Stories

The upcoming break provides a great opportunity for our faculty and staff to dive into reading they may not have had time for during the school year. While their summer reading lists will surely include a few fun beach picks, many are also exploring titles that will inspire their work in the year ahead, whether through books on pedagogy, young adult novels, or picture books they may bring into their classrooms. Here’s what our faculty and staff are adding to their summer stacks.

Todd Ballaban: 

Our Senior Admin Team will be reading the book Mattering by Jennifer Wallace, which examines how humans can find value and meaning through connection with others and by contributing to their communities. The book analyzes the psychological and social aspects of feeling important, creating meaning, and deepening relationships as vital components to a meaningful life. These themes blend seamlessly with our school’s commitment to belonging and inclusivity and our cultural norm of forming deep connections with our students. 

Jasmine Bethel:

Mrs. Bethel plans to read novels for her personal enjoyment, including The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout and Where the Wildflowers Grow by Terah Shelton Harris. For something focused on child development, she is reading Jonathan Haidt’s popular book about children growing up in a digital world, The Anxious Generation.

Katherine Buhler:

Two school-related books I plan to dig into this summer are Glen Whitman's Neuroteach and Modifying Your Thinking Classroom for Any Setting by Peter Liljedahl, which is a follow-up to our Math team's common read last summer (Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics). For a fun young adult read, I'm looking forward to The Hero Next Door, a short story compilation featuring acclaimed authors such as William Alexander, Linda Sue Park, and R.J. Palacio. I hope to pull a story or two to use in 7th-Grade Life Skills class next year. 

Kato Nims:

In recent years, I have become increasingly interested in learning about how to design curriculum and learning experiences that meet the needs of all learners. This summer, I will be reading about neurodivergent learners to help grow my understanding and teaching skills. Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools: Transforming Practices So All Students Feel Accepted and Supportedis the book I've selected which promises to be both informative and practical in application. Additionally, I will be exploring my favorite picture book resource list, Social Justice Books, to find recommended picture books to read that highlight neurodiverse characters and experiences. 

Allison Pera:

Summer is the ideal time to encourage curiosity, find joy, and reset our family rhythm. For my summer reading, I look forward to pairing the imaginative magic of the picture book The Wonder by Tom Percival with the practical wisdom of the parenting book Outdoor Kids in an Inside World by Steven Rinella. The Wonder reminds us that we can find joy in both grand adventures and long, boring car rides. Oudoor Kids in an Inside World suggests a shift in our perspective and surroundings to focus on our children’s physical and mental health. While values like kindness, curiosity, courage, and stewardship are timeless, using nature as a primary classroom offers a unique way to grow. It is a simple yet powerful commitment to trade modern distractions for the lasting lessons found in the great outdoors. 

Ashley Shaefer:

A common refrain in my 7th and 8th grade classrooms, when my students approach summer reading, is, “Ugh, I hate reading!” Acknowledging that individual reading tastes are as unique as my students are, there is evidence from both recent educational scholarship and personal anecdotes collected over years of teaching that one reason students express disinterest in reading is that they are actually reading books that are too easy for them, and don’t offer them the reward that comes with inference-making or encountering thought-provoking characters and ideas. With this in mind, my summer reading will include several selections from the 2026 Alex Awards list: awards given annually to works of fiction with high literary value that are technically for adult audiences, but have special appeal to young adults. I’m starting with What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown, checking out new graphic novel called Insectopolis by Peter Kuper, and venturing into the realm of science fiction with Hole in the Sky by Daniel Wilson.

Jessica Sarnicola:

Parenting From the Inside Out by Daniel Siegel and Mary Hartzell. This book stands out from the crowd of parenting books because it really requires the reader to engage in deep personal and relational reflection. Authors guide the reader in examining how our own early childhood experiences shape who we become as parents while also reminding us that we have agency to recognize and adjust patterns that don’t align with the parent we would want to be for our own children. Reflective questions and exercises throughout the book provoke the reader to think deeply and foster meaningful change. 

Jessica Stargell:

This summer, I’m diving into two books that tackle the core of the middle school experience: intellectual agency and social confidence. First, I’ll be reading Make Just One Change: Teach Students to Ask Their Own Questions by Dan Rothstein and Luz Santana. I’m excited to explore the Question Formulation Technique (QFT), a simple yet powerful framework that shifts students from passive recipients of information to active drivers of their own inquiry—a vital skill for the independent learners we strive to cultivate. Also, I’ll be perusingA Teen’s Workbook for Conquering Social Anxiety. Middle school is a pivotal time for navigating social dynamics, and my goal is to integrate these practical strategies for building self-esteem and managing fear directly into our Leadershipclass curriculum this coming year.

Megan Wright:

The summer is a great time for me to explore chapter books that would appeal to our Lower School students, either as read-alouds or independent book options. With May having been Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, I was naturally pulled toward books highlighting this perspective. I will be reading Karina Yan Glaser's The Nine Moons of Han Yu and Luli, a dual-timeline story set in 731 China and 1931 New York City, following children working to save their families' businesses. I will also dive into A Wish in the Dark by Christina Soontornvat, a fantasy story that explores oppression, justice, and the nuances of right and wrong. I am looking forward to leisurely visits to libraries and bookstores on the hunt for new and engaging picture books!