Frequently Asked Questions

Storytelling is the first immersive experience!

• We gain a greater insight into the human condition and deepen our empathy for others when we read about diverse experiences in a safe and manageable way through books.

• We develop a better understanding of other cultures and circumstances when we read extensively.

• We increase our general knowledge which improves our reading comprehension, vocabulary, and writing skills.

• Prolonged, sustained reading increases our ability to focus and concentrate. An important skill needed for the Information Age!

• Reading about new experiences inspires and nurtures community participation.

• Reading about people who may or may not be similar to us combats feelings of isolation and loneliness.

• Choosing your own book encourages ownership and self-determination.

Yes! Your choice. Your voice. You are expected to choose a book that is on or above your reading level, appropriate for you, and that you haven't already read. Everyone will sign the Honor Pledge form in May. 

Beanstack (marist.beanstack.com) is a reading tracking website and app. You log your reading to keep track of the titles you have read or join in on our reading challenges to meet new reading goals, collect badges and win prizes! You @marist.com credentials have been uploaded to our website. Don't know your @marist.com credentials, please email Help Desk at helpdesk@marist.com.

• Books may be read in any format. Print, eBook, and Audiobook. 

• You may check out up to 10 books from the Marist Library. Keep track of your books!

• Try an eBook or audiobook using Sora with the Marist School Library. You can read or listen to the book using the Sora app on your phone. You will need to login with your @marist.com credentials. 

• NoveList Plus is a readers' advisory database that includes suggested reading, reviews, articles, lists, book club resources, and more! You can search and sort by grade level, appeal, awards, format, and genre. Per our agreement with EBSCO, students will need to use the password found on the "Off-campus Logins and Passwords" document behind their @marist.com credentials.

• Visit your Public Library. Don't have a public library card yet? Sign up online for your free public library card. Here are the Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett registration pages to get you started. Now download the apps "Libby" and/or "Hoopla," sign in with your library card, and find something great to read. "Libby" and "Hoopla" will organize books by genre and reading levels for recommendations. Better yet, visit your public library! Most public libraries underwent a huge renovation during the pandemic and created great public spaces! In addition to books, Public Libraries subscribe to magazines and audiobooks and may provide movie streaming options. 

• Goodreads will offer previews of a book, ways of finding a copy, and suggest similar books.

• Type in "bookstore" in your smart phone's maps app. Visit a local bookstore and ask for recommendations.

• Peruse the bestsellers lists from your favorite shopping vendors and online newspapers.

• The Lexile Find a Book tool and Accelerated Book Finder can help you determine the reading level of a book.

This is a great idea!  Although not a requirement, you can form a club of two or 20 or however many, but please, open the membership to everyone. Groups of friends, clubs, sports teams, and family members are all great places to start.

• Set up at least two or three times to meet this summer either in-person or by Google Meet or Google Chat. 

• You may want to designate roles for members. For example, who's responsible for bringing the food and drinks? Who's organizing the watch party for AFTER you have read the book? Who wants to do a little research on the author?  Authors' lives are sometimes more interesting than their books! Is the historical context important for this book? Have someone do a little research and explain why to the group. 

• Designate someone or ask club members to write discussion questions. Your book may already include book club discussion questions. Check the publisher's website too.

• It may be fun to look up some reviews. Not everyone agrees with you that it's a great book!

• As the summer progresses, here are some suggestions for creating fellowship with your book. Take turns reading the book out loud to each other. Maybe meet and listen to the audiobook and discuss it as you go along.

• Even though your group is reading the same book, everybody should read and/or listen to the book and submit a six-word reflection by the first day of school. Each student is responsible for participating in the culminating activity in August. 

We understand you want to be ready for August and that you probably have a lot planned for this summer; practices, trips, sleeping in until noon. Here are some suggestions for reviewing your book.

• Ask yourself, or your book club members, how does this book explore the human condition? Think about how the events and experiences found in the book, and people you know, construct our lives.  For example, consider these events and experiences, birth, death, personal, physical and spiritual growth, family and/or community dynamics, morality, conflict, and choices. 

• Were you able to immerse yourself in and "step beyond where you are" into another person's life by reading this book?  How has this book changed you?

• Make connections between this book and your life or someone else that you know. Compare and contrast main plot points with the "real world." Identify and connect the theme to what you already "know" or have "learned" and "want to learn" more about.

• What "critical lens" did you use to "view" and interpret your selection? Was your response to the book from that of a Reader's, or your own life experiences, or maybe a Spiritual, Socio-economic or Cultural one? Other critical lenses include, but are not limited to, Historical, Biographical, Gender, Racial, Ecological, and Psychological. Did you gain new perspectives or ideas after reading your book(s)?

• Outline the main ideas and theme(s) of the book. List the characters and how they changed or didn't change over the course of the book. 

• Identify key literary elements: characters, theme(s), setting, plot, conflict, denouement, and point of view.

• Does the book fall under a major literary genre? For example, nonfiction, historical fiction or speculative fiction? 

Please refer to the "What's Due?"  web page on this site for instructions. The Padlet Board is linked on the "What's Due?" web page.

Welcome to Marist! Please choose a book you haven't read before, is on or above your reading level, and appropriate for you. Please complete an Honor Pledge form and submit your responses by the first day of school Friday, August 18. New students will receive their @marist.com credentials in the middle of June.  Email Help Desk at helpdesk@marist.com if you need further technical assistance. Thank you!

Simply login into drive.google.com or download the Google app to your phone. This will give you access to the Google Forms. Do you still need help? Email Help Desk at helpdesk@marist.com for further technical assistance.

Good question! Students are expected to read and reflect upon at least one book for pleasure this summer that you haven't already read. We look forward to hearing about your book and don't forget to submit your responses. We will have an activity in August using your book. Thanks!