Flashback: Meeting Mr. Skye

The beginning of February last year, Jake was given an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. As a 6th grader, he was selected by his principal to introduce a guest author who would be coming to do an assembly at the school. The author: Obert Skye.

Never heard of him. But he was on a book tour across the nation to promote his final book in a trilogy about dragons...something that Jake really loved at the time. I purchased the book for him so he could have the author sign in.

It wasn't until I did a little searching online that I realized a) this author wrote the Leven Thumps series (which I had heard of) and b) he's a Latter-day Saint!

This was getting better and better by the minute.

I made arrangements to come to the assembly so I could record it. I got there a little early and was able to introduce myself to Mr. Skye as Jake's mom and take pictures. I asked the principal...how on EARTH were we able to get a young adult author to come and speak at our school?? She said that he was doing a book tour and the contact at Hillsboro Public Library just started calling elementary schools in the district to see who would be interested. I was SHOCKED when the rep from the library said there were only a couple of schools out of the 25 that agreed to have him come. WHAT are these schools THINKING??? Turning down a free assembly with an AUTHOR?????? For shame.

Mr. Skye came up to me later and said that Jake is an incredible kid...engaging him in great conversation. Mr. Skye was really impressed and said "What kid talks like that? He's amazing."

Jake asked Mr. Skye to sign his book for him. And he did--thanking Jake in advance for being the one to introduce him.

The assembly was great. Mr. Skye is a one super cool dude and had some great stories to tell. After the assembly, Jake made an interesting discovery. When he was reading his book the night before, he took the jacket cover off. In his rush that morning to not forget the book, he threw the cover on quickly, not paying attention to what he was doing. When Mr. Skye signed his book, he opened it and signed the inside front cover. Except that the sleeve was on upside down so he really signed it upside down on the back cover. :)

Jake showed it to me, a little embarrassed about his mistake. I laughed and said, "Go show Mr. Skye." When he did, Mr. Skye was wonderful and signed it on the front cover and wrote "This way is up" :) Jake also got a signed "Ambush" poster.

Jake flew through the "Pillage" trilogy books (Pillage, Choke, & Ambush) and it was extremely fitting that this year for Valentine's day, his Grandparents Lee sent him the first book in the Leven Thumps series since we haven't read them yet.

Here's Jake with another 6th grader in charge of the sound system, the principal Mrs. Schofield and Obert Skye.

Jake and Mr. Skye.

The signing of the book...I think this was the "first" attempt :) Fun, fun, fun!