Teen Read Week (TRW) stands as an inspiring adolescent reading initiative, championed by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a dynamic division of the American Library Association (ALA), and it's a movement that has found resonance in school libraries around the globe. In Ateneo de Manila Junior High School, the program was launched in 1998 and continues to thrive, serving as an annual celebration with a resounding message: inspiring teenagers to immerse themselves in the joy of reading. In these turbulent times, it becomes all the more crucial to emphasize to our students the profound significance of reading as the very cornerstone of lifelong learning.

Teen Read Week 2023’s themed "Reimagine Reading, Spark Change," offers a compelling invitation to shift our perception of reading and recognize the profound impact that books can have in instigating transformation. Under this banner, books cease to be mere static entities and instead become dynamic instruments, breathing life into ideas, stoking the fires of innovation, and igniting the sparks of change. They transcend their roles as collections of words, evolving into potent tools that nurture the human mind, promoting personal growth and empathy by presenting diverse perspectives and prompting introspection. 

Particularly, the event has the following objectives:

1. enhance the reading experience and promote a deeper connection with literature and information through leveraging emerging technologies, interactive formats, and immersive experiences

2. inspire books to be seen as dynamic instruments that ignite positive change.

3. promote reading as a dynamic and transformative experience rather than a passive activity; and

4. showcase how reading encourages empathy through diverse perspectives.

At their core, books embody the promise of meaningful change by empowering readers with knowledge, wisdom, and the resolve to shape a brighter future for themselves and the world. The theme inspires a myriad of activities and initiatives, encompassing dare-to-wear, open mic soiree, reading challenges, art exhibitions inspired by literature, and a community service project aligned with the themes explored in books. It serves as a call for everyone to acknowledge the transformative power of reading and to embrace its potential as a force for positive change, both on an individual and societal scale.

The event is planned to commence on November 8, 2023 and will end on November 17, 2023, as part of the culmination of OnCAM+TRW activities.