Middle School Book Tasting

Shorecrest’s Middle and Upper School Media & Instructional Technology Specialist, Casey Giroud ’02, has been collaborating with Middle School teachers to help students discover their next great independent reading books.

Eighth graders took part in a book tasting with separate stations that encouraged focusing on a book that had been made into a film. Books were presented by theme, such as: Dystopian Worlds; High Adventure & Epic Journeys; Classics & Tough Decisions; Sports, Teamwork, & Pressure; and Nature, Isolation, & Identity. Within the genres were student favorites such as “The Hunger Games,” “The Maze Runner,” “Wonder” and “Out of My Mind.”

Students explored each selection like critics and screenwriters: examining the cover, reading the book description, noting visual clues on the table, and then scanning a QR code to watch the movie trailer. As they filled out their logs, they were prompted to think deeply:

• “How might the book be different from the movie?”*
• “Which story relies heavily on internal thoughts that could be hard to adapt on screen?”*
• “Which book might pose the biggest visual-effects challenge?”*

Sixth graders** enjoyed a seasonal twist with a Harvest Book Tasting, where each genre was presented as a course on a menu.

• Appetizer: The Time Traveler — fictional characters placed in historical settings
• Salad: The Unsolvable Mystery — crimes, riddles, and secrets to uncover
• Entrée: The Unthinkable Journey — magical worlds and mythical creatures
• Side Dish: The True Story — narratives based on real events or people
• Dessert: The Modern Dilemma — contemporary, relatable stories about school, family, or friendships

Students sampled each “course,” noting intriguing excerpts, plot elements, and predictions. Their final challenge: describe the book in one sentence that would convince a friend to read it.

“I do these types of activities throughout the year. It helps get the students excited about choosing a book and makes the library a special place to visit,” said Mrs. Giroud.

With so many titles on the shelves of the Hess Library, choosing a new book can feel overwhelming. Activities like these give students a fun, structured way to explore stories, discover new authors, and venture outside their usual reading comfort zones.