One Book, One Community 2019
Richland County Middle School is proud to present the 2019 One Book, One Community selection:
Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus, by Dusti Bowling!
Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus, by Dusti Bowling!
This is the second year in a row we have been able to give every student at RCMS their own copy of the book. This year’s selection is a very funny, yet deep read, which pairs well with our current school motto: Be Kind. It is also exciting to note that the sequel to this book (titled Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus) will be released in September, which will allow students and the community to continue their enjoyment of this story and therefore extend the life of the project into the coming school year. The book was chosen not only by Mrs. Leslie, but with the help of her One Book Student committee, which meets during all of first semester and reads from a list of books Leslie pre-selects as good possibilities for the program.
More about the book from the publisher: “Whoa! What happened to your arms?” Aven Green gets that question a lot. She loves to tell people that she lost her arms in an alligator wrestling match, or a wildfire in Tanzania, but the truth is she was born without them. And when her parents take a job running Stagecoach Pass, a rundown western theme park in Arizona, Aven moves with them across the country knowing that she’ll have to answer the question over and over again. Her new life takes an unexpected turn when she bonds with Connor, a classmate who also feels isolated because of his own disability, and they discover a room at Stagecoach Pass that holds bigger secrets than Aven ever could have imagined. It’s hard to solve a mystery, help a friend, and face your worst fears. But Aven’s about to discover she can do it all . . . even without arms.”
As mentioned, every student at RCMS, as well as all faculty and staff, received copies of Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus. Additional books are available at RCES, RCMS, RCHS, St. Joseph School, and both the OCC and Olney Public libraries. Finally, over 150 copies have been distributed throughout many businesses and organizations in Richland County.
One Book, One Community programs have been used successfully throughout the United States to foster unity within a community through literature and discussion—by students and adults all reading a common book. The RCMS selections over the years have always featured a novel that has a strong moral underpinning/lesson, relatable characters, and an unforgettable story; this novel is no exception. For all of these reasons, we would like to encourage residents of Richland County to read the book along with us.
Our author Dusti Bowling was in Olney on Tuesday, April 16th. She presented to all RCMS students, St. Joseph students grades 4-8, select RCHS students, and interested community members. Dusti’s presentation began with her sharing about her personal life such as her family and multiple unique pets, as well as descriptive background knowledge on both the Arizona landscape and animals native to the land. Dusti went on to discuss the book and where the inspiration for the two main characters (Aven and Connor) originated, which turned out to be very close to her heart and based on several of her life experiences. Dusti’s presentation concluded with an overall sense of encouragement, with a quote from the founder of Life Without Limbs, Nick Vujicic: “Don’t give up. And know that there is always someone out there who believes in you and who loves you just the way that you are.”
Other events throughout the day included two question-and-answer sessions with both RCES and RCMS book club students, student book signings, and a community meet-and-greet reception with book signings, which was held after school in the RCMS library. Becca Leslie, teacher-librarian at RCMS, would like to thank RCCU #1, the RCMS principals and faculty, ERFAE, and the Carrie Winter Trust for faithfully supporting this project.
There are several goals of One Book, One Community:
1.) The project will promote the pleasure and lifelong benefits of reading, as well as increase reading literacy in our community. The RCMS library chose to promote this project through our school because finding ways to keep students enthused about reading becomes critical in early adolescence, and we want to help teens become lifelong readers! Students are excited to receive their own personal copy of the chosen book (over one-half of the students will receive a copy by lottery).
2.) Our youth needs role models of adults reading, too. Books will be availabe at locations throughout the community. As a result of both students and the community reading together, discussing a book will be an excellent way for teens and adults to connect with one another in a positive way. Reading a book with strong moral lessons/issues helps a student to emotionally connect with issues he or she is dealing with as a teenager, with positive reflections about what is important in life.
3.) Teens are highly motivated to read what their peers are reading. One Book has always been the highlight of our library program at RCMS. Our students become excited about reading what everyone else is reading!
More about the book from the publisher: “Whoa! What happened to your arms?” Aven Green gets that question a lot. She loves to tell people that she lost her arms in an alligator wrestling match, or a wildfire in Tanzania, but the truth is she was born without them. And when her parents take a job running Stagecoach Pass, a rundown western theme park in Arizona, Aven moves with them across the country knowing that she’ll have to answer the question over and over again. Her new life takes an unexpected turn when she bonds with Connor, a classmate who also feels isolated because of his own disability, and they discover a room at Stagecoach Pass that holds bigger secrets than Aven ever could have imagined. It’s hard to solve a mystery, help a friend, and face your worst fears. But Aven’s about to discover she can do it all . . . even without arms.”
As mentioned, every student at RCMS, as well as all faculty and staff, received copies of Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus. Additional books are available at RCES, RCMS, RCHS, St. Joseph School, and both the OCC and Olney Public libraries. Finally, over 150 copies have been distributed throughout many businesses and organizations in Richland County.
One Book, One Community programs have been used successfully throughout the United States to foster unity within a community through literature and discussion—by students and adults all reading a common book. The RCMS selections over the years have always featured a novel that has a strong moral underpinning/lesson, relatable characters, and an unforgettable story; this novel is no exception. For all of these reasons, we would like to encourage residents of Richland County to read the book along with us.
Our author Dusti Bowling was in Olney on Tuesday, April 16th. She presented to all RCMS students, St. Joseph students grades 4-8, select RCHS students, and interested community members. Dusti’s presentation began with her sharing about her personal life such as her family and multiple unique pets, as well as descriptive background knowledge on both the Arizona landscape and animals native to the land. Dusti went on to discuss the book and where the inspiration for the two main characters (Aven and Connor) originated, which turned out to be very close to her heart and based on several of her life experiences. Dusti’s presentation concluded with an overall sense of encouragement, with a quote from the founder of Life Without Limbs, Nick Vujicic: “Don’t give up. And know that there is always someone out there who believes in you and who loves you just the way that you are.”
Other events throughout the day included two question-and-answer sessions with both RCES and RCMS book club students, student book signings, and a community meet-and-greet reception with book signings, which was held after school in the RCMS library. Becca Leslie, teacher-librarian at RCMS, would like to thank RCCU #1, the RCMS principals and faculty, ERFAE, and the Carrie Winter Trust for faithfully supporting this project.
There are several goals of One Book, One Community:
1.) The project will promote the pleasure and lifelong benefits of reading, as well as increase reading literacy in our community. The RCMS library chose to promote this project through our school because finding ways to keep students enthused about reading becomes critical in early adolescence, and we want to help teens become lifelong readers! Students are excited to receive their own personal copy of the chosen book (over one-half of the students will receive a copy by lottery).
2.) Our youth needs role models of adults reading, too. Books will be availabe at locations throughout the community. As a result of both students and the community reading together, discussing a book will be an excellent way for teens and adults to connect with one another in a positive way. Reading a book with strong moral lessons/issues helps a student to emotionally connect with issues he or she is dealing with as a teenager, with positive reflections about what is important in life.
3.) Teens are highly motivated to read what their peers are reading. One Book has always been the highlight of our library program at RCMS. Our students become excited about reading what everyone else is reading!