This summer, you’ll probably be relaxing at the pool, hanging out with friends, watching Tv, and of course…reading the annual Langley Read book. Each summer, everybody at Langley is required to read the same book, which acts as a commonality between the different classes and supplies a discussion topic applicable to the entire school. But what goes into choosing the book that 2,000 people will have to read?
The decision making process begins with inviting the Langley community to make suggestions for novels with potential to serve as the school wide read. An electronic form on the Langley website homepage and paper forms (passed out by English teachers) allow anyone interested to suggest a piece of literature unlimited times.
Next, the Langley Read Committee, which is comprised of faculty, students, and parents, selects the top fifteen novels and makes sure they meet certain criteria. “We’re looking for a book with wide appeal and themes that can be discussed in all the different classes,” said Ms. Kathleen Ortiz, school librarian and head of the Langley Read committee. The fifteen novels are then narrowed down to five. The Langley community votes online, and the winner becomes the Langley Read for the 2012-2013 school year.
In May, the students in the committee (who are all currently juniors) will begin planning activities involving the chosen text. The goal is to continually remind students of the plot in an intriguing manner, while also examining the piece of literature in a classroom environment.