My Students

Do you remember the first book that changed your worldview? As a teen, did you long for a model for living an engaged, compassionate life? Our citywide teen read for the 2012-13 school year, "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green is just such a book.

My students come from two high schools in the same area.

About two-thirds are impoverished and many are English learners. But when I introduce them to great teen fiction, they become readers. I am the teacher-librarian at both school libraries where the donations will be cataloged. One of my schools has a joint-use library in cooperation with the city. The city is on board with our project to have a 'one city, one read' for our teens.

My Project

"The Fault in Our Stars" is one of those books that turn teens into lifelong readers--the characters are sweet, smart and funny. Poetic Hazel Grace's thyroid cancer has metastasized to her lungs. An experimental drug has kept her alive for the past 3 years. At her kids-with-cancer support group, Hazel meets good-looking, witty 17-year-old Augustus Waters who finds her beautiful. Gus's leg was amputated as a result of osteosarcoma (a malignant bone tumor), but he is officially NEC (no evidence of cancer). Hazel and Gus are star-crossed kindred spirits who reject the belief that all kids with cancer are courageous saints; they are both looking for meaning in their finite lives. They share their favorite books, movies, video games, dreams, and fears. "The Fault in Our Stars" isn't about cancer (or its sometimes tragic consequences). It's a story about love, friendship, and the joy that Hazel and Gus find in their "little infinity." The author is a winner of the Michael L. Print Award.

Donating to this project impacts entire schools.

Each book will be used by multiple students during the year-long teen read; the books will remain with the school libraries, so they will continue to be enjoyed after the project is complete. The impact will cross disciplines as classes get involved--Graphic Arts will design posters and bookmarks, science teachers will discuss the cancer issues, the schools' Relay for Life teams can use it in fundraising. But we need the books to get started!