“But it’s not just learning things that’s important. It’s learning what to do with what you learn and learning why you learn things at all that matters.”

The Phantom Tollbooth is one of my favorite stories of all time. Firstly, it is just brimming with puns and play on words that never fail to make me laugh (i.e., How do you get to the Island of Conclusions? By jumping!). The author's use of literary concepts in such a literal sense is absolutely ingenious and makes for an entertaining read (the more you understand said literary concepts, the more enjoyment you get out of the story).

But beyond the humor, this novel impresses upon the reader the value and delight in always being curious and creative. It's a lesson I think children as well as adults can take away from. As long as you have imagination and an eagerness to learn, the world will never be as boring as you believe.

At a time in my life where things seem to be simply dragging on, it's good to have a reminder that adventure is all around us. You just have to look.