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CORTLANDT MANOR, N.Y. Paperbacks were prevalent and glossy e-readers nowhere to be found at Blue Mountain Middle School's annual fundraising book fair. The PTA supplied the volunteers for the event, and the school donates money back to the PTA and gets scholastic dollars as a book-selling incentive.
"There are so many titles available for young adults," said Kelly Rudyk, sixth, seventh and eighth grade English teacher, and organizer of the book fair. She added that the book fair is social in nature, "it's a way to have conversations about the books."
The various paperbacks about adolescent vampires, mall mysteries and even cooking seemed to be a throwback to simpler days, when e-readers weren't flying off the shelves.
"Me and my mom like holding a book and reading it better than a Kindle," said Emma Tandy, a sixth grade student.
"We've had kids come in with Nooks and Kindles for independent reading time, and we support that," said Rudyk, but "these books are more accessible to a wider range of kids." She added that "the price of some of those readers separates the kids."
The way to read the book seemed to matter less to the crowd than the book itself. Natalie McIntyre, a sixth grade student, carried her new copy of "I So Don't Do Mysteries," by Barrie Summy, an ironically titled book about a seventh grade girl who receives a mysterious phone call. "It's more fun here because it's with a class," said McIntyre.
"I think it energizes them to read," said PTA co-president Beth Gruber, from behind a cash register, "we're seeing a lot of variety." About e-readers, Gruber noted that her kids "have both, and they do both."
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