After months of preparation, 100 BHHS sophomores participated in the second annual Community Read, an activity originating from the American Literature 1600s-Present class with AP U.S. History.

Tenth grade students and their selected community members gathered for the 2nd annual American Literature Community Read. Students selected a book from a list of fifteen selected multicultural American Literature titles and formed reading groups to discuss the books over the course of the semester. Students were given the opportunity to select a community member of their choice to read with them. Community members included: parents/guardians, grandparents, former teachers, coaches, siblings, and friends, BHHS Teachers Krista Laliberte and Rachel Matz wrote for Bloomfield Hills Schools.

At the May 31 event, students, according to Bloomfield Hills Schools, discussed and analyzed their literary selection with community members, decorating BHHS rooms for the night.

This project was the recipient of a Bloomfield Hills Foundation Mini Grant during the Winter, 2017 grant period. We are thrilled to be able to continue offering this exciting and meaningful project to future classes, and look forward to expanding it in future years, Laliberte and Matz continued.

Sophomore Dalia Schwarzbaum, who participated in the event, remarked that “I read The Joy Luck Club and I liked how it opened up interesting discussions about relationships that I normally wouldn’t have with a family member. It brought about intriguing viewpoints, and was a very valuable evening spent with my mother and other community members.”

Echoing Schwarzbaum, Sophomore James Peil said “I think the Community Read was an interesting idea that sparked insightful conversations in the room, and it seemed like all the parents and students involved were very interested in the night.”