Boston School To Receive Dozens Of New Books Through Award

These students will have no shortage of reading options in the near future.

By Benjamin Pierce, Patch Staff

Oct 2, 2026 4:45 PM EDT

BOSTON, MA — A school will receive dozens of new books and a visit from an award-winning author as part of an annual Boston Book Festival program.

The John D. O'Bryant School of Mathematics and Science in Roxbury has been selected as the recipient of the Boston Book Festival's 2026 Shelf Help award. The award will provide the school library with more than 50 new books reflecting students' interests and experiences.

The annual award also includes a visit from 2026 Newbery Medal winner Renée Watson on Friday, Oct. 16. Watson, who will serve as the Boston Book Festival's Young Adult Fiction keynote speaker this year, is the author of the new young adult novel "Everything New Again," which explores first love, family expectations, loss, and new beginnings.

"A vibrant school library can open doors for students—as readers and learners, and as young people eager to discover their own interests and voices," Boston Book Festival Executive Director Carlin Carr said. "A Shelf Help award brings the Festival's joy and possibility directly into a Boston school. We're delighted to help make the O'Bryant library an inviting, relevant resource for every student."

The new books will include nonfiction resources for student research along with manga and graphic novels requested for recreational reading, according to O'Bryant School Librarian Keshia Koech. Watson's visit will be hosted in the school library and give students an opportunity to learn about her creative process and motivations for writing. Each student will also receive a signed copy of "Everything New Again," which is scheduled to be published on Tuesday, Oct. 13.

Watson received the 2026 John Newbery Medal for "All the Blues in the Sky," a novel about a teenager grieving the death of her best friend. She previously received a Newbery Honor and the Coretta Scott King Author Award for "Piecing Me Together."

The Shelf Help program was launched by the Boston Book Festival in partnership with Boston-based literacy nonprofit Wondermore in 2017. The program provides local school libraries with books selected by their librarians and a visit from an author or illustrator participating in the festival.

The award comes ahead of the 2026 Boston Book Festival, which is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 17, in Copley Square. The annual festival is free and open to the public and is the culmination of the organization's year-round literary programming.

The John D. O'Bryant School of Mathematics and Science is a STEM-focused exam school serving students in grades seven through 12 in Roxbury. The school also incorporates humanities into its curriculum. It is located at 55 Malcolm X Boulevard.