This year, Communication Arts teacher Mary Wilkerson and LRC Director Lauren Peterson are planning Central’s first school wide book reading for Spring 2015. Inspired by high schools such as Glenbard South, Wilkerson and Peterson wanted to promote literacy in a new interacting way.

Due to the large number of students enrolled, the two teachers met some problems with the event and have therefore come up with an original idea. Instead of having every student read the same book, students can read different books about the same theme.

“It’s very challenging to find one book that will appeal to both staff and students, male and female readers, a diverse student population, a diverse interest, diverse academic levels, and different reading levels,” Wilkerson said. “But then Mrs. Peterson and I were kicking some ideas around, and we came up with the fact that having an all school read doesn’t really have to be about everybody in the same school reading the same book, it’s about having everybody in the school reading.”

The books will focus on the topic of social and emotional issues that high school students deal with. Five books have been carefully selected for students to choose from, and activities and workshops will be available next semester to work through the books and their themes.

“We had social workers give us some titles to choose from, but also ideas on issues that they were seeing with kids, and that helped us develop the list [of books],” said Peterson, “We incorporated a lot of different factors, including prices and paperback availability, and also if kids would be familiar with the author or title. We didn’t want students to look at the book list and think ‘What’s that, I’ve never heard of that before.”

To fundraise this event, the school will be hosting a book fair at Barnes and Noble in downtown Naperville Nov. 22, 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. A coupon specifically made for this event will bring percentages towards the program. According to Wilkerson, the coupons can be used in any Barnes and Noble store nationwide on Nov. 22 and will be available at school or in the Naperville Barnes and Noble.

In the spirit of unity, many different clubs are participating in the book fair, performing in or outside the bookstore every half hour. These performances include a meet and greet with the central mascot, an art gallery by central art students, chess matches with the chess club, dance performances by the Urban Arts club, and more.

Both Wilkerson and Peterson seem excited about the great student involvement in the event, and want even more clubs to join in. There will also be a cheesecake sale in support of the book read with holiday varieties from Chicago’s Cheesecake Factory.

In regards to activities that will be available for the book read, Wilkerson and Peterson have a variety of different ideas. So far, this consists of an author’s visit, multiple book discussion’s, parent involvement, and a visit from Madison Junior High’s eighth graders.

“We’re considering working with Madison junior high and having some incoming eighth graders participate when the author is here, and talk about different issues in a high school setting to prepare them for high school,” Wilkerson said. “We are [also] trying to think of something we could do where we would get parents involved in an evening event, or have [them] read the same text, and sharing with the students.”

Wilkerson and Peterson say that the goals set by this initiative will benefit the student body through encouraging literacy and creating an outlet for teens to share common adolescent problems through reading. Further details surrounding the events and activities will be announced in the weeks ahead.