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Elementary, high school and Skidmore College students participated in a two part discussion of Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry, in February at the Saratoga Springs Public Library. The Junior Discussion series has become an annual Saratoga Reads event now in its fifth year. The purpose of the program is to bring together children and young adults to celebrate books and reading.
This year’s adult selection, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer provided inspiration for the Junior Selection. Librarians from throughout Saratoga gathered with Saratoga Reads! officers to choose books that would complement the themes in Guernsey. An entire selection can be accessed here http://www.saratogareads.org/juniorbooks.cfm, but for the purpose of the Junior Discussion, Number the Stars was selected. Like Guernsey, it takes place in a German occupied country and brings to life some of the ways in which citizens who might have seemed to be untouched directly by the war were very much thrown into the maelstrom of rations, soldiers, shortages and neighbor’s reliance on neighbor.
All of the fourth, fifth and sixth graders in the Saratoga Springs School District were invited to the program by a handwritten letter from Skidmore student Phoebe Pundyk. Other Saratoga area residents were able to register as well and announcements were made online and through library newsletters. Saratoga High School students and Skidmore students, led by Dr. Catherine Golden, Skidmore College English Professor, volunteered to be mentors for the event. Copies of the book were provided for all participants.
At the sessions, students divided into groups and mentors guided discussions, art projects and some impromptu games. The students who participated shared that they really enjoyed this selection both as an interesting opening to a knowledge of World War II history and as an exciting story. As a large group, children and mentors gathered to hear passages from Guernsey – and it was clear how strongly the books overlapped on some issues. Everyone enjoyed themed refreshments that highlighted foods mentioned in Number the Stars and each student received a Saratoga Reads! water bottle as a memento and encouragement to keep reading!
Special thanks to sponsors of this program:
Community Care Pediatrics,
Saratoga Gaming and Racing Foundation, and
Saratoga Springs City School District
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