Book service delivers reading material to students

Haine Middle School (HMS) librarian/CIRC teacher Eric Fogle has added a new title to his name: personal book shopper. Due to COVID safety protocols, HMS students have not been able to browse for books in the library. So instead, Mr. Fogle did the shopping for them. He created an online form for students to request books for him to pick out. The form asks questions like “How fast do you typically read a book?”, “What are your favorite genres to read?” and “What TV shows do you love?” This helps Mr. Fogle narrow down the choices and determine the best book selections for students.

“I created an online form that allows students to request me to pick books out for them, said Mr. Fogle. “It functions like Stitch Fix, an online personal styling service, but for books.”

After he collects their requests, he fills the orders and delivers the books to the students’ homerooms. He recently opened this service to fifth and sixth grade cyber students as well. Since October, he has been able to get approximately 500 books into students’ hands! Additionally, he has fulfilled 211 orders and had 162 students utilize the system.

Here is what Mr. Fogel said when asked to suggest some great books on the theme of “attitude”:

“When thinking of the theme ‘attitude’ for book choices, a few great ones came to mind. The first on this list is a book titled Becoming Muhammad Ali by James Patterson and Kwame Alexander. There are few people in our history that have shown more attitude than the great Muhammad Ali. This book shares a terrific depiction of young Cassius Clay growing up in Louisville Kentucky. After his bike is stolen, he decides to learn how to defend himself against bullies and takes up boxing. Told in a mix of prose and poetry, it is a must-read for any student.

Next on my list is New Kid by Jerry Craft. In 2020, it became the first graphic novel to win the Newbery Award. It tells the story of Jordan, a seventh grader, who is enrolled in a private school for the first time. The amazing artwork and graphics walk us through Jordan’s school year as he balances being true to himself and pleasing everyone around him. Being one of the few students of color in his new environment brings its own challenges, and they might not be what you expect.

Lastly, the third book on my list is, Merci Suárez Changes Gears, by Meg Medina. Another Newbery winner on this list shares a similar story as with the book, New Kid. In this story, Merci attends a private school on a scholarship. She additionally works part-time at the school with her father as a custodian to help pay for a portion of the tuition. Thankfully, Merci’s positive attitude about life carries her through the entire book. While she does face some negative students in school, she is a strong-minded individual who is not afraid to speak her mind or be embarrassed about her situation. She, too, must balance home life with school life, which can be a challenge when she also lives with her grandparents. After her grandfather begins to show more and more signs of being forgetful, the family must confront an issue they cannot avoid. This is a great story about family and friendship with positive messages spread throughout.”