Schools
New York Times Best-Selling Author To Speak At Waltham High
New York Times best-selling author Neal Shusterman will visit Waltham High School to talk about, 'Scythe,' this year's One School, One book.
WALTHAM, MA — What brings a New York Times best-selling novelist to Waltham? Well, he was asked.
Each year for the past six years the entire student body of Waltham High School has participated in a summer reading program called “One School, One Story." It's a take on a program that a number of schools and cities take part in across the country. The mission: to help students like reading a bit more, and to build community.
Students choose the book, and that helps say Waltham high school officials. Last year students chose "Scythe," by Neal Shusterman after they were presented with four different books and were asked to vote on them. Without knowing the titles, students watch book trailers, read selections of the books and watched interviews with students who had read each book. In the end, "Scythe" won with more than half the vote, according to high school officials.
Find out what's happening in Walthamfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"Scythe" is set in a world with no hunger, no disease, no war, no misery: humanity has conquered all those things, and has even conquered death. Now Scythes are the only ones who can end life—and they are commanded to do so, in order to keep the size of the population under control. Citra and Rowan are chosen to apprentice to a scythe: a role that neither wants. These teens must master the “art” of taking life, knowing that the consequence of failure could mean losing their own.
On Sept. 14, teachers tailored their lessons around themes found in "Scythe."
Find out what's happening in Walthamfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
In the first four years, the school has hosted authors, “read” a podcast, had a 24 Hour Read-a-thon, and experimented with a conference-style workshop day for students. Along the way that first four years readership increased by 20 percent and the school said its community became stronger, both of which was part of the idea of the program.
Past books the school read and then discussed together include "Ready Player One" by Ernest Cline and "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson. In 2015, Waltham got some national recognition for selecting the podcast sensation "Serial."
Check out the book trailer here:
Subscribe to Waltham Patch for more local news and real-time alerts.
File photo by Jenna Fisher/Patch Staff
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
