NMS Student Selected As Nutmeg Reader For Awards Panel

By Nancy K. Crevier

Newtown Middle School eighth grade student Jane Moran has been selected from over a dozen applicants from all over Connecticut as one of two student readers to serve on the Nutmeg Teen Book Selection Committee for 2009.

The Nutmeg Book Award is sponsored by the Connecticut Library Association and the Connecticut Educational Media Association to encourage children in grades four through eight to read quality literature. Each year, students across the state read from a list of ten nominated titles and vote for the book that they think deserves the Nutmeg Children’s Book Award.

Teen committee members help adult book selection committee members refine a list of 80 books down to the top ten nominees. Two divisions exist for the Nutmeg Children’s Book Award, one for grades four to six and the other, for which Jane will read, for older readers.

“I really love reading and I’ve been to many book discussion groups that I enjoy,” said Jane, who is also a member of the C.H. Booth Library Youth Advisory Committee. “Mrs Brown, [the young adult librarian at Booth Library], told me about the application to be a teen reader. I was uncertain at first if I wanted to do it, but then I decided to apply,” said Jane.

“Jane came to mind immediately,” said Margaret Brown. “I know lots of good readers, but Jane is an extra-avid reader and you have to be to take part in [the Nutmeg Award selections].”

Applying to the committee was a good move for the young reader, who reads nearly 30 books a month on her own.

Jane received notification in early November that her one-page essay reviewing a book she had read had earned her this special honor. According to a letter Jane received from Geri Diorio, chairperson of the Nutmeg Teen Book Selection Committee for 2009, the essay and letter of recommendation from her seventh grade language arts teacher, Cheryl Laferriere, conveyed “the reading ability, desire, commitment and personality to work with a committee of librarians and media specialists.”

It was clear to Ms Diorio upon reading Jane’s application that she would fit very well into the committee. “Her answers were so articulate and thoughtful, her application was one that just jumped out at us,” said Ms Diorio.

Because the teen readers are members of the target group for the books selected for the Nutmeg Award nominees, their opinions will be taken very seriously, Ms Diorio said.

“I was very, very happy to be selected,” said Jane, “and a little nervous. Most of the committee is adults, so I was nervous about meeting them.”

Her fears were swiftly allayed after the first committee meeting at the Cheshire Public Library on November 30. “They are a wonderful committee,” said Jane. “I was just surprised how nice everyone was.”

There are 12 people on the committee, she said, including herself and the other teen reader. “At the meeting, we received a list of over 80 books to read over the next year,” said Jane. The committee will be reading groups of about 22 books between meetings. The first selections must be read by the next meeting in early February. “We take notes on the books. Mainly, the committee wants you to figure out how many people would like the book, how much appeal it has, and the quality of the writing,” Jane explained.

The list of 80 recently published young adult fiction books was chosen through book reviews as well as suggestions from some of the other committee members, said Jane. The book list includes many genres, themes, and styles of writing. She is not concerned about being able to read and review that number of books, however. “I read every day, whenever I can,” said Jane.

Her mother confirmed that Jane is a prolific reader. “She is not happy unless she has several books going at once,” said Patty Moran. “Jane loves to read or to talk about books in any way, shape, or form.” As a matter of fact, confessed Mrs Moran, school conferences have frequently focused on a situation most teacher’s do not want to complain about: too much reading in class. Jane admitted that she usually has with her, at the very least, a book for her own reading pleasure, a book to read in school between lessons, and a book she has to read for school. Adding one more book to the pile will be a pleasure, she said, not a nuisance at all.

Her only concern is about the availability of the books she needs to read. The committee members are responsible for locating the novels themselves. Because the books are so new, said Jane, she suspects not all of them will be on the shelf at the library by the time she is ready to read them. That means she will have to search Amazon.com or visit local bookstores to purchase them, as the committee does not provide copies of any of the books to the readers.

The selection and voting process is time consuming. The books nominated by Jane and the Nutmeg Teen Book Selection Committee will be promoted for student reading the end of 2008, with voting in the spring of 2009. Jane will be a sophomore in high school before the winner is selected from the group of books her committee chooses.

Librarian Margaret Brown has no doubts about Jane’s suitability for the task at hand. “Jane can multitask, keeps plots straight when she is reading multiple books, she is a good student, and can do lots of extracurricular reading,” said Mrs Brown. “She loves books, so I thought it would be something Jane would enjoy very much and add to the committee.”