Festivals bring authors to area high schools
Oak Forest graduates who went on to be writers among highlights
Teachers and librarians teamed up recently to offer new experiences in an effort to instill a love of reading in young adults. Debuting with great success were the Ever-Read YA Literary Festival for people of all ages in Evergreen Park and Senior LitFest for students in senior English classes at Oak Forest High School.
“This is like a dream come true,” said Oak Forest English teacher Jennifer Schanz, who worked with Amanda O’Rourke, a former English teacher who is a media specialist at the high school, to come up with a professional event to promote interest in reading and writing and to connect students with common interests.
“My goal is to get kids to read independently. … There’s something magical about them having ownership,” Schanz said before the March 22 event at the school. “We figured seniors are the perfect target audience and we want them to leave with the love of reading, so that’s the gift that keeps on giving. I’ve been so lucky as a book nerd to go to a lot of book festivals locally and around the country. I’ve seen this happen in real life so I know the kids will enjoy it too. … They’ll get 55 minutes of goodness guaranteed.”
That day, about 350 seniors “skipped” English class for a literature experience featuring author readings, free book swag such as printed tote bags and signed copies from the authors, live music performances and book-related activities.
Schanz was most looking forward to hearing the guest speakers.
“Honestly, the best part is we have two former Oak Forest graduates who are published authors coming. I could cry. It’s so magical,” she said. “I’m so proud of them that we’re kicking it off with them makes me so happy.”
Those authors are Bridge
Morrissey, who writes young adult novels and romance novels for adults, and Ian Ryan, who writes poetry and short stories and is well-known in Oak Forest for his baseball skills.
Morrissey, who has another book for young adults coming out this summer, paid her own way to fly to the festival from her home in Los Angeles.
“This is going to be incredible for kids,” Schanz said. “I have a bookshelf in my classroom that I dish out to kids. I can’t keep her books on the shelf – they don’t come back!”