Back Porch Book Chat: Miranda Collingridge (High school senior and social media intern)

Back Porch Book Chat: A casual, virtual conversation about books. Join us as we chat with book lovers like ourselves about a topic we all love! Our guest today is Miranda Collingridge, a high school senior who is currently our social media intern. Miranda and Betsy know each other in “real life,” and today, we’re introducing her to the rest of Redeemed Reader. Interview conducted by Betsy.

Getting to Know Miranda

Before we begin, tell us what beverage you’d like as we sit in our rocking chairs on this winter day: Sweet tea? Lemonade? La Croix? Ice water? It’s not summer yet, so perhaps you’re thinking hot chocolate or chai or something else warm and cozy.

A hot chocolate sounds good right about now. I also really enjoy a nice cup of hot apple cider.

Miranda, you and I have known each other for five years now, but our Redeemed Reader community doesn’t know you as well. Tell us a bit about your family/friends, your schooling, and your favorite ways to spend your time when not in school.

I live with my parents and brother and sister in Washington. My dad is a pastor, and my mom is a stay at home mom. I have been homeschooled my whole life. This year I am a senior and am still homeschooled but also attending Tri Tech skills center to learn more about digital arts and filmmaking. I like to spend my free time hanging with friends. I also like to video edit and read.

Readers, what Miranda didn’t tell you is that she is also an amazing swimmer!

Reading in the Midst of Real Life

Miranda, I know you enjoying reading as does your family. Tell us what books have you or your family particularly enjoyed this past year? 

Right before school started this year I read The Hunger Games trilogy. It is now one of my favorite book series. I have not had too read many books for school yet this year. Though, I will be starting The Pilgrim’s Progress shortly.

Ooh, Redeemed Reader is a big fan of The Pilgrim’s Progress!

We obviously love books at Redeemed Reader, and we love passing along good tips for making reading happen in the midst of a busy school year. I know you enjoy reading, too. How do you decide which books to read for fun? How do you juggle your school reading with your leisure reading? 

I normally just read books that look interesting to me, or a book or series that my friends really liked. My friends and I like to read a lot of the same things. I also usually read for fun in the summer, due to a busy schedule in the school year.

Yes! Books are so much more enjoyable with friends. I remember having to wait until summer for most of my recreational reading when I was in school, too.

Books to Movies: I know you enjoy a good movie, Miranda! Can you tell us what book-to-movie adaptions you’ve enjoyed or found especially thought-provoking? Do you always read the book first? 

I do usually read the book first! It’s just what my parents made me do when I was younger and I continue to do it today. I liked the Pride and Prejudice BBC adaption of the book. It was really good. Some of the others I really enjoyed were The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and The Hunger Games.

Those are all movies our family enjoys, too! (Except that my kids haven’t yet read The Hunger Games, though, and none of us have seen the movie. We’ll have to get your thoughts when we do.)

To Infinity and Beyond!

Miranda, you’re interning with us this semester as a social media coordinator. You’re also learning about digital arts and media in general. What drew you to this field of study? What sorts of things would you like to do in the future?

I’ve always enjoyed video making. I have been making short videos and music videos since I was little. I also like the social media side of things. Combining the two is something I find exiting and interesting to do, and I hope to do something like that in the future.

Any last thoughts on reading as a teenager? Do you have any favorite Christian/biblical resources you use?

I think, especially as a teenager, you should always think about what you read and its implications to history or the present world. Even in fictional works, you can learn about what was going on during the time it was written or you can learn more about the author. My writing teacher taught me this, and it has opened my eyes to so much. Not just in books, but also in movies and just the world around me.

That’s an excellent note to end on, Miranda. You’re absolutely right that everything we read can inform our thinking. It’s especially interesting during this pandemic uncertainty to read and think about other times of national crisis or upheaval.

Related Reading from Redeemed Reader

• A Resource: 20th Century Book List (a great list to follow-up with Miranda’s last point!)
• Other Back Porch Book Chats
• An Interview: Another interview with a teen–about her experience with our reading challenge