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StC's Middle School Library is Open 24/7

Middle School Librarian Lisa Brennan offers suggested readings using StC's online library.
According to StC’s Middle School Librarian Lisa Brennan, a library offers far more than just a physical space. During this time of distance learning, she suggests that we turn to eBooks to entertain us, ground us and open up our imagination. Be it novels that will help you escape to another place, a practical guide or a page-turner, a wealth of reading material exists only a computer-click away.

With over 800 eBook titles at our fingertips, Brennan views engagement and accessibility as paramount. She spends her days curating relevant resources, connecting with authors, designing digital pathways that are both visually appealing and easy-to-use and creating online reading collections exclusively for the StC Middle School community. She sees it as a labor of love.
 
To meet the demands of increased browsing, Brennan harnessed existing technology to enhance the look and feel of the eBook experience. Knowing precisely what levers to pull, she grouped books into categories and labeled collections with boy-friendly terms. These distinctive and deliberate book categories include: Middle School Mayhem; Action, Adventure, and Survival; Sports and Recreation; and Danger Ahead: Dystopia. 

To help kick-start the partnership, she has come up with some suggested readings. And, yes, all of the selections are available online — for free — so you can access them deep in the throes of social distancing. Simply go to stcvalibrary.com and VISIT OUR NEW SORA eBook COLLECTION. Then, as much as you can, stay calm, and read on!

Lisa Brennan's Middle School Favorites
  • “Google It: A History of Google by Anna Crowley Redding”
  • Stuart Gibbs five series: “FunJungle,” “Moon Base Alpha,” “Spy School,” “Charlie Thorne and The Last Musketeer”
  • Marie Lu’s action-packed stories, including the “Legend” trilogy, along with more recent releases of “Warcross” and “Wildcard”
  • Neal Shusterman’s darker dystopias in books such as “Unwind,” “Dry,” “Everlost” and “Scythe”
Brennan advocates partnering with the Middle School library to build a reading culture in the household. She encourages students to make their own selections from short books, lengthy books, graphic novels and even audiobooks. 

Choice is key, and she reports that Middle School boys are often driven by what their peers recommend. She also believes that nothing promotes a reading culture or is more reassuring for adults to grab a book as well.
 
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