Waltham Students Will Choose Summer Reading Book in 24-Hour, March Madness-Style Tournament

WALTHAM, MA – This year 16 books will go head-to-head in a March Madness-style tournament to become this year's summer reading book. On Friday, Waltham High School students will spend 24 hours in the school library for the second consecutive Read-a-thon.

During the event, students will read a selection from each book in groups of four for 45-minute periods, followed by 15-minute breaks. Students will also speak with authors Patricia McCormick, Steve Pemberton, William Landry, Bill Konigsberg and Sonia Nazari through Skype chats and live visits.

"We often hear that this is a generation that doesn’t read – this event proves otherwise," library teacher Rebekah Tierney said in a statement. "We had over 100 students clamoring to be part of the Read-a-thon
because they love books and want to share their love of reading with others.”

The event features guest readers and activities throughout the night to keep the energy going, and local businesses such as Pizzi Farm and Subway will donate food.

Last year, Waltham High School students selected "All American Boys" by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely. The authors stopped by the school last fall for a workshop about race, identity and relationships between community and police.

This year's choices are "Station Eleven," "A Long Way Gone," "Porcupine of Truth," "When the Emperor Was Divine," "Defending Jacob," "The Other Wes Moore," "Speak," "March," "Ghost Boy," "A Chance in the World," "Sold," "David & Goliath," "Marina," "Enrique's Journey," "Bone Gap" and "Symphony for the City of the Dead."

“The goal of the One School, One Story program is to make summer reading fun, to involve the community in a meaningful way and to show students that reading is a lifelong endeavor," English Director Allyson McHugh said. "The Read-a-thon is just one more way to achieve those goals."

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