The event at Langston Hughes Middle School brought together students, educators, and community members too celebrate the joy of reading and the importance of diverse voices in literature.NEA’s Read Across America,a year-round literacy program,aims to encourage reading and open minds through diverse stories. This year’s celebration was especially special, honoring the 10th anniversary of The Crossover and its impact on young readers.

NEA Vice President Princess Moss emphasized the meaning of diverse books, stating, authentic joy in reading begins with having diverse books–books where I can not only see myself but appreciate and learn from the stories and the experiences of others. This sentiment resonated throughout the event, highlighting the need for literature that reflects the diverse experiences of students.

A Novel in Verse comes to Life

The Crossover tells the story of twin brothers navigating the challenges of adolescence,basketball,and family relationships. The novel’s unique format, written in verse, adds a rhythmic and engaging quality that captivated the Langston Hughes Middle School students. As Alexander read from the book, Amy Shook’s jazz bass provided a complementary soundtrack, enhancing the emotional depth of the story.

Alexander engaged directly with the students, asking for their feedback on The Crossover. One LHMS student shared, It’s a great book overall and it has a great story. When Alexander playfully pressed for a rating on a scale of one to ten, the student responded with an enthusiastic, I’d give it like a nine.

The author also shared insights into his writing process, revealing that it took him five years to complete The Crossover. He recounted how he frequented a local café near the school, dedicating himself to the story until it was finished. Alexander also spoke candidly about the initial challenges he faced in getting the story recognized, a message that resonated deeply with the students and educators.

Jill Sheroni, an ESL teacher at LHMS, underscored the importance of Alexander’s visit, stating, This partnership of NEA’s Read Across America, our school, and Kwame Alexander is so critically important as we need our children to see that it is indeed possible here in Reston to come back and build our community together and succeed. Sheroni was instrumental in bringing Alexander to the school to celebrate his book’s anniversary on NEA’s Read Across America Day.

Honoring Langston Hughes

The event also paid tribute to the school’s namesake, Langston Hughes, the celebrated poet, playwright, and social activist. LHMS Principal Herman Mizel opened the event by reciting Hughes’ famous poem, Harlem, also known as A Dream Deferred. Mizel asked the students, What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up in the sun or fester like a sore—and then run? This poignant introduction set the stage for the inspiring performances that followed.

Hughes, a pivotal figure of the Harlem Renaissance, was known as the poet of the people. His work explored the experiences of African americans and addressed themes of social justice, equality, and the pursuit of dreams. The recitation of his poem served as a powerful reminder of the importance of art and literature in reflecting and shaping society.

Student Talent on Display

The Read Across America celebration showcased the diverse talents of Langston Hughes Middle School students. The school’s choir, orchestra, and band delivered captivating musical performances.Several students bravely shared their original poems, and three young artists were recognized for their artwork inspired by the themes of jazz and reading.

Nolan, the first-place winner of the art competition, explained that his inspiration came from the prompt itself. I was inspired by the reading part [of the prompt], so I drew a bunch of books falling around the center, and for the Jazz part of it, I was inspired by Jazz fashion from the early 30s, he said. His artwork incorporated hand-drawn music notes from the song Fly Me to the Moon, reflecting his passion for both visual and musical arts.

Siblings michael and Matthew attended the event to support their sister Mia, an eighth grader who won second place in the art competition. Matthew, a sixth grader, shared his connection to The Crossover, stating, In The Crossover the brothers fight but also play fight, and they do competitions over stuff that is kind of silly. I think I have a connection with that too as me and my brother [Michael] play basketball. I can relate with [the story] as I have the same problems, too.

The Power of Diverse stories

Following the performances,students eagerly lined up to have their copies of The crossover signed by Kwame Alexander. The enthusiasm and excitement were palpable, underscoring the impact of the event on the students.

Eighth grade English teacher Jackie Durr emphasized the importance of diverse books, explaining, Diverse books give students a window into what the world can be and what the world is, but it also gives them a chance to reflect and see themselves. And quite literally, books save lives, so it’s always critically critically important to be able to pick up a book and engage with it as either an escape, but also as a way to see what the world can be and open up windows and doors for yourself to just aim high.

Sheroni echoed this sentiment, adding that it is indeed crucial for children to see themselves in books and in the content and in everything!

A Lasting Impression

Jazz bassist Amy Shook expressed her hopes for the students, saying, I want them [students] to leave with a sense of excitement and enthusiasm to pursue writing if they’ve never really done it before, certainly keep reading, to pursue music if it’s something they never really thought about doing and to see that there are ways to integrate those two things together. I want to foster the inventiveness and plant some seeds of creativity because these young people, they will sustain us.

Kwame Alexander concluded the event with a powerful message, stating, Now is the time that we need writers and artists, as writers and artists feel free and we are unafraid, and we’re going to say the things that need to be said! We will not allow all of the work and the love and the hope and the dreams and the challenges that our ancestors, our parents, our grandparents and great-grandparents, went through to not matter.

The Read Across America celebration at Langston Hughes Middle School served as a reminder of the transformative power of literature, music, and diverse voices in shaping the next generation of change-makers.