health impacts,” Donna explained.
Learn more about how to REACH out here.