What will Bryn Mawr students be reading this summer?

Summer is almost here, and that means it won't be long until we all  have more time to kick back and relax with some good books.  Every year the Upper School students at Bryn Mawr read at least four; three  are required for classes, and one is selected from a list of student nominated summer reading.  Students begin to nominate their favorite books around spring break and continue until the cut-off in mid-May. The nominated books must meet the following criteria:

• They must be appropriate for incoming 9th through 12th graders.
• They must be well-written.
• They must have the possibility to spark discussion.
• They should stimulate personal reflection and be intellectually engaging. 
• They should be books that the nominators love and want to share with others in the Bryn Mawr Community.

Each student whose book is selected, speaks at  the Summer Reading Convocation in May to give a "pitch" for her book.  Students then choose at least one to read over the summer and discuss when they return to school in the fall. Here is this year's list of Student Nominated Summer Reading.

    Between the Lines, by Jodi Picoult

   The Shining, by Stephen King

   Mr. Penumbra’s 24 Hour Bookstore, by Robin Sloan  

    The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas, by Frederick Douglass

   Slaughter-house Five, by Kurt Vonnegut     

     Eleanor and Park, by Rainbow Rowell        

    The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch   

    Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

Thank you, Courtney, Celia, I'Jae, Christine, Nat, Ellen, Casey, and  Criss, for giving us a great selection of books!

Celebrate National Library Week

Check out the latest Library Lantern

Looking for something good to read?

Check out the latest Library Lantern!

Ji-li Jiang visits the Middle School

Ji-li Jiang, author of Red Scarf Girl, spoke with our Seventh Graders last Thursday about her experience during the Cultural Revolution in China. Ms. Jiang was 10 when it began to dramatically affect her family. We can't wait for her to return to Bryn Mawr to hear more!

     

 Have you read something fabulous lately? Something you’d like to share with your friends, classmates, and teachers?

Nominate it for summer reading!

 Nominated books should:

• be appropriate for incoming 9th through 12th grades. 
• be well-written.
• have the possibility to spark discussion.
• stimulate personal reflection and be intellectually engaging.
• be a book that you love and want to share with others in the Bryn Mawr Community.

Submit your nomination with a brief “pitch” stating why your book should be selected for summer reading to Mrs. Rickert-Wilbur by Monday, April 15th.

What is "A Blind Date with a Book"?

Stephanie opens her "Blind Date with a Book" book.

Two weeks ago eleventh grader, Laura H., sent  me this excerpt  from  her friend's blog:

26th January 2013

“My local library branch started doing this “Blind Date with a Book” thing, thought you guys might like it. The shelf was full when we got there, but was like this as we were leaving. The books are wrapped in paper and have different designs on them, and then a few words vaguely describing the subject matter of the book. Things like “Drama”, “Plot Twists”, “espionage”, etc. The only thing exposed on the book is the barcode that you use to scan the book out. I thought it was a pretty cool idea.”

I  shared the idea with Middle School English teachers, Patti Wit and Beth McDonald, and they thought it would be a  perfect activity for their students. The girls have been coming to the library during lunchtime and TAP to decorate as well as to choose books from the display.  Here are some of their creations. 

The other day a senior checked one of the books out. She said that "it was so lovely she just had to have it". You may stop by the Library and decorate a book, or check one out through February 28th. Thank you Mrs. Wit, Mrs. McDonald and Middle School students for your effort and enthusiasm, and thank you, Laura and friend for the great idea!

January 28th marked the 200th anniversary of the publication of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice