This year, the LRHSD community will choose from among five titles connected by the 2019-2020 common reading theme, “Search for Self.”
The Lenape Regional High School District (LRHSD) is continuing to give students and staff a choice when it comes to their summer reading.
Last year, the district transitioned its common reading initiative, “One Book, One School,” from the entire district reading one book to district students and staff choosing from a group of books, all different.
However, all five titles were connected by one theme: “Windows and Mirrors.”
The enthusiastic response to this new direction prompted the district to again provide a summer reading list as opposed to one book.
“Summer reading should be fun and interesting, so students and staff should have the choice to read what interests them over the summer,” said David New, assistant principal at Cherokee High School and a member of the LRHSD One Book, One School Committee. “We also think that by giving our learning community more choice over what they are reading, we are better supporting our ultimate goal, which is to foster a widespread love and appreciation of reading.”
The revamped “One Book” program brings students, staff, families and even members of the community together in reading and discussing books around the same theme. The district has encouraged teachers to post in their classrooms which of the five titles they will read this summer to ignite early conversations and build enthusiasm around this year’s options.
Participants may select from among these five books:
- “A Very Large Expanse of the Sea” by Tahereh Mafi
- “A Wizard of Earthsea”: The Earthsea Cycle, Book 1 by Ursula K. Le Guin
- “Dumplin’” by Julie Murphy
- “We are Okay” by Nina LaCour
- “Toughness: Developing True Strength on and off the Court” by Jay Bilas
The “Search for Self” theme this year developed after students and staff serving on the One Book, One School Committee began to narrow down their book recommendations and identify commonalities among the top choices.
“Our ‘One Book’ program has been successful in bringing our district together for common learning experiences, and in recent years, the approach to focus on a common theme has led to learning and growth that has strengthened not only the intellect but also the character of our entire LRHSD community,” said LRHSD Superintendent Carol Birnbohm. “The evolution of this program serves as a perfect example of what makes me most proud of this district. We are always looking for ways to better ourselves and to improve the experiences we offer our students.”
