'Keep dreaming, keep reading,' Oscar-winning actress Octavia Spencer tells Geneva kids
When she was growing up, Octavia Spencer had trouble reading. Due to dyslexia, the words were jumbled, and she would have to start again and again, losing interest.
But a teacher figured out that mystery stories might be a good way to keep Spencer engaged in reading.
"I'm reading today because of Encyclopedia Brown," the 44-year-old Oscar-winning actress told students from Geneva Middle Schools North and South at an assembly Thursday.
Her love of mysteries; her love of movies by martial-arts actors Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee; and a fondness for science experiments inspired her to write the "Randi Rhodes Ninja Detective" books for middle school readers.
Spencer, who won an Academy Award in 2012 for her role in "The Help," visited the schools to promote the second book in the series, "The Sweetest Heist." The visit was paid for by Anderson's Bookshop of Naperville.
"I wanted to write about the things that I love," Spencer said. Her novels include prompts for the reader to try things, such as dressing incognito, hiding a secret message in an eggshell or writing in code. The young heroine of the books has a black belt in tae kwon do.
Spencer signed books for students and some adults.
In Vincent Castellano's copy, she inscribed "Keep reading!" Castellano said he especially likes the experiments and tests in the back of the books, one of which is "How to Open a Locked Door."
"I'm going to try it at home," he said.
Others were advised to "Keep dreaming."
She also posed for photographs with many of the students and talked about the rain - "We need it back at home (in Los Angeles). My grass is so dry." She asked one girl if she was reading the "Twilight" books, and was pleased when the girl said "No."
"Good girl, you are too young for 'Twilight,' " Spencer said.
Students asked her what she read growing up, and Spencer said she loved "Nancy Drew" mysteries. She said she can't choose whether acting or writing is her favorite thing to do, and admitted she is "stuck right now" as she writes the third book in the series.
Students asked who she based characters on. "Me, people that I know, and me," she said, laughing.
She also gave the students a homework assignment. They were write a letter to themselves with their most "outlandish" dream, to be opened five years from now. And in the meantime, when they are having a bad day or a rough time, they should think about that dream, and "Do one little thing that will help you get there," Spencer said.