Student Voices

Student Voices: Reading Reflections from Luna K., Lucas R., and Ava G.

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Reading Reflections

“What Draws Us to Our Favorite Characters?” by Luna K., 7th grade

You know the characters aren’t real, so why  is it that you can feel so much for them? Based on a study done by The University of Florida (UF) in 2022, people can form emotional connections with fictional characters by judging them, and their personality like they would with a real person. In this study, they also found that people are drawn to their favorite characters by relatability.

One of these reasons being relatability, according to Gregory Webster, that’s one of the reasons shows like Game of Thrones are so popular, it’s the fact that “there are no perfect good guys or perfect bad guys”, just characters with complexity, humanity, and the ability to improve themself like everyone else. When characters are like that it makes it easier to like them and see similarities between you and the characters instead of  fairy tail characters who were too perfect and unrelatable. People tend to look for people like them, and people they can relate to, typically starting around middle school age.  

Another one of these reason is empathy when seeing a character going through a painful/hurtful experience that you might have went through you feel for them you can manage to feel and empathize with some you haven’t even meet,someone how isn’t even real but when experiencing the characters point of view you can’t help but feel what they feel people collect so many experiences through the years so when seeing someone going through something similar experience it makes you connect and might even make the character more likable to some people.     

Why do you like your favorite character is it because you feel a connection with them because you relate to them or if you can empathize with their experiences. 

Sources
1.https://news. ufl.edu/2022/05/why-you-got-attached-to-your-favorite-character/
2. https://www.motionpictures.org/2013/07/the-psychology-of-character-bonding-why-we-feel-a-real-connection-to-actors/

“How a Single Manga Changed My Life” by Lucas R., 7th grade

A single book series was all it was to change my life. That book or should I say manga, still impacts me day-to-day. This manga is called One Piece.

One Piece is a manga and anime created by Eiichiro Oda, and it is about a boy called Monkey D. Luffy, who wants to become The King Of The Pirates and find the treasure that the previous Pirate King left behind. In fact One Piece has become the most selling Comic of all time. Yes, Comic, not manga, Comic. Meaning that One Piece has surpassed Superman and many other Comic books, although Superman has over 600 million copies in 88 years, One Piece has over 600 million copies and over 1200 episodes that are all 24 minutes in only 29 years and it’s still going. But this isn’t about One Piece, it’s about me and how this simple manga changed everything.

It all started in around 2021, when my brother introduced me to a silly anime called One Piece. I was invested in it, and then my brother gave me the site to watch it, and through the next 3 years I was watching it. When I would come home from school I would immediately get on my computer and start watching One Piece. And that introduced me to the entire world that is called Anime. Anime are cartoons or shows created in the art style and way of people in Japan. But unlike regular cartoons, anime can get serious and One Piece can get serious, fast. But because of One Piece, I have read/watched countless anime and manga. And all these anime have changed how I act and how I think. 

One Piece has many themes, some of which being to pursue your dreams and to be free. These simple themes resonate deep within me, although there are some themes that make me revolt in disgust, and Luffy (the main character) agrees with me, like corruption, human trafficking and many more. But Luffy often liberates countries from this corruption like what he did in Wano, where he liberated the entire country from the rule of somebody called Kaido and did many terrible things to the people of Wano. Or when he punched one of the world’s highest people called a celestial dragon because he wanted to own one of Luffy’s friends. These actions are what makes me love One Piece so much.

Along with themes, there are also quotes that feel right and give a giant impact about how many people see the world, not just me. For example Dr. Hiriluk says “When do you think people die? When they are shot through the heart by the bullet of a pistol? No. When they are ravaged by an incurable disease? No. When they drink a soup made from a poisonous mushroom? No. It’s when they are forgotten!” This quote has shown many people, myself included, that as long as people remember who they are and why they are, then they will never truly be forgotten for how great they are. And that includes relatives that may have passed away. In fact my grandfather passed away recently and no matter what I will never forget how great of a man he was, and to me. He will never truly be gone. Aside from that there are also quotes like “You can spill drinks on me, even spit on me. I’ll just laugh about it. But if you dare to hurt my friends… I won’t forgive you!” This basically says that nothing is more important than your friends. These quotes, when I first saw them, opened my eyes to One Piece and made me realize how deep One Piece can actually go, even if some moments are just fun and games, and how much I can apply these quotes to my life.

The world building in One Piece is also exceptional, the way that Oda makes the story fit to something he may have said over 100 chapters ago. It makes me aspire to be in the One Piece world myself, maybe somewhere like Sabaody Archipelago where I could enjoy being next to the world government, and living next to the ocean. Or maybe Egghead Island where I can explore the world’s most advanced technology. But at the beginning of the story, in chapter 1, there was a character named Shanks and he used this power that was only introduced 230 chapters later. I adore this aspect of One Piece because it shows how much thought Oda put into creating the environment and story.

One Piece has changed so much for me that I can’t even describe a small portion of it, but if I didn’t watch One Piece then I would be much, much different. For example: I wouldn’t have watched any anime/manga. And I severely doubt that I would be exactly the same as I am today. But, I can almost guarantee that if you watch One Piece, then your life will change too, one chapter or episode at a time.

Here are some mangas I recommend and love:

  • One Piece by Eiichiro Oda: One Piece has great world-building and characters. One Piece is also still going on even after over 20 years; and in march of this year, it has become the most selling comic of all time, even passing superman. One Piece is about a boy named Monkey D. Luffy and his adventure to becoming the King of the Pirates.
  • Re:Zero, My Life in Another World by Tappei Nagatsuki: Re:Zero first began as a light novel, but is now getting a manga adaptation. Re:Zero is about a high schooler called Subaru Natsuki and he was transported to another world. But his power is truly terrifying, every time he dies he comes back, with his memories and the pain. This is perfect if you want a dark isekai.
  • One Punch Man by One: One Punch man is a comedic manga about a guy that is so strong that he can defeat anyone with a single punch. But then he finds life to be too boring so he tries to find someone who does not get one-shot.
  • The Apothecary Diaries by Hyuganatsu: The Apothecary Diaries is about a girl called maomao who was kidnapped then sold off to the royal palace, but she is really into poisons and medicines. With her knowledge she solves many mysteries regarding many different topics.
  • Dr. Stone by Riichiro Inagaki: Dr Stone is about a boy called Senku who was considered a genius by his peers, but one day a bright green light showered the world causing every human to turn into stone for 3718 years and 302 days causing the entire world to turn back into the stone age. Using his knowledge he advances the world back to the modern era.
  • The Promised Neverland by Kaiu Shirai: The Promised Neverland is about a group of kids who live in an orphanage but one day one of the kid’s friends Conny was finally adopted. But she had forgotten something of hers, so some of her friends went to give it to her when she had left. But when they had found her about to be sent off they found out that she was dead.
  • Jujutsu Kaisen by Gege Akutami: You have probably heard of Jujutsu Kaisen as it blew up in fall of 2020. Jujutsu Kaisen or also known as JJK is about a boy called Yuji Itadori, who was a regular high school student but one day everything changed.
  • Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure by Hirohiko Araki: Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure is about an entire bloodline of the JoJo family and their common enemy, the Brando family. Their journeys are full of twists and turns as they go through centuries of hiding and chasing.
  • Shangri-La Frontier by Katarina: Shangri-La Frontier is about a boy named Hizotome who only played really bad VR games, but one day he decides to play a Really good game, and he has a lot of skill transferred from beating really bad games.
  • Classroom Of The Elite by Syougo Kinugasa: Classroom Of The Elite is about Ayonokoji who attends a school where you get “points” where you can buy anything, literally anything. But this school has a dangerous truth to it, the students all plan to expel each other. But you can buy back students with the points, specifically 2 million.

“Don’t Judge a Book By Its Cover (Don’t Judge Someone ‘Til You Know Them)” by Ava G., 7th grade

Some people don’t enjoy reading as much as others do. Then when people do try to read something, they look at the cover. Probably judging whether the book looks cool to read or not. It’s very common! A book can have such an interesting or amazing cover, but reading the back cover from a book is designed to hook new readers to get interested in the book! Kinda like what you can expect when reading. Some parts from the back cover gets readers more excited to read since a part could be cut off and then you really wanna read it to find out what happened or why it happened. I’ve read many books like that. They can be so detailed and can get people in the zone wanting to finish reading it. 

Let’s say you’re trying to find a new book to read. You could be more interested in Graphic Novels, Fiction, Non-Fiction, or Manga. People attend to have trouble finding something they might like to read. Try finding books with dull covers. Read their back cover to get into the book. Not all books may have a good back cover to make a reader wanna read it. Or some may do! The back cover is like a little summary about the book. They can leave crazy parts out. Some parts you might enjoy in the book. Making you want to really find out what’s going to happen next! I know it happens to me a lot when I read. Try reading a couple of pages in the first chapter, novel or anything. Look at pictures/drawings from graphic novels and manga! 

For example: You’re in your school library and you would probably need to find a book. Try some books like One of Us is Lying. It’s a mystery book with horror and very surprising twists and turns. Another is The Giver. This book might seem weird since of elderly guy on the cover but it’s about a community after a huge war. Everyone is assigned one job forever on their 12th birthday and no one knows what real love and emotions are! Maybe you like romance! The Summer I Turned Pretty was a huge one I loved. Many others did too. It’s about two families growing up together with the moms being best friends since around high school. Then crazy love and drama happen. For really any books that might not seem so wanting to read, try it. 

These can be some other book options: Places We’ve Never Been, You’ve Reached Sam, Hunger Games, Smile, A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder, Never Have I Ever, The Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Shatter Me, and so much more!! You have to try something. No matter what! Try something you may not like, then find something else instead! That’s okay. 

You probably never knew this but book covers are kinda like people. You might have switched schools before or even met someone new at your school. Most people go straight to their looks rather than asking stuff about them. You never know how someone is till you get to know one another. This is so similar to books. Everyone goes to judging what they see with their own eyes first, rather than reading/meeting them.  People in your school might be quiet all the time but you don’t know who they are. People could have brilliant minds, great at drawings, amazing writers, incredibly kind and talented! 

Thank you so much to my student voices today and their look at reading within their lives!

Student Voices: The Importance of Nonfiction from Kathy R. and Elise A.

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Importance of Nonfiction

“Are Nonfiction Books Actually Difficult or Are You Just Reading Nonfiction Books Wrong?” by Kathy R., 7th grade

Books are loved worldwide and pretty much everywhere, it comes in all formations and genres but the two main ways to separate books are in fiction and non-fiction. Fiction is formally more popular since it allows the reader to escape their worries and focus on the imaginative story they are reading. On the other hand non-fiction is usually depicted as boring and written with a ‘fact-heavy’ tone. But most of the time non-fiction isn’t a difficult read, maybe you are reading non-fiction the wrong way.

Finding the different types of non-fiction literature

There is a variety of types of non-fiction literature like history, science, biographies, essays. Going deeper into non-fiction there are types of books like narrative nonfiction which is telling a real life story in the form of a story, this is an easier way to read nonfiction if you are used to reading more story-like books. Another few examples are Art books if you are more on the art side of the reading spectrum, music is another example of reading non-fiction like a ‘how to’ book on learning the violin. Exploring these genres will help you find which is just right for you. Most of the time when people call non fiction ‘too hard’, it’s almost always because they are reading books that they can’t connect to or learn anything about said topic. 

What to avoid when reading non-fiction books

Other times people rush or try reading multiple genres at once which can lead to not understanding what you just read and not learning anything.  Arun Suresh, Finding It Difficult to Read Non-Fiction? You’re Probably Reading It the Wrong Way: “It’s common for people to switch between genres and read a variety of books on a variety of topics. It gives them a feeling of gaining knowledge of different subjects, but in the longterm, they won’t remember most of it. Which is why you should stick with a genre or two.” Frankly, one of the most important things to do while reading non fiction is to take in some of the information you’re gaining from that book. Why do the exact opposite by reading everything and anything at the same time? It completely defeats the purpose.

Tips when it comes to reading non-fiction

When it comes to reading non fiction there are a few tips and tricks that can help you greatly in understanding what you’re reading a little bit more. How to Read More Nonfiction (and Actually Enjoy It) gives a few examples such as:

  • Annotating your book with a highlighter and or sticky tabs 
  • Starting a non-fiction book with a friend or book club
  • Skimming through chapters and getting the main details
  • Set small goals that are easy to digest

Why should people go through all the troubles of reading a non-fiction book? What’s in it for them in the end?

The biggest question of all is why? Why is reading non-fiction important? Why should people go through the process of reading non-fiction? The best answer I can give you is that it helps you to learn and understand the world around us. You see, non-fiction as a whole is diverse and every book you read on one topic can help you understand more chapter by chapter. Every time you read something informational no matter what your age is you can learn and expand your knowledge. 

Some non-fiction books I could recommend to people

Here are a couple books that I would recommend to people with a variety of what the books are about!

Conclusion and final thoughts

In conclusion, non-fiction in a whole may seem ‘too complex’ and ‘overly academic’ but the truth is non-fiction and informational literature is for us to be able to understand more about this world we live in. Non-fiction may not be for everyone but it is better to try than and see if there is a book for you than to not give it a try. 

“I Think Readers Should Read More Nonfiction” by Elise A., 8th grade

Nonfiction should be promoted better because it is useful for learning different facts about life, history, science and any topic you like.

I’m not saying that reading fiction is bad. But they attract more people to them because of how popular they are which leads to more people buying them or checking them out unlike nonfiction books that are not that popular.

Nonfiction is also keeping our history alive. It tells us about our past and gives kids something to base our future off of. If we didn’t have the books then we won’t remember how different things changed and adapted to different environments.

Nonfiction shows real information all the way through and shows more facts than anything else. Some people may look at nonfiction and say that it’s boring but it’s just that they aren’t reading about a topic that they enjoy, they just pick up a nonfiction book and start reading instead of picking one that interests them.

Nonfiction books to read

There are many history books that can be used to promote like: 

  • The Rediscovery of America by Ned Blackhawk
  • Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly
  • Night Flyer: Harriet Tubman by Tiya Miles

There are many science books that can be used to promote like:

  • The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
  • Being Mortal by Atul Gawande
  • Lab Girl by Hope Jahren

These books are a good example of books to read to better understand certain subjects in school or everyday life.

Personally I like books about presidents. I look at those to understand how the new presidents are different from past presidents.

Nonfiction vs Fiction

As you can see based on this graph there is a good amount of people who read nonfiction but it’s smaller in comparison to the people who read fiction. This shows that nonfiction isn’t disappearing, it’s just in the shadow of fiction.

But the thing is that most of the time people look at the books, and they judge it based on the cover.

Also, fiction isn’t the only type of books with series nonfiction also has series. Fiction series continue the story the author made up while nonfiction books show how different things in life are connected like how different parts of history are connected.

How librarians and educators could make it so their nonfiction books are something people want to read.

So I think to make nonfiction books look more appealing to people is to have it more in color or just more fun. If you make the area look more fun, like after you read the book, have people color by number with facts that they learn.

The reason to do all of this is because there are many fiction book activities like people have made many word searches for fiction books. So if the nonfiction books have activities then it will feel like something people read a lot convincing people to read them. Or have them take a quiz so they know what type of nonfiction books to look for kinda like finding different genres people like except there are science, history, and geography nonfiction books.

To conclude, nonfiction books should be read more because there are many good nonfiction books that need to get more love!

Thank you so much to my student voices today and their look at reading nonfiction!

Student Voices: Books and Characters We Love from Abigail D., Ranim A., Nicolle D., and Aseel H.

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Books and Characters We Love

“Books with a Meaningful Quotes and What They Mean to Me” by Abigail D., 8th grade


The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

“Stay gold, Ponyboy, stay gold”
What this quote means to me is that the love and care Jonny was giving to Ponyboy even when he was in his last few moments he still made sure that his last words were meant for Ponyboy. This story line has impacted me in so many ways where it’s not even describeable to explain how much this book changed me but in the best way possible.


It’s Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han

“And no matter what you do or how hard you try, you can’t stop yourself from dreaming.”
What this quote means to me is that there is always still hope and faith at the end even when it gets tough there’s always light at the end of the tunnel. You just need faith and believe in yourself that you can do anything if you put your mind to it.


Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han

“Peter and Lara Jean will always tell each other the truth even if it’s hard.”
What this quote means to me is that their love is so strong and they know it may be hard but they’ll get through it together because they have earned trust in each other that makes their relationship so strong. Their bond is something unbreakable and to cherish every moment of. 


The Cartoonists Club by Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud

“Drawing some kinds of feelings might mean mixing in both facial expressions and body language.”
What this quote means to me is that they are showing feelings in many different forms which shows creativity which I admire so much. Finding your interest through many styles is something that is hard but is something that is capable of achieving.


Guts by Raina Telgemeier

“It takes guts to face your fears.”
What this quote means to me is that you may be scared or afraid to face things you may be scared, anxious, or nervous about but you need to have faith in yourself that you can do it. Trust your gut. I believe that you never know until you try and what this book shows is that you have to trust yourself and give things a try.


Real Friends by Shannon Hale

“Growing up means things change.”
What this quote  means to me is that as you grow, things can’t always stay the same forever. Change in people’s life can be handled in multiple ways but that’s how you move forward in life. You have to take risks to know what is the right thing to do and if it ends in the other direction, you always learn from your mistakes.


When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed

“Those who are lost look to the stars that lead them home.”
What this quote means to me is that home doesn’t always have to be a place, it could also be a person. Having your home as a person can mean multiple things such as family, friends, etc.


Smile by Raina Telgemeier

“Something happens when you smile at people. They smile back.”
What this quote means to me is that showing kindness to people can make someone’s whole day brighter. Having something so little just as a friendly smile can impact a lot more than you know.


Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

“Be yourself and people will like you.”
What this quote means to me is that people have to learn and acknowledge you to know the true you, not just the image you show but the other factors you have. Being your true self is a way to find people with the same interest you do.


All Summer Long by Hope Larson

“Okay, but do you know that feeling when you hear a great song, and it’s like the song knows you? That’s what music is for.”
What this quote means to me is that when I listen to something that I enjoy, it’s relaxing and makes me feel more at peace. Finding something that makes you feel so relaxed and calm is so nice, especially with music. With music you listen to a sound or beat and it’s all you can hear in the world.

“Thriller Books That Are Actually Good For Middle Schoolers” by Ranim A., 8th grade

If you think thriller books are all super scary or violent or just “ too much “, that’s not really true. There are actually a lot of thriller and mystery books that are really good for middle schoolers. They still have suspense, and plot twists, but without anything too inappropriate.

In my opinion, thriller books are some of the best books to read at this age because they keep you interested. Like, instead of forcing yourself to read something you don’t like, you actually want to know what happens next.

Why Thriller Books Are Actually Good For Middle Schoolers

Thrillers aren’t just for entertaining, they’re actually pretty helpful too.

  • They make you think and solve clues 
  • They improve problem solving skills
  • They keep you interested in reading
  • They help you understand characters and decisions

A lot of middle grade thrillers are written specifically for ages 11-14, meaning they avoid graphic content and keep things appropriate while still being exciting.

Also these types of books usually focus more on mystery, puzzles, and adventure instead of anything too intense or mature.

What Makes A Thriller “Age Appropriate?”

Before recommending books, it’s important to understand what makes them okay for middle schoolers : 

  • Language is appropriate 
  • Romance ( or if any it would be pretty limited )
  • Focuses on mostly mystery and adventure 

This is why middle grade thrillers are different from older teen thrillers. They’re exciting but not overwhelming.

Best Thriller Books For Middle Schoolers

Here are some really good options that are popular and are actually pretty enjoyable:


Framed! by James Ponti

  • About a kid who solves mysteries using observation skills
  • Feels like a detective story but fun and recent
  • Easy to read but still really interesting 

This book is great because it focuses on solving puzzles instead of anything scary or inappropriate 


Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens

  • Set in a boarding school 
  • Two girls start a detective club
  • They investigate a suspicious death

Even though it sounds pretty intense, it’s written in a lighter, more “ cozy mystery “ way so it’s still appropriate for younger readers.


The Jumbies by Tracie Baptiste 

  • Super creepy but also really fun 
  • Based on Caribbean folklore
  • A girl has to face mysterious creatures 

This book is a perfect example of a thriller that’s scary but not too scary. It’s described as having “ just the right amount of scary for middle schoolers “.


Small Spaces by Katherine Arden

  • A spooky mystery involving a strange book and a creepy farm
  • Strong main character 
  • Lots of suspense 

It’s popular because it mixes mystery and horror in a way that’s still appropriate for middle school readers.


Swipe by Evan Angler

  • Set in a futuristic world 
  • Kids have to decide whether to follow a strict system 
  • Includes mystery and rebellion 

This one is more of a thriller with action and deeper ideas, but it’s still written for middle grade readers.


Mostly Ghostly series by R.L. Stine

  • About a boy who can see ghosts 
  • Mix of mystery, humor, and suspense
  • Not too scary, more fun than terrifying

This series is actually made for ages 11-14 so it’s right in the middle school range.

Why These Books Work

All of these books have something in common : 

  • They keep you guessing 
  • They’re exciting but not appropriate 
  • They focus on story not shock 

Thriller books for middle schoolers are designed to build interest in reading. They give you that feeling like “ what happens next? “ without crossing content that’s too mature.

Final Thoughts

Overall, thriller books are honestly one of the best genres for middle schoolers. They’re not boring, they’re not too childish, and they actually make reading fun.

If someone says “ they don’t like reading “ I feel like they just haven’t found the right thriller yet. Once you find a good one, it’s really hard to stop.

So yeah thrillers aren’t just for adults. There are tons of age appropriate ones out there that are exciting, interesting, and are actually worth reading.

“Ten Book Characters I Would Want to Be Friends With” by Nicolle D., 6th grade

My New Life As a Cat: A character I would want to be friends with in My New Life as a Cat is Chika because she’s so sweet she’s so gentle with Nao. And her friends seem so cool. I hundred percent want to be friends with Chika and her friend group her friends seem so cool and nice.

Phoebe And Her Unicorn In The Magic Storm: A character I would want to be friends with in Phoebe and Her Unicorn in the Magical Storm is the dragon. The reason I would want to be friends with the dragons is that the dragon was so gentle and sweet and had to have someone understand her.

Places We’ve Never Been: A character I would want to be friends with in Places We’ve Never Been. He cared for Norah so much but Norah was already interested in Skyler. Tyler helped her out so much he was so sweet. Tyler understood her and that’s a good friend even if she doesnt like him he still understood her.

Take a Chance On Me: A character I would want to be friends with in Take a Chance on Me is Poppy. Poppy was Evie’s dads ex ex-girlfriend but she cared about Evie like she was her own daughter and talked to her when things were going down for Evie and I would want to be friends with someone who will be there for me. 

Dork Diaries: I Love Paris!: A character I would want to be friends with in Dork Diaries is Nicky. I would like to be friends with Nicky so I can go to Paris with her and Nicky is very sweet so she would be nice to hangout with especially in Paris.

Ghoulfriends Forever: A character I would like to be friends with in Ghoulfriends Forever is Frankie. I would want to be friends with Frankie because she’s so cool and I would love to join her on her adventures.

Invisible: A character I would want to be friends with is all of the characters. I want to be friends with all of them because I can help them help Lisa and her mom. Plus everyone in that group is so nice.

The Dot: I would want to be friends with the girl in the end of The Dot to teach her about art in the most creative ways. She had the same story as the main character she thought she could never draw, but I could be friends with her and show her. 

Dog Man: Dog Man is a really nice guy and I would want to be friends with him because I’d love to help the world with him. He has saved so many lives and i could join him with his adventures.

Wimpy Kid: Hot Mess: I would like to be friends with the famous dog. She was such a classy girl, and I would love to gain fame. Maybe we can make an account together and post together. We could go on little trips!

“My Top 5 Books and Why” by Aseel H., 6th grade


Blood in the Water by Tiffany D. Jackson

Why I personally chose this book as my favorite of all time is because it was one of the first books that I actually really loved and couldn’t wait to keep reading and reading,  that book was probably the only thing I even wanted to do and the first book that took me only 3 days to finish and its actually rare for that but for this book I don’t even know how to describe it cause I haven’t always been a fan of books but if I can I would make all my books that I read be like this one because my actually love for this book  is crazy and shocking especially for me I mean I didn’t really expect it to be this good but it really is and I  just have no words to describe how much I enjoyed reading this book 


All Fall Down by Ally Carter

Why I like this book is because basically Grace is a complex, often nervous and, at times, unreliable narrator who is dealing with trauma, making her journey to find her mother’s killer deeply compelling and “unflinching”. The plot is full of twists and turns, often leaving readers guessing about the truth of Grace’s claims and the true nature of the characters around her. Its kinda basically A strong, eclectic group of teenagers aids in breaking down the mystery, and that’s why I love the book so much


The Miscalculations Of Lighting Girl by Stacy McAnulty

Why I like this book a lot  is because like basically its about a girl named Lucy Callanan that was struck by lighting but instead of dying she survived and also got genius level math skills, and ever since that day she has been home schooled, (I mean she’s 12 but she could actually go to college for how smart she is so yeah), and I just loved the book because of everything that happened and just the book in general, I mean I just have no wards to describe how much I enjoyed reading this book and for a fact that’s kinda rare for me to say.


Jacky Ha Ha by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein

Why I enjoyed reading this book is because I read this book in my summer before middle school and then I really had no interest in books then but that was the first book that I actually enjoyed for a long time ( that was probably the only one I enjoyed cause like i said before i had no interest )  and just me waiting to open the book without someone forcing me to is also one of the reasons I really enjoyed this book cause I wanted to open the book and read I wanted to finish it nobody made me I wanted and that is just rare for me to want that so that’s probably why I really enjoyed this book.


Dork Diaries Crush Catastrophe by Rachel Renée Russell

Why really liked this book is because like basically its like it has so many things stuff happening in the story like high-stakes romantic drama, relatable middle-school stuff and with her having to go through a love triangle and that without all this stuff in the story it wouldn’t be as good and why I choose this book out of the whole series is like that it was hard but because there’s so many stuff in the story that make the story really amazing and thats why I choose this one for the one I enjoyed a lot . 

“My Top 10 Characters and Why” by Aseel H., 6th grade


Jacky Hart

Why I choose this character as my favorite is because I like the way she lives life, her personality, her style for life and how she growing beyond her need to make others laugh, and that she’s funny, relatable , and that she learns how to be more than just the class clown and that without her I feel like the story wouldn’t be amazing.


Grace, Noah, and Alexei

Why I liked this character is because Grace isn’t a typical girl; she struggled with trauma because of her mothers death and  because she thinks it was a murder. Even though everyone around her believes she’s “ crazy “ she still tries to find the truth about her mother. She’s determined, reckless, emotionally scarred, fearless and brave and that without her the story wouldn’t be how it is.

Why I liked this character is because Noah is described as an engaging and enthusiastic person who quickly bonds with grace, and when everyone else wants to avoid grace he becomes a loyal “best friend”, even while grace is surrounded by danger and Noah is still here and always tries to cheer grace up. He is hilarious, charming, and fiercely loyal character, cheerful and supportive and without him the story wouldn’t be that good.

Why I liked this character is because Alexei is fiercely protective of Grace, stemming from his loyalty to her family and their shared childhood friendship. He acts as a “sworn watcher,” keeping a close eye on her, often acting as an older brother figure. He is the charming, protective, and mysterious Russian “bad boy” who provides intense romantic tension and is very loyal to grace even though he provides a “brother-sister” bond that adds depth to their romance, and that the story wouldn’t be the same if he wasn’t in it.


Chadwick and Miles

Why I liked this character is because for chadwick in the story Blood in the Water, we didn’t really have much of him because he was murdered but while he was in the story he was really charismatic, popular, and welcoming teenage boy who helps protagonist Kaylani fit in, making his shocking death pivotal to the mystery ,  As Chadwick whose death drives the investigation, his charm is remembered throughout the story, highlighting the tragedy of the event. He is kind and welcoming, helpful and knowledgeable, and popular, and that even though he was barely in the story the parts he was in did really impact the story in a great way.

Why I liked this character is because Miles  is the brother of Chadwick and he has to navigate through trauma while giving comfort to kanlani and also that miles isn’t snobby like most of the kids at that place. Throughout all of that Miles was a heartwarming friend, relatable, resilient, supportive, emotionally deep and most importantly, a loyal friend.


Stacy

Why I liked this character is because Stacy moved to Stoneybrook from New York City but didn’t take too long of time to make friends, but other than that Stacy wasn’t a normal teenage girl, she had type 1 diabetes, but that didn’t stop her from doing the amazing stuff she did, though what i like about her is her style and that in the stories manly some new york kids are like snobby but shes not shes a really nice person . She is mature, slightly sassy, she’s someone who brings a bold, cheerful energy to the group while managing Type 1 diabetes, she also a math whiz, resilient, responsible and most importantly she’s a loyal friend.


Nikki

Why I liked this character is because Nikki isn’t your normal school girl; she’s more of a down to earth person. Nikki represents the “everygirl” who is not in the popular crowd, making her experiences with insecurity and navigating school life feel real. She often puts everything she does in her diary, although she struggled with confidence she was able to stand up for herself. While she goes through all the drama at school that goes with her bully her friends, her home  and most importantly her crush Brandon. She is highly relatable, artistic, kind, imaginative, a talented artist, self-proclaimed “dork,” over-dramatic, emotional, thoughtful, and, most importantly, a caring friend.


Nico

Why I liked this character is because Nico Pineda, one of the five kids in the book. He is a Venezuelan American boy who initially presents as a “stuck-up rich kid,” but proves to be a caring and empathetic friend.  At the beginning of the story, Nico appears to be lazy and arrogant, acting indifferent to the mandatory community service work and sometimes acting like a bully to deflect attention away from himself, though by the end He moves beyond his selfish persona to become instrumental in helping others, such as helping Celeste find a job and get necessary aid. 

Thank you so much to my student voices today and their look at books and characters they love!

Student Voices: The Importance of Graphic Novels from Isabel T. and Megan G.

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The Importance of Graphic Novels

“Why It Is Important to Read Graphic Novels and Why People Shouldn’t Be Judged for Reading Them” by Isabel T., 7th grade

Have you ever thought about why graphic novels are so commonly read? Well today I am going to tell you a little bit about the benefits of reading them and why people read them.

Why do people read graphic novels? 

To begin with, graphic novels are a mix of images and texts. This helps the reader develop the skill of analyzing, helps the reader understand more, and inspires creativity and showcases how to be a storyteller. Graphic novels can also help the reader connect more with the characters. Readers also read them to see how other cultures work. Judging others for their reading preferences limits understanding and appreciation of the many forms literature can take. So just because you don’t like them doesn’t mean you should stop other people from reading. These books also contain a lot of important things and a lot of story themes. The Markham library says, “Graphic novels provide a great alternative for children and adults who are reluctant to read traditional novels. The highly visual content makes graphic novels more engaging and helps readers avoid falling into a reading slump.” These books help a ton of people, and it helps them want to read more, including traditional novels. The visuals are important so the people can understand more and the book can come out better. Overall, this format of book helps a lot, so you shouldn’t judge someone from reading the type of books.

Why are graphic novels beneficial?

The Markham library also says, “Visual literacy is the ability to understand, create, and talk about images.” This tells us that visual literacy is an ability to develop stuff that you have but you don’t know, and it is amazing to find new things you like to do. In graphic novels, images and text work together to create meaning. This is also beneficial because it helps the reader understand the meaning of the book and what they are going to take from the book for their life. For English language learners, prose novels are more of an essay to read and hard to understand because they don’t understand English well. This is why reading graphic novels can be beneficial for some people, because it allows them to understand the pictures. So graphic novels are not only about pictures, but are about working together and making everything work and developing the way it needs to. Graphic novels help with scaffolding for teaching higher skills.

In conclusion, don’t judge anyone because they are reading something you don’t like. Also, reading them can be beneficial to you too. Graphic novels are about making everything come together and to benefit people and making people understand more about what the book is about. 

Sources:

“Graphic Novels Have the Same Literacy Value as All-Text Books” by Megan G., 8th Grade

“A picture is worth a thousand words” is a common said quote, this saying refers to expressing feelings, emotions, passion and affection through pictures, paintings and artwork.Graphic novels can be understood as comic books that are as long as a regular book. A more detailed explanation, often used by librarians and teachers, describes them as “extended narratives that combine written text with sequential illustrations, typically formatted like comic books” (Fletcher-Spear, 37). Graphic novels are not confined to one specific genre; instead, they serve as a storytelling medium that can cover any genre. Like traditional novels, they use both imagery and words to tell a story, featuring essential narrative elements such as characters, plotlines, and conflicts.

One thing graphic novels are convenient for is how fast paced they are. Their large, expressive pictures help readers interpret feelings and emotions more quickly than reading paragraphs of text. As stated in source one, “Graphic novels not only provide great written stories, they also provide beautiful and rich visual artwork” (source 1, p.4). This combination of visual and textual storytelling allows readers to absorb complex ideas and emotions in a shorter time, making graphic novels accessible and engaging for a wide audience, including readers.

Moreover, graphic novels can offer a clearer understanding of complex topics. The inclusion of images with words creates a multi sensory learning experience, which helps readers remember information better. For example, in history or science graphic novels, illustrations can depict events, processes, or concepts that might be difficult to imagine through text alone. This visual context supports comprehension and critical thinking by allowing readers to see relationships and details that textbooks might only describe abstractly. According to source two, “The combination of images and text helps readers engage with and understand complex ideas more deeply” (source 2).

In addition, graphic novels encourage literacy skills beyond just reading. They require readers to interpret visual cues, understand sequencing, and make inferences based on both images and text. This multimodal literacy is increasingly important in today’s world, where communication often combines text, images, and symbols  of social media, advertisements, and digital media. Source three emphasizes this point by stating, “Graphic novels develop critical visual literacy skills that are essential in finding modern communication” (source 3). Therefore, graphic novels help develop a broader range of literacy skills that traditional textbooks may not address.

In conclusion, graphic novels hold the same literacy value as textbooks because they combine rich storytelling with visual elements that enhance understanding and engagement. Their fast pace and clear presentation make them a powerful educational tool. Rather than ignoring graphic novels as less valuable, educators and readers should recognize their unique ability to foster literacy in diverse and meaningful ways.

Sources used:

Source 1 by J. Smith, Graphic Novels: The Benefits

Source 2 by T. Driver, Graphic novels lack literary qualities

Source 3 by M. De Witte, Graphic novels can accelerate critical thinking, capture nuance and complexity of history, says Stanford historian

Thank you so much to my student voices today and their look at the importance and benefits of graphic novels!

Student Voices: Reading Benefits from Julianna G. and Merida W.

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Reading Benefits

“Impacts of Reading on Writing” by Julianna G., 8th grade

Introduction

Writing is usually one of the most common subjects taught in school. You either love it or hate it. Starting off writing can sometimes be difficult. Alas, reading can help. From reading a lot of books over the years, it’s helped me write a lot more efficiently.  It’s even better when you have a wide selection of reading since each is unique and gives you a different style to help you find your own.

Essays

When writing essays, reading non-fiction books helps get a reference or a kind of idea on how to structure information and elaborate more. Since introductions and conclusions are hard sometimes for a lot of people.

I started picking up patterns when it comes to writing them from reading these types of books. What I’ve noticed is that they always try to allude in some form of a way to what the section is going to be about by bringing up something big or using appeals to bring attention to something. Like when I was reading Bobby Darin: A Life author Michael Starr started the book by introducing what Bobby meant to him with an anecdote. That helped me get a better idea on how anecdotes work so I can use them in my introductions. 

Even reading articles helps since they’re formatted similarly to an essay. Just using them and noticing ways that ideas are stated and elaborated helps give an idea on how to write.

Stories

Not only can reading help write essays, it helps write stories.  As many know, stories are based on something. I enjoy reading the series of authors I like. For example Rick Riordan. So over the years I’ve picked up tricks and ways to write or emphasize events. Like when he tries emphasizing or when a character is speaking a different language he uses italics to show this.

Also when reading classic novels like The Outsiders or The Modern Prometheus (Frankenstein) it helps with new vocabulary since they were written at different points in history, it lets you gain the vocabulary to use when writing which helps you sound more professional or more accurate to the time period your story takes place . For instance the word tuff  which means cool was used in The Outsiders when talking about Ponyboys wounds. I’d never heard of this word until reading the book so it gave me a new word to use. 

As well, each author has a different writing style and reading various books from various authors helps get reference and a way to learn them which can help when you’re writing. Even when you’re reading you’ve gotta use your imagination so it helps you picture the characters.  Since it helps you practice imagination it would help you imagine your own stories in which you picture your own characters to write.

Vocabulary

Reading can also help you with vocabulary. The national library of education found that “there is empirical evidence that, for older children and adults, much learning of new words occurs through exposure to written texts.” 

I’ve personally learned a lot of new words from texts like The Great Gatsby. I learned words like privy which means not something generally known so it’s something I can use now to sound professional. One of my friends was reading a book about phobias and learned Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia which is the fear of long words. They used words when writing a short story about a kid that fears long words. So each time you read a new book with different vocabulary the more widespread your vocab is for when you write.

Conclusion

Reading and writing go hand in hand. The more you read the better you get at writing and the more techniques you pick up. From writing essays to writing stories, you learn more each time. So what will you write next?

“Benefits of Different Genres” by Merida W., 8th grade

Everyone has their own favorite genre to read in books, but if you already have a favorite genre, what’s the point of reading others? The type of category a book is in or what the topic is, may seem pretty insignificant, however, certain genres can effectively impact certain areas of thinking more than others. Similar to how different fruits/vegetables are all good for your health but one fruit or vegetable might provide you a better source of a certain vitamin/micronutrient than another fruit or vegetable can. Here are some different genres and what area of thinking/learning they can improve.

  • Fantasy: Books in these genres enrich imagination and thus creativity. This is because they allow readers to think about other worlds/scenarios and “magical and mystical” characters and creatures that might not be in the current world so far. These books can be used as inspiration when creating stories or in creative writing.
  • Sci-Fi (Science Fiction):  These books also enrich creativity and imagination, similar to Fantasy, however, they’re usually more focused on futuristic, high-tech, and advanced systems or devices. Given that they are more focused on futuristic ideas, these books are also a great inspiration for those trying to invent/innovate, those writing about futuristic stories, or just anyone focused on possible futures, potential solutions to be used in the future, and futuristic problem solving.

  • Historical Fiction: These types of books often inform the reader about historical events and go in depth about it. This is because reading about how a character dealt with past events can give the reader a deeper understanding of how other (real) people may have felt and how impactful the event was. The characters in the books may share a similar experience or circumstance with the readers (even if it’s not exactly the same), allowing readers to remember it more because of the relatable bond they might have with certain characters.

  • Thriller/Horror and Mystery: Books with these genres require readers to think critically and analytically to “figure out who is guilty” since readers need to keep track of clues and use reasoning in order to predict the correct suspect or the culprit. Reading many of these books and trying to figure out the complex clues/hints can make readers more able to spot important hints and recognize patterns within investigations or simply issues regarding day to day life!

  • Non-Fiction and Biographies: Although this one is quite obvious, these books inform readers more about a subject and give facts about the subject. Providing knowledge that may be important in other topics.

  • Romance: These types of books foster empathy and expression in readers, as well as improving emotional intelligence. Reading these books can help expose readers to deep intimate bonds and (healthy) relationships,and thus, help readers understand them more. These books can also encourage other people to act respectful and well in their relationships

  • Poetry & Drama: Books in these categories improve comprehension, analyzing skills, and even emotional intelligence. To figure out and interpret the meaning, readers have to carefully analyze the poem or drama piece. After continuous practice of this, readers will be better at analyzing writing pieces in general and more efficient in comprehending other writing pieces’ meanings. Most drama and poem books also express human emotions or go in depth with emotions and feelings, therefore, exposure to these books will allow the reader to recognize such emotional patterns, understand them and potentially know what to do.

All genres are important and impactful in their own way. This was meant as a guide to teach you about how different genres can impact you and your thinking/learning processes with no bias or hate towards any of the genres shown. This was also written in hopes of promoting different genres and encouraging readers to read diverse ranges of genres.

Thank you so much to my student voices today and their look at some benefits of reading!

Student Voices: Reading Benefits from Alexa S., Maddie M., Brenda O., and Cecilia G.

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Reading Benefits

“Psychological Benefits of Reading” by Alexa S., 7th grade

Reading helps us with many things, and many of them have to do with psychology, so today I am here to tell you some of the amazing psychological benefits of reading.

What Is Psychology? And what does it have to do with reading?

Psychology is the study of the human mind and behavior. Now that you know that, you might be asking yourself, what does the human mind have to do with reading? Well, most people don’t read books out loud, they read it in their minds. Here is where psychology connects with reading, books positively affect our brains. Some help with mental health challenges and diseases, basically depending if the book is good or not. While many people might feel like reading is boring, it actually helps you distract yourself from daily worries and problems, almost as if taking a break from the world surrounding you. Suddenly all you care about is if the main character in the book is going to be killed or survive the killer.

What studies show

A study published in 2016 from Yale University shows that “people who read 3.5 hours per week or more, lived 23 more months than an average person who doesn’t read.” Which shows that reading can improve your life, and time on earth. The study was performed with around 3,635 people, they were all separated into three different groups, the ones who didn’t read at all, the ones who read for 3 and a half hours, and those who read more than 3 and a half hours, they all had to answer “How many hours did you spend last week reading books?”. “More than 12 years later, those who read at least 3 and a half hours per week were proved to be 17% less likely to die, and the ones who read the most were 23% less likely to die” People who read books were scientifically proven to have an average of 2-years longer life-span, than those  who didn’t read at all.

Reading books reduces stress

Many different studies have shown that reading books reduces stress and narrative transportation, which just means getting really involved in the book, that you feel things like happiness, sadness, and others. Reading books usually helps people with the way they deal with their problems, reading encourages people to use their strengths, and re-enforces their sense of identity. “Reading about positive psychology actually helps with psychological resilience.” Says the article. “Resciliency” is just a big word for how people recover quickly from adversity. Positive psychological resiliency could help maintain good mental and social connections. Some literacy articles show that books sometimes stimulate the person’s inner positive thoughts and feelings, which could lead to a better mental health and an upswing in their lifestyles.

Conclusion

In conclusion, reading has many important psychological benefits that can help improve our minds. It can reduce stress, increase focus, and help us understand other people’s feelings and perspectives. Reading also strengthens our imagination and helps us get distracted from our daily worries and stress. Because of all these benefits, taking time to read, even if it’s just once in a while, can make a big difference in our daily lives, like living longer. So, picking up a good book every now and then is a great habit that can help us grow and feel better overall.

“The Importance of Reading to Children” by Maddie M., 8th grade

I’d like to consider myself an avid reader, and I have been that way since a young age. In fact, a key memory from my early childhood is going to the library and attending storytime. You might think that reading with or to young children is just another way to entertain them. However, there are many benefits, such as improving cognitive development and fostering a relationship between the reader and the child. 

Cognitive Development

To start, one benefit of reading to children is that it supports their cognitive development. Studies show that children who are exposed to reading and books before entering preschool are more likely to succeed in their later education and have a larger vocabulary. This could mean that if you don’t introduce reading to your child early on, they may have a harder time reading and learning in general once they enter school. Furthermore, the Child Mind Institute says, “By reading to your child starting at a young age, even before they’re able to communicate verbally, you help lay the neurological groundwork for effective language use and literacy. That’s partly because books expose children to vocabulary and grammar that they wouldn’t normally hear.” To elaborate, reading to your child, especially books about real-world situations or unique topics, can teach them more words. For example, a book about the zoo would have more unique words that children wouldn’t hear in day-to-day conversations. 

Strengthening Relationships

In addition, reading to children strengthens and fosters relationships between the reader and the child. Raleigh Pediatrics says that infants’ hearing their parents’ voices while reading to them promotes their emotional well-being and strengthens their attachment to their parents. So, reading to your child can improve their ability to handle tough situations in the future and build resilience to stress. Secondly, Dr. Phillips states, “The physical contact that you get from being held by your parent while you’re reading actually helps to engage neurons in the brain, which make kids more receptive to the language and the cognitive stimulation that they’re getting from that experience.” This shows how family bonding time can actually become a learning opportunity!

Resources

Need assistance with incorporating books into your routine or want to reach out to an expert?

1000 Books Before Kindergarten is a non-profit charity. Their goal is to improve children’s reading skills by encouraging them to read 1000 books before entering kindergarten. Many communities and libraries in the United States and Canada have established this program. 1000 Books Before Kindergarten even has its own app where you can track the books you read. Their website is 1000booksbeforekindergarten.org.

Additionally, Reach Out and Read is a non-profit organization. During a child’s well visits, they work with parents and teach them important things, such as the best way to hold a book when reading to their child. They offer advice and vital information about why it is important to read to children. During visits, they provide the family with a free book to take home. They offer these books in 38 different languages! Their website is https://reachoutandread.org.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, reading to children is important and has many benefits. These benefits include the ability to strengthen the relationship between parents and children and the added cognitive development. There are many organizations to assist with this task, like Reach Out and Read and 1000 Books before Kindergarten. Additionally, since I was read to a lot as a child, I can say that it has made me love reading and has definitely influenced my life and who I am now. So, whether you and your child are at library storytime or reading the Percy Jackson books, make sure to educate the future leaders of our world!

Sources

James, Sini. “Benefits of Starting Reading at a Young Age.” Www.nationwidechildrens.org, 4 Nov. 2022, www.nationwidechildrens.org/family-resources-education/700childrens/2022/11/benefits-of-starting-reading.

“Benefits of Reading to Your Children | Raleigh Pediatrics.” Raleigh Pediatrics, 8 Oct. 2025, raleighpediatrics.com/importance-of-reading-to-children/.‌

Sheldon-Dean, Hannah. “Why Is It Important to Read to Your Child?” Child Mind Institute, Child Mind Institute, 19 Jan. 2023, childmind.org/article/why-is-it-important-to-read-to-your-child/.

“How Can Books Help Distract Us From Real Life?” by Brenda O., 7th grade

Some people may think that books can only help you learn how to read, BUT that is definitely not the case. Reading books has way more benefits than just learning how to read, but do you know them? In this article, we are going to talk about some ways that books can help us live our lives better.

If you have any economic issues, family issues, or something stressing you, read a book, maybe even an audiobook. Reading a book can distract you and take you to another world, a world where you can concentrate on another person’s story and your own. Just for a moment, try to read a book, complete it, and see just how interesting it can be to get out of your own story and start another. It’s good to sometimes forget about reality, it can be a way of learning about another point of view, or just looking for entertainment.

Reading can also help you fall asleep. There are thousands of books that talk about relaxation or are relaxing. Another way can be silencing your thoughts with a good story. Sometimes, I have trouble sleeping because my thoughts keep me awake, so a solution I found was reading a book before sleeping. The book made me stop overthinking stuff and forget my problems, and made me think about the story and how it could end, or how I need to read the other series of it. 

“Reading promotes mindfulness, or the ability to live in the moment. It pulls our attention away from unwanted or worrying thoughts and helps to focus on the present.” It’s a quote from Henry Ford Health telling us how reading can also promote mindfulness, which means that you are more aware and present in the real world and are able to enjoy the good things in life and ignore the negative things.

Reading has helped me a lot with stress and tuning out negative thoughts, and I’m sure that it has helped a lot of other people, so it can help YOU! The real world can indeed be scary or stressful, so just take a moment to read a book and see how wonderful it is to take your mind off what is happening and relax.

“How Reading Books Can Help You on Your Daily Life“ by Cecilia G., 8th grade

Reading books is an interesting way to learn and help with your mental health, not only you will be learning so much you will also see improvement in many occasions in your daily life. There are many reasons why reading can help you develop in your daily life and help you in many situations, not only at school but everywhere else.

  • Reading reduces stress

Studies show that reading daily can help you get more relaxed and reduce stress. A study by the University of Sussex demonstrated that six minutes of silent reading can reduce stress levels by 68 per cent. (source)

  • Reading helps with sleep

Reading can help with many health problems that may be showing up in your sleep. The main reason is the decrease in stress, anxiety and muscular tension associated with reading. Helping you relax and unwind before sleep can make a difference in being able to push aside anxious thoughts and allow your consciousness to drift off. (source)

  • Builds vocabulary

Reading can not only help with learning new words, it also keeps children interested in all the new things they are learning about. Reading aloud with children allows for exposure to sophisticated language and content that might be above their independent reading level, but not above their interest level.  (source)

  • Helps building memory

It can help your brain with your memory since your brain actively encodes and stores information, creating new connections between neurons. Visualizing scenes, characters, and details from a story engages the brain’s sensory regions, enhancing memory retention through vivid mental imagery. (source)

  • Strengthens writing skills

When reading you can learn new vocabulary which for children, reading offers them a window into how authors write. It offers a study in different genres, styles, tones, and use of different vocabulary words. (source)

  • Improves critical thinking skills

When children spend a lot of time reading, they strengthen their ability to think about something from another point of view and to problem solve for someone outside of themselves. Finding solutions to a character’s problem helps children to think through other issues around them with similar discernment. (source)

  • Strengthens your brain

One 2020 study found that increased gray matter in the left superior temporal cortex part of the brain was associated with better reading performance in children. Gray matter plays a role in cognitive function. (source)

In conclusion, reading does a big part in your life. By helping with improving your mental health, thinking skills, vocabulary, and many other reasons listed above. Reading can not only be entertaining and fun as a hobby, it can also make your life a lot better by giving you many sorts of help.

Thank you so much to my student voices today and their look at the benefits of reading!

Student Voices: Reflections on the Current State of the World from Livie S. and Edie M.

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Reflections on the Current State of the World

What prohibits schools from having an active school library? by Livie, 7th grade

Most schools around the United States have a library, but it’s even better if they have an active one. Libraries are essential for student growth in their education. There are many reasons that affect a school library’s ability to do this though. Currently in the United States, there have been many budget cuts and natural events that have had an impact on the library society. In this blog post, I will be discussing many aspects that have an effect on school libraries, and what an active school library consists of

Why Libraries are Important

We are all told that libraries are important at some point or another by various people but the question still remains: WHY? They boost student learning and help to build a closer school community. Libraries are fundamental in the growth of a student and their school career. Studies have proven this, from 2007-2008 having more school libraries that host events like literacy week and are an active part in the well-being of the school, test scores increased drastically, the typical student that would usually be seen getting a 70-80 on standardized literary tests was now seen getting a 90-100. 

Defining the Term

What does it mean by active school library? Active school libraries are libraries that are taking part in school functions such as literacy night. It could also be things as little as taking into consideration what books students would want to read. By taking into consideration I mean having books in libraries that are not only new but also interesting. These are just many ways to define what an active school library really is. 

Budget Cuts

A lot of libraries across America are suffering from budget cuts. This is not just limited to school libraries but does have an effect on them. On Monday, February 10th, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order at the White House that would mandate the reduction of seven governmental agencies, one of which included the IMLS (Institute of Museum and Library Systems) and the Department of Education. The IMLS is a government agency that regulates and funds the country’s libraries and museums while the Department of Education ensures that schools across the country are giving their students what they need. Reducing these agencies means making them smaller, which in turn would mean cutting libraries all across the U.S. This is very important to schools because some of their libraries fall under the category of being cut in the reduction. Seminole County Schools in Florida are primarily without librarians because of this. Yes, while the students still have access to libraries, many do not have an actual librarian or dedicated full-time staff in the library. This affects having an active school library because how can there be events if there is no dedicated librarian to set up events. On another note, because of the ILMS and DOE funding being cut, several school libraries are without a clerk, deeply affecting the library setting because now all jobs are placed on the librarian’s shoulders. 

Expectations of Student Learning

While all of this is happening students are still expected to get high test scores. If students do not have the adequate resources at their usage how is it fair to expect this. It is scientifically proven that students with access to resources in a school library perform higher on tests. Many books in the library would have words a student may not have seen before and that is to their benefit; it leads them to ask questions or even look it up. This helps students grow their vocabulary and comprehension skills. Nonfiction books exist to inform people about the real world. While fiction is a great escape from reality… reality is still there and students, and especially adults, need to be informed. History books are especially crucial to make sure that history does not repeat itself (although that may be happening). 

Expectations on Librarians Themselves

Sometimes, or rather most times, librarians are expected to be more than just a librarian. They are expected to host many events throughout the year, such as setting up picture day, distributing laptops, state testing, and even writing the school newsletter. These jobs by themselves wouldn’t be too much to ask of a staff member because most of them happen at different times throughout the year but to also expect librarians to maintain the inviting atmosphere of the library and be an educator within the school while doing these tasks every week/month is unreasonable. While picture day and distributing laptops is not a weekly thing, yearbooks and weekly newsletters are. The librarians may also be asked to sub for other classes if that class is without a sub thus leaving the library unable to be attended or open on that day. Essentially, librarians are being treated not as teacher with a daily job but as disposable. You shouldn’t ask a teacher to stop teaching that day’s lesson just because they needed some copies made or someone to handle behavior, but sadly that is what is happening to most librarians across the U.S. Most libraries are called a media center because the title makes it so that the librarians can be called media specialists, expanding the jobs they can be asked to do. 

Statistics: Decrease in Librarians

Covid has had a big effect on the school librarian population. A study was done in 2020-2021 to reflect this and here are some of the facts from this study. 

  • 29.5% of schools across America reported not having librarians or not having a designated staff member for the library. 
  • Seven out of ten charter schools are without a full time librarian
  • 37.8% of western schools were without librarians, while southern schools had 22.2% of schools without librarians. 
  • Smaller schools (less than 200 students) were more likely to have their library cut
  • Bigger schools (2,000+ students) had an increase in the number of schools without librarians 10.8% to 16.3% 
  • 34.9% of city schools reported no librarian
  • 29.5% of town schools had no librarian
  • 57% of combined schools (k-8, k-12) had no librarian or library program at all
  • 33.8% of hispanic schools had no librarians
  • 32.5% of poverty serving schools (schools that their main population are students living in poverty) are without a librarian
  • The states with the highest percentage of schools without librarians are: Alaska(55.2%), Minnesota(50.6%), Hawaii(50.2%), West Viginia(50%), Michigan(49.9%). 

These facts are quite sad because literacy is an important part of student learning. Librarians are the fundamental base for a good library and without them libraries are unable to thrive as much as a library with a librarian.

Comparatives

Examples of an active school library and what it looks like:

Hunter’s Creek Middle School (the school I go to) has one of the most active school libraries I can think of and one of the most active school librarians. Yes, I am a little biased but there is evidence to support this. Every year we have an author visit the school, this year we had three, but we still have at least one every year. This is to “advertise” reading to the students. As students visit the author in their ELA classes they get an in person talk with the author. I, for one, have certainly been encouraged to read these authors’ books after I have seen them. Another example is that we host literacy night every year for the coming author to encourage their books. We have rooms set up around the campus that are related to the author’s books. This year, we invited the 5th graders from their elementary school so that they could walk around the school and get familiar with our campus. We also have a Google form where students can fill out what books they would like to see in our library. Although, it does take some time to get these books in the library, the books almost always end up in our library. On another note, there is a reading challenge called Eagle Super Reader that is a paper that you fill out with twenty-five books you’ve read throughout the year and get prizes plus an end of year party. This really encourages kids to read because who wouldn’t want to skip school for a day and hang out in the library? This is just a little bit of the whole lot Ms. Moye does for our library and our school. All of these things and events she sets up all help make reading a little more fun for the students. They help to encourage students to read more, expanding their vocabulary and making them more educated. This is one example of an active school library and its effect on the students of which it serves.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, active school libraries are an excellent resource to have but there are certain obstacles that lessen one’s ability to do so. Such as budget cuts and the absence of a full-time librarian. There are schools that have been able to pull this off though, and that has greatly impacted student learning and reading capabilities. All in all, having an active school library is an amazing thing that I hope more students will get the opportunity to have in their educational careers.

Is The Hunger Games our future? by Edie, 8th grade

After reading Layla N.s’ post from last year (https://www.unleashingreaders.com/29146) I was inspired to expand, in light of more recent events (mid 2025-now) like issues regarding much more pressing matters. Such as a major increase in wrongful/ unjust (no fair trial) or violent deportations and racism by ICE (Immigrations and Customs Enforcement), there has also been an increase homelessness and inadequate housing all over the world that was not discussed in the previous post. There has also been another development since the first post; the announced Patriot Games happening summer 2026, which provide many parallels to The Hunger Games universe. The Hunger Games is a dystopian book series converted into movies. Here is a short summary of the plot: There are 12 districts in the country of Panem (originally 13 districts, just like the original 13 colonies!). The Capitol controls all of the districts, in an elected dictatorship type of way, and Panem (the country with all the districts/where The Hunger Games take place) is run with an extremely tyrannical government. Each district provides something for the Capitol, however they cannot trade with other districts, and are forbidden to leave the one they were born in.. Except if they are reaped. The reaping was installed after the districts rebelled against the Capitol and failed, as a punishment for them. The reaping is a part of The Hunger Games, in which the reaping is how they get there. To remind them that the Capitol is always stronger, but also to remind them how “generous” they are. I will explain more of The Hunger Games in their comparison section to the upcoming Patriot Games, but for now that is where I will end the summary. The 3 topics during this post are: Law Enforcement, The Hunger Games vs. The Patriot Games, and Quality of Life. 

Law Enforcement

In this section of the post I will be showing and comparing the law enforcement in The Hunger Games vs. The law enforcement in the U.S.. Starting off, the image on the upper right shows people protesting against ICE (Immigration & Customs Enforcement). President Trump thought this was un-American and deployed the National Guard (to go against their own country!), just because of people simply exercising their 1st amendment rights. The image below shows a similar circumstance, but in The Hunger Games. Peacekeepers (who are the law enforcement in the books), are holding back people protesting against The Hunger Games (also fighting against their own country). 

Continuing to the images on the left, both show law enforcement officers holding down protesters, who were later shot dead by those same officers. The one on top shows Alex Pretti, who was filming a detaining by ICE, and mere minutes later, was killed by them. He approached a vehicle with his phone, recording a conflict (he was not prior involved in) with ICE agents. After the person ICE was having a conflict with ran into Alex for safety during the protest, the ICE agent took him as a threat. The agent immediately pepper sprayed him to the ground, and more ICE agents held him and started hitting him. Once the agents removed his (Alex Prettis’) legal carrying firearm, they decided he was still a threat; beaten and bloodied. They then brought out one of their own guns and shot him 10 times.The image below that shows an unnamed man in The Hunger Games series being lifted up on stage, and later shot, because he used a sign of rebellion: lifting the 3 middle fingers and whistling a tune from their district (the same district where a 12 year old girl got murdered in The Hunger Games: District 11). The constitution most likely does not matter/ no longer exist in The Hunger Games universe and it was probably legal for Peacekeepers to do this. It is not legal today. Though the 2 situations are awfully similar: murdered because of protesting. Why are our Constitutional rights slowly disappearing?

The Hunger Games v.s The Patriot Games

“The Patriot Games” “The Hunger Games”. One. Word. Off. The Patriot Games is an event President Trump announced for 2026, to celebrate America’s 250th year of freedom from Great Britain. They require 1 male and 1 female tribute from each state. These tributes for being the top high school student athlete in the state (you read that right; high school; children). Then, they will go to the capital (D.C.) and fight for their (the Capitals) entertainment, and it is unstated whether this will continue annually. The Hunger Games was created by the capitol after the districts lost a rebellion/war to them. It was to show them that they were superior, and was like an annual punishment. The rules were that 1 male and 1 female (ages 12-18) will be reaped (chosen) from each territory. Reaping day was on July 4th/Americas’ Independence Day. The parallels are obvious. 1 male and 1 female child selected from each territory to go fight in the Capitol, for the Capitols enjoyment. Now what happens to the tributes in the Patriot games who do not win is unstated, whether they get anything, or just go home. Luckily it is not a fight to death scenario , but the winners are bathed in riches just as the victor in The Hunger Games. These rules play into what the Capitol stated in The Hunger Games, ruling that the games are used to show that they will always be more powerful, and then the winner being shown mercy and money is a reminder of their “generosity”.

Quality of Life

Next, quality of life in the world now versus quality of life in the districts. Starting off, world hunger is a very prominent issue and affects almost 1/10th of the population. Homelessness affects roughly 3% of the world population. These problems lead to awful living in many countries (as shown in the image on the upper right). In the districts from The Hunger Games, specifically district 12, we see lots of horrible living conditions along with many people starving. We even see this in the main character herself (Katniss Everdeen), nearly starving to death, simply because her district didn’t get enough rations for the winter. We also see people living on the streets, or in extremely small and damaged homes (upper left photo), much like present day poverty which affects 9% of the population. Through these we see many similarities with the way people live in these 2 worlds; on the worse side of it.

Now with people on the better side; I am going to compare citizens in the Capitol of Panem, and the billionaires of our world. The amount of rich people in Panem compared to the amount of people in the districts (living in lesser quality of life) is miniscule, yet they rule the country. They usually have ridiculously pricey houses, and outfits (lower left photo). The billionaires in our world are also extremely few (3000 out of more than 8 billion people!). Our billionaires normally have expensive extravagant clothing and homes (lower right), much like the capitol people. Though in small quantities, they have huge influences on our world, through them affecting political standpoints with money. The people who donate are in the 100s; yet every single one of them could obviously spare some of their money that could make a huge difference, but somehow, they are taxed less.

Conclusion

When reading or watching The Hunger Games( or if you haven’t read or watched the series, I hope this post convinced you to do so) you sided with the resistance to The Games/ Capitol right? Why are people still supporting the current state of our country and world when they can clearly see where we could be headed? The similarities between the two universes ( our Earth and The Hunger Games world) are apparent. As of right now, the amount of states in the U.S. who support this is decreasing, but there are still some who will do nothing but praise our way of life. Like in Mockingjay (3rd book in The Hunger Games) in District 2, where loyalty to the Capitol runs deep, they were the last one to surrender and join the rebellion, before the resistance stormed the Capitol. It will take time, but I believe eventually everyone will join the resistance just like in Mockingjay and overthrow our upcoming tyrannical government. Suzanne Collins ( author of The Hunger Games) has said, she only writes when she has something to say. Now this raises a lot of “when will” questions, when will everyone join the resistance? When will we start listening to Suzannes’ writings? When will The Hunger Games become our reality?

Thank you so much to my student voices today and their look at the state of our world!