By Melissa Wagoner
During the spring conferences held on March 22, each family in the Mt. Angel School District was given a gift – a brand new copy of R.J. Palacio’s award-winning book, Wonder.
“We saw a need, especially as we come out of COVID,” Middle School Principal Jeff Taylor said of the project, which he hopes will encourage a city-wide exploration of the book’s themes – acceptance, kindness, courage and inclusivity.
“These themes are themes we see in our schools that need some conversation,” Taylor said. “Because we have different populations in Mount Angel, and we need to be cognizant. We hold these ideas as adults as well, that everyone is like us.”
Inspired by programs like the National Endowment for the Arts Big Read, which uses “a shared reading experience” to “inspire meaningful conversations, celebrate local creativity, elevate a wide variety of voices and perspectives, and build stronger connections in each community,” Taylor utilized his own community connection with Mt. Angel Public Library director, Jackie Mills, to get the project off the ground.
“Jeff walked into my library on a Tuesday in the summer and said, ‘I want to create an environment of literacy,’” Mills recalled. “I was like, ‘Oh, yay!’”
A skilled grant writer, Mills applied for a Rural Libraries Mini Grant from Oregon Humanities, and received the funding for nearly 400 English, Spanish and audio versions of the book along with a host of event supplies.
“Jackie does a really good job holding all varieties of attractive events at the library and she’s adjusting some of those activities to align with Wonder,” JFK principal Jessica Brenden said. “It’s a community collision, and I’m excited for what it can do for this town.”
Optimistic that at least 80 percent of the MASD population will engage with either the book or the movie adaptation, Taylor’s overarching goal is to create a shared experience.
“It’s the opportunity to open up a conversation,” he said, pointing out that even when a reader dislikes the book, there is still an opportunity for discussion.
“Let’s not shut that down,” he emphasized. “Let’s open it up.”
And there’s a strong academic component to the program as well.
“These are incremental steps to a larger goal,” Jeff admitted. “We’re looking to reignite a reading culture that has existed previously, and the library is part of that. I’m encouraged by the idea that we can all work together as a group.”
For a schedule of activities based on the book, Wonder, visit www.mtangelpubliclibrary.com.
