Young Readers Dig the Book Fair

And students did just that. 

The annual three-day event included a talk and writers workshop with Sarah Albee, a New York Times bestselling author who has penned more than 150 books for young readers (her book “Accidental Archeologists” was the inspiration behind the event’s theme), and the opportunity to browse and purchase a wide selection of books. Next week, students will welcome a second author, Maulik Pancholy, whose visit had to be rescheduled from its original date during the book fair. 

Head librarian Jillian McCoy explained that Albee’s books “tap into young readers’ natural curiosity about the world and the social history of humans. She will find an untold story or investigate questions she’s never learned the answer to for her books.”

During Albee’s visit with all middle school students, she told the story of how she learned writing could bring value to her life by forming connections with people: When she was a child, Albee wrote a letter to the Queen of England and received a response. She then began writing to a variety of people and companies, receiving responses from many. 

During the writing workshops, Albee taught students about writing effective hooks that pull in a reader at the beginning of the story. 

Indigo Spaeth ’32 and Lexie Wessan ’32 both participated in the writing workshop. Spaeth is an avid reader (“I especially love to read fantasy novels”) and writer, whose work is often inspired by “the little things in nature that most people fail to notice: drops of dew that seem to dance in the early morning light or the moss that looks like a tiny forest.” 

Spaeth enjoyed hearing Albee share different opening sentences for her books, and reflected, “You don't really think about the opening sentence and how important it is, but it can decide whether or not you read the book.” 

Wessan also prefers the fantasy genre, as well as mythological and adventure books. “I enjoy reading more than writing,” Wessan said. That being said, “The writing workshop was fun because we learned about hooks and how to write them and how to get people interested in your books and writing.” 

Head of Middle School Tasha Elsbach said, "The book fair is one of the highlights of the middle school year; I particularly love seeing students get excited about all the books in Doc Wilson Hall. And our visiting author, Sarah Albee, was incredibly engaging and had all of us thinking about compelling non-fiction topics." 

McCoy said that the focus of the book fair is simple: “Getting books in the hands of students, increasing excitement about reading, and building a reading culture in the Middle School.”