At the end of their sixth grade year, students chose one of 10 titles to read over the summer. At the same time, community leaders volunteered to read one of the titles over the summer as well. Tuesday, the 22 volunteers visited the school to lead a discussion with students on their chosen book.
Seven volunteers discussed the most popular title, Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zavin, with 137 students in seven groups. Suzanne Waite of SuChang’s Restaurant, Young Adult Librarian Melissa Robinson, Assistant Superintendent Cara Murtagh, retired teacher Linda Zakas, Safety Officer John Nelson, Higgins Librarian Sudi Smoller and Gosia Gillis led discussions on the supernatural fiction title.
The second most popular title, Travel Team by Mike Lupica, a basketball story, was discussed by 90 students in five groups. The groups were led by Saftey Officer Mario Alves, Tony Vargas of Exclusive Hair Design, City Councilor Dave Gravel, Council candidate Tom Walsh, and Higgins Principal Todd Bucey.
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Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer, a dystopian novel, was read by 61 students. Three volunteers led discussion groups: Superintendent Joseph Mastrocola, Inspector Joe DiFranco, and Sarah Grinnell of the Healthy Peabody Collaborative.
The modern classic, science fiction novel Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix, required two discussion groups totaling 45 students. The discussion leaders were run by: Bill Woods and School Committee member Jarod Hochman.
The non-fiction book Chew on This: Everything You Don’t Want to Know About Fast Good by Eric Schlosser and Charles Wilson was the choice of 35 students. Community Development Director Karen Sawyer and Attorney Jim Burke led the discussion groups.
The new realistic fiction novel, Bamboo People by Mitali Perkins, is a story of child soldiers. It was read by 20 students who participated in a discussion led by Sandi Drover of the Healthy Peabody Collaborative.
Rick Riordan's fantasy, The Red Pyramid, attracted 17 students who participated in a discussion group led by Higgins Housemaster Dennis Heenan.
A recent addition to the grade 7 summer reading list is The Absolute Value of Mike by Kathryn Erksine. Eleven students met with Peabody Institute Library Director Martha Holden to discuss the book.
Higgins Housemaster Karen McGovern organizes the annual book discussion day.
