The hands of sixth graders jumped into the air inside the auditorium at Whitehall-Coplay Middle School last Thursday, Oct. 11, as author Jordan Sonnenblick asked the students what books of his they read.

Sonnenblick visited the school to speak to the students about inspiration.

"I won't be talking about my books," he said. "I don't want to bore you; I want to talk to you about how to become a happy grown-up."

Sonnenblick spoke about his childhood and some of the difficulties he faced. For example, his parents divorced.

He told the students he wished he could return to earlier years and tell himself how to become a happy adult.

"It's a two-step deal," he said. "Think of something you're good at and love to do, but not videos games. That's step one."

Sonnenblick explained that most adults who live happy lives are happy because they are doing something they love to do. He explained his wish was to become a drummer, teacher and a writer.

He told the students how he became a teacher and how he would play drums in a band on the weekends, but he wasn't writing a book just yet.

Sonnenblick said a student of his inspired him to write his first book, "Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie."

The student gave Sonnenblick trouble in school, but he learned she had a brother who had cancer and he decided to try to find a book for her she could relate to.

He couldn't find a book, so he wrote one.

"You have the power to do two things," he said. "You have the power to annoy, or inspire people, but you have to decide which you want to do."

Sonnenblick closed the speech by sharing with the students the second step to becoming a happy adult.

"Step two is finding a way to use your talent to make someone else's life better," he said.

At the close of the event, Principal Pete Bugbee thanked Sonnenblick for visiting and giving a fun and inspirational speech.

"Find your dream and go after it," Bugbee told the students.