The United States celebrated World Book Day on Monday, April 23rd, 2018. Arrowhead students chose to spend the day reading, learning, and relaxing. Students also honored the day by checking out some of the global novels in the Arrowhead library.

Liz Munkwitz, modern literature and world literature teacher, sent out an email to Arrowhead staff saying, “In honor of the global focus of World Book Day, check out some of the newest global additions to our library. We do our best to freshen up our bookshelves with new, engaging titles for you and your students. Check out some of the ways we promote books and reading in our library.”

Munkwitz is, in addition to an English teacher, the Arrowhead Technology Integrator. She works to bring in new and interesting books for AHS students and staff every year.

The following books have most recently joined our library: A Land of Permanent Goodbyes by Atia Abawi, Achinko by Min Jin Lee, and A Hope More Powerful than the Sea by Melissa Fleming, among several others.

AHS book club had their monthly meeting on Monday, April 26th. The students chose to honor the day by choosing A Gray House by Mariam Petrosyan. This novel was originally a Russian text that was later translated into English. Amazon.com offered this book, among eight others, for free on the Kindle to celebrate World Book Day. In the past the club has read several books, including Monk of Mokha by Dave Eggers that tells the story of a Yemeni American man who dreams of resurrecting the ancient art of coffee. Any student can join book club by showing up to one of their monthly meetings.

“I didn’t know it was World Book Day until you told me, but I think it’s awesome,” says AHS junior Jackson Ashby. “My favorite book is Friday Night Lights, but I read it so long ago. I haven’t read any books that are from another country, at least that I know of. I’d definitely be open to it though because I don’t know a lot about other cultures.”

“My favorite book is 13 Reasons Why,” says AHS junior Lauren Chromy. “I know it’s not the best thing to say, but I like depressing books the most. I liked how I could watch the Netflix show after I read the book, and I find historical books boring.”

World Literature is offered to juniors and seniors at north campus. The students read a variety of books from all over the world including Zenzele: A Letter for my Daughter by J. Nozipo Maraire that originates in Africa, Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo about the slum conditions in Africa, and Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick about the conditions of children during the Cambodian Genocide.

“World Book Day isn’t the most talked about of ‘celebrated days’ but that doesn’t mean it’s not important,” says AHS junior Izzy Rahmel. “Learning the culture and life of people all over the world in a book helps people open their minds to those that are different from us.”