Kathe Koja, Author of 'Buddha Boy,' Visits Minuteman

The following was provided by Judy Bass, communications specialist for , a regional vocational high school serving the towns of Acton, Arlington, Belmont, Bolton, Boxborough, Carlisle, Concord, Dover, Lancaster, Lexington, Lincoln, Needham, Stow, Sudbury, Wayland and Weston.

For students, it’s always exciting to read fiction that engrossingly and authentically describes familiar real-life issues such as dating, conflict with parents, or being part of the cool “in” crowd versus languishing on the social sidelines.

As freshmen at in Lexington discovered, the novel “Buddha Boy,” by Kathe Koja, which was their summer reading assignment, is just such an engrossing, relevant book. 

The story of two tremendously dissimilar students at Edward Rucher High School, “Buddha Boy” sensitively examines the way young people sometimes have to choose between coveted social acceptance by their fickle, judgmental peers and whether they can, or even should, muster the courage to befriend an offbeat individual who is definitely not typical or popular.

Particularly rewarding for the Minuteman students was actually meeting Koja during her recent visit to the school.

“Kathe Koja was invited to Minuteman not only to assist our students in understanding the themes and characters of the freshman summer reading title, “Buddha Boy,” said Librarian Eileen Roddy, “But also to assist our staff and provide insights into the effective teaching of the novel.”

Starting with a meet-and-greet breakfast prepared by Minuteman’s Culinary Arts students, the day’s agenda featured assemblies for freshmen to hear Koja speak about the book and respond to their questions, the hanging of a colorful banner symbolizing “Buddha Boy” themes, a creative writing workshop for juniors and the presentation of a beautiful cake made by a culinary student.

Kindles were provided and awarded to students who had read the most books during the summer. Those students were freshman Georgiana Condon, sophomore Colleen Ryan (Waltham), junior Danny Cooper (Framingham) and senior Dylan Caples (Lexington).

In addition, the freshman class won $500 to be used during their four years at Minuteman for proms, yearbooks, class gifts and other items and events. This prize, awarded to the class that read the most books, was supported by the Minuteman Parents Association’s “Grant -a-Wish” program.

According to Roddy, the author’s visit was the “perfect embodiment” of the way Minuteman strives to forge connections between student learning and the outside world.

“Students were fascinated to meet a woman who had stumbled onto her career as an author by chance, who had no formal college education and worked hard to achieve what she has,” said Roddy. “The author visit was a chance to bring students and staff from all disciplines together to show what Minuteman has to offer, from academics, to culinary designing a cake, to art and graphic design students creating artwork inspired by the novel.”