One Book, One School
In light of the unique circumstances that surrounded our learning community as we entered the 2020-2021 school year, the English Department at HBRHS developed our very first One Book, One School initiative. To build upon the shared experience we have endured and will continue to experience, it was our belief that the all-school read would provide both the structure students crave and allow for flexibility to accommodate the learning environment - both in-person and remotely. Research supports the utilization of an all-school read as a way to strengthen the sense of community within a building.
After combing over many bestseller lists and potential novel selections, the English Department landed on Kent State by Deborah Wiles. This text is the most recent release (April of 2020) for this award-winning young adult author. As the novel’s title indicates, the story explores a variety of perspectives about the Kent State killings that resulted from student protests about the Vietnam War in 1970. The book is very balanced in its exploration of the various opinions about this event, including the perspectives of activists, National Guardsmen, and community members, among others. The novel places value on exploring balanced perspectives about such a controversial event, an essential skill as students bear witness to the tumultuous civil rights movements taking place currently.
Students engaged in rich discussions throughout the reading of the text, as well as developed important literary skills when analyzing characters, point of view, author’s choices, and theme. A favorite activity was Blackout Poetry, where students showcased their artistic abilities through writing original poetry from the pages of Kent State.
In addition, the Hinckley Historical Society was a great resource in providing students with firsthand stories and accounts from local community members. We so appreciated the time and effort they put into providing students with thought-provoking narratives that hit so close to home.
Most exciting, though, was when students were able to hear from the author of Kent State herself! Deborah Wiles graciously took time out of her busy schedule to plan with us a virtual meeting where students were able to hear Wiles discuss topics including the inspiration and research process for her novel.
Wiles discussed the time she spent poring over primary documents about the Kent State killings, many of which she was able to access on the college’s campus, in order to craft a well-informed novel. She even shared photos of some of these primary documents, including a letter written by one of the victims. Students were also able to ask Wiles questions about her writing process, which was an opportunity many students seized. In all, this entire unit allowed students to learn about this important part of American history in a new, unique way, and we hope it is something that students will long remember.
HBRHS English Department
Alyssa Donlan Madison Kacer Ashlie McCauley