Notes from The Max

April Literary Events

The date for the next Boston Book Festival is October 15, 2011 - a long time off if you're looking for a bookish way to spend your weekend. Luckily, there are a number of other literary events happening all the time. Here's a look at some of the events coming up in the next month:

• On Sunday April 10th, Trinity Church in Boston will host its Children's Book Fair. From 9am to 1pm, the fair will have crafts, storytime and, of course, books, all conveniently located in the church's book shop right in Copley Square. Best of all, it's free.
• That same weekend (April 9th and 10th), the Boston Public Library will be holding the 11th Annual National Poetry Month Festival just across the square from Trinity Church. Co-sponsored by Tapestry of Voices and Kaji Aso Studio, this event will feature several well-known poets reading their work alongside new, emerging poets (including students from Boston Latin and Boston Arts Academy). There will also be an Open Mike session on Saturday. The Poetry Festival will be held at BPL's Central Branch in Copley Square and is free of charge.
• And while you're at the Boston Public Library, you might want to find more information about its Author Talk series, which brings a diverse range of authors to the library to discuss their work and meet with fans. Diane Ackerman and Christopher McDougall are just two of the authors scheduled to visit the BPL in the coming weeks. Please see the BPL website for more information.
• If you're looking for something to entertain younger readers, consider heading to Wellesley Free Library on April 13th. John Bemelmans Marciano, grandson of iconic Madeleine creator and author Ludwig Bemelmans, will be there to read from his new book, Madeleine at the White House, which is based on an unfinished story of his grandfather's.
• And if you really can't wait until October for literary fun, the Newburyport Literary Festival will take place on Friday April 29th and Saturday April 30th. Featuring local Massachusetts authors in a variety of categories (fiction, nonfiction, poetry and children's), the event will have a full day of activities planned with something for everyone. There will also be a special dinner with the authors and silent auction. More information and tickets for the dinner can be found on the NLF's website.

Coming Soon: 2011 Essay Judging

Last week, the groundhog Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early spring and spring means it's time once again to pick this year's Max Warburg Fellows.

The Max Warburg Courage Curriculum's 2011 Essay Judging - our 20th Anniversary Year Essay Judging - will take place on Wednesday, March 2, 2011, at the Boston Public Library in Copley Square. We will gather in the conference rooms on the Lower Level of the McKim Building.

As in years past, we will have two sessions: a morning session from 9am to 12pm and an evening session from 5:30pm to 8:30pm. Each session will begin with a brief introduction to the essay judging process by our coordinator, Lexa Marshall. Essay judges work collaboratively to choose the best possible essay for inclusion in our 20th volume of The Courage of Boston's Children.

If you are interested in attending or would like more information, please visit the Events page of our website.

Happy Thanksgiving from The Max!

During this season of Thanksgiving, The Max would like to take the time to say "thank you" to all of those who help make our work successful: our Board of Trustees, our donors and supporters, our volunteers, Courage Curriculum teachers, students (past, present and future), parents and guardians. We are truly grateful!

We wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving filled with family, friends, fun and lots of pumpkin pie! And, of course, lots of reading!

All the best,

Elizabeth and Meredith

[Photo via Google Image Search]

Taking It to the Max

On Saturday October 30th, The Max celebrated Halloween in style with the 7th Annual Take It to the Max event at the Back Bay Events Center in Boston.

Take It to the Max (or, more informally, TMAX) is an annual event hosted by Friends of Max, a group of Max Warburg's peers who are dedicated to raising public awareness and financial resources to support the mission of the Courage Curriculum. The group is also focused on involving professional in philanthropic giving and continuing Max's legacy of courage.

More than 300 guests attended the Halloween Bash, dressed up in creative and clever Halloween costumes. Creepy cobwebs decorated the room and a line of jack-o-lanterns spelled out "Take It to the Max." While a DJ entertained the crowd with dance music, guests were able to indulge their sweet tooth with a candy bar and create unique party favors with Flip Chix, keepsake photo flip books created on site. A silent auction offered the chance to bid on tickets to Boston sporting events, jewelry, hand-bags and gift certificates to local stores and restaurants.

We offer our thanks and gratitude to the event committee and, especially, the event chairs for their hard work, committment to creating a wonderful event and dedication to and support of The Max. Thanks to them, Take It to the Max 2010 was a great success!

A Saturday with Books

What do Kathryn Lasky, Bill Bryson, Elizabeth Alexander, Dennis Lehane, Joyce Carol Oates and The Max have in common? We'll all be at the 2nd Annual Boston Book Festival on Saturday, October 16, 2010.

From 10am to 6pm in historic Copley Square, book enthusiasts from all over the city and region will be able to meet some of their favorite authors, attend discussions and lectures and have books signed. There are events scheduled throughout the day, with something for readers for all ages, including children.

All day long, the Story Place will be open in the Boston Public Library. Here, kids and families can make an art project, meet favorite authors and play with costumed characters. In the morning, there will be a chance to have some Fun with Fancy Nancy and, in the afternoon, Jeff Kinney, author of the popular Diary of a Wimpy Kid series will give the Kids' Keynote. For middle grade and YA readers, there will be a panel on social justice stories featuring children's authors (including local Cambridge author Mitali Perkins) and a YA Writer's discussion featuring Kristin Cashore (Graceling), Kathryn Lasky (The Guardians of Ga'Hoole) and Francisco Stork (Marcelo in the Real World).

The Max will be there for it all. We will have an exhibitors booth in Copley Square, where we'll be handing out copies of the 2010 The Courage of Boston's Children book and encouraging people to sign up for our mailing list for a chance to win a pack of children's books.

Visit the Boston Book Festival website for more information. We hope to see you there!

Their America, 2010

On Friday June 18th, about 30 ninth-grade students at the Jeremiah Burke High School in Dorchester presented their final projects from The Courage of My Convictions program to their teachers, fellow classmates and friends from The Max. These students, led by teacher Caitlin McGrail, read from essays they had written about their America, following the example of LeAlan Jones and Lloyd Newman from one of the 9th grade anchor texts, Our America.

Similar to the students who presented last year, the students were asked to take a "long and hard look at their communities," describing in detail the sights, smells, sounds and feel of their homes, neighborhoods, towns and cities. Once again, we were honored to hear stories about Boston's neighborhoods that were honest, realistic, heartfelt, moving and hopeful. Some students also prepared additional components, ranging from maps, posters and photo collages of their homes to Power Point presentations, complete with music and animation.

In the coming weeks, we hope to be able to share excerpts from these essays with you on this blog, as we did last year. We provided the students with stenographers' notebooks and pencils, to encourage them to continue to observe and write about the world around them, to be reporters for their America, just like LeAlan and Lloyd.

"On even the darkest days in our beloved Boston, you remind me that there is hope for a brighter tomorrow. These texts have ignited an academic spark in all of you that I have have created a generation of young citizens who are aware of your ability to have a voice in your community. Thank you for your courage in sharing your America."

-Ms. McGail's letter to her 2010 ELA 9 students, in the preface to their collection of essays and poems

Summer Reading

As the school year winds down and the official start of the season just a week away, here are a few of the summer reading resources available from various nonprofit organizations, school districts and library systems, to help you make the most of the next three months.

Scholastic offers a free, web-based reading program designed to help parents and educators find the best books for their children and students. With guidelines for parents and educators, readers are sure to find a book that's right for them. Students can also help reach a world recording for summer reading. By signing up and logging the number of minutes they read, they can help Scholastic attempt to set a new world record.

The Horn Book, a premiere publication for children's literature, has released its own list of reading suggestions for the summer. This list is divided by reading/age group, helping parents and educators find grade-level appropriate books for young readers. 

Each year, the American Library Association releases its Notable Children's Books list, which distinguishes the best of the best in children's literature and includes the winners of the Newbery Medal, the Caldecott Medal and the Printz Award.

In Massachusetts, the MA Regional Library Systems have come together to create the MA summer reading program found at nearly every local library. This year, the theme for the statewide reading program is the environment, with the slogan "Go Green at Your Library." The program encourages students to "think green" as they read throughout the summer. For ideas on what to read, the MRLS has created its own summer reading suggestions.

The Boston Public Library is participating in the "Go Green" campaign and has just opened up registration for Boston youth. The BPL has partnered with Boston Public Schools to create reading lists  for grades 6-8 and grades 9-12 (as well as a helpful World Cup reading list, for those soccer/football fans). The BPL will also offer a range of activities and events at the main library and its branches throughout the summer, while BPS has information on summer learning camps, summer jobs and volunteer opportunities, all designed to keep kids occupied and entertained during the summer months. 

Reading might even get you to Fenway Park! The BPL, in connection with the Red Sox Foundation and Bank of America, is offering students a chance to win tickets to an August Red Sox game. Students must read three books, then write an essay about their favorite. Entries must be turned into the main library or any of its branches by July 30th at 5:00pm.

And, if all of that still isn't enough, the Newton School District has listed all of the available summer reading lists from as many towns, cities and school districts in Massachusetts as it can. If you live in Massachusetts, chances are your summer reading list is on this web page. 

Happy Reading!

Youssr's Courage

In 2009, Youssr was a sixth-grade student at Al-Noor Academy and a Max Warburg Fellow. The views expressed are solely her own. We are honored to share her essay with you. Please do not copy, republish or repost the following content without express written permission from The Max Warburg Courage Curriculum.

Courage means different things to different people. For a four-year-old, courage might mean going to school for the first time, away from his or her parents, or not being afraid of the dark. But to me, courage is when you don't lose hope in what you are doing and follow your dream. Now here is a recent story that touched my heart:

Boom! The sky in Gaza lit up. It's shining everywhere, but no, there aren't any fireworks. The horizon is filled with the smell of smoke. It's just the continuation of a destructive war that has sucked all the happiness out of so many lives.

In case you don't know, Gaza is a strip of land in the heart of the Middle East, which is disputed and fought over. There are innocent people in Gaza who share one dream: to have a free country based on equality and fairness. Imagine children without toys, electronic games, or computers, let alone beds, homes, food, water, and electricity. You can hear their devastated voices saying, "My toys were burned to ashes," or "I can't watch anything like cartoons. Every time I turn on the T.V. I see people dying, flames everywhere, and our burned homes and schools."

During the short periods of time when the violence stops, people come out from their shelters. They see their homes, their mosques, and their schools crushed to the ground. What do they do? They don't lose hope. They stay strong. They carry their deceased loved ones, say their goodbyes, and bury them. And sure enough, they go straight back to work. But what about the children? What are they supposed to do? They have lost their schools. Their teachers put up tents beside their collapsed schools. These innocent children continue to try to learn through harsh winters. They don't sit and whine because they don't have fancy chairs or desks. They get to work and use their weapon, education, to pursue their dreams. Now that's the true struggle. Now that's courage.

Brandon's Courage

In 2000, Brandon was a sixth-grade student at Mario Umana / Joseph Barnes School and a Max Warburg Fellow. The views expressed are solely his own. We are honored to share his essay with you. Please do not copy, republish or repost the following content without express written permission from The Max Warburg Courage Curriculum.

There are many ways to show courage. An act of bravery on a battlefield, being composed and in control when facing a deadly illness or disease, or even overcoming poverty. My story of courage is a bit different. I don't know for certain if it is indeed an act of courage, but it is definitely working in the face of adversity.

I am thought to have Asperger's Disorder. I am a high-functioning autistic. Some autistics crawl into themselves and don't speak, but I don't have any visible signs of autism. I do have fine motor skills trouble and extremely poor penmanship and organizational skills. I tend to lose and forget things and my senses are overloaded. I hear sounds long before anyone else can. I see minute things that no one else can see - I don't miss anything. The most important symptoms I have are ADD and OCD. Things get to me, like germs and sanitary issues. I get easily distracted and tend to focus on one interesting subject and tune out the other. And sleep, what I would give to sleep solidly through the night - it has been years! I suffer from broken sleep or no sleep at all. I also get very antsy. I sometimes feel like my brain will explode. I am a loner - I don't appreciate social interaction as much as kids my age. This alone makes me very different.

School years have been difficult. I crave my personal space and being around kids all day makes me feel like I'm going to jump out of my skin. I try to be very good in school; I am usually not a behavior problem. But with an impulsive nature such as mine, I cannot resist giving answers. Sometimes I forget myself and blurt out the answers. This makes for dislike, tension and taunting from my peers. I am called many names. I am intelligent and this seems to be more fuel for those kids that taunt me. Reading is my escape and comfort! Knowing that I am different or unusual doesn't bother me. I feel people should appreciate the differences humans have - this is what makes us unique. Despite my thirst for knowledge and love of literature, going to school is a real chore. It's painful to never "fit in" and be at the mercy of others' insults.

My ultimate goal is to be a scientist. You need school to do this, so even though I challenge my parents, they push me on. They insist I get a proper education. It is because of my dad, and especially my mom, that I am not in a special needs class. I attend an Advanced Work Class and am presently enrolled in a Scholars program. I know my parents love me. I don't always agree with them, so we lock horns often. It takes all the courage I have to face a hostile class and it takes all my parents' courage to continue to back me up when there are no clear choices. I promise not to waste their efforts. No matter what I become, I'll be better at it because of their drive and faith in me.

So, as you see, battlefields are different from everyone and for me, life is a series of many little battles. My survival depends on me facing every new day with a fresh outlook. I can't always do it. Bravery doesn't always get rewarded with a medal, but my mom says being comfortable with who you are and your true self is the ultimate reward. In order for me to survive, I must be comfortable in my own skin, sure of who I am and what I want. I am learning to do this every day and for me, it takes courage.

Mya's Courage

In 1993, Mya was a sixth-grade student at Martin Luther King, Jr. School and a Max Warburg Fellow. The views expressed are solely her own. We are honored to share her essay with you. Please do not copy, republish or repost the following content without express written permission from The Max Warburg Courage Curriculum.

The night before my very first piano concert, I was so incredibly nervous that I bit all my fingernails completely off. The whole night, I tossed and turned in my sleep. I woke up the next morning and put on my dress unwillingly because of the special, nerve-wrecking event about to happen later in the day.

When I arrived at the concert hall, I got even more worried because it seemed like there were at least a thousand people there. I took my seat and twiddled my fingers.

Before it was my turn to play, about twelve people were ahead of me. In between the long wait that seemed like days, I played my pieces through my head. Then the worst thing that could ever happen in all of music history happened to me: I forgot my piece! I was just about to tell the lady who called my name that I forgot my piece, but for some reason, I did not. I got up and sat on the piano stool and counted to ten, just as my piano teacher had told me to do. Magically, my hands started to move and play notes. "Wait a minute," I said to myself. "I think I am playing the piece I was supposed to!" I guess I had not forgotten the piece after all!

After I finished, I got up and bowed. I felt so good and proud of myself. Even though I had not played the hardest or the longest piece, all that mattered was that I played my piece well. From now on, whenever I go to a concert to play, I think of that very first experience. It helps me not to get scared or worried about making a mistake. I just think about playing my piece.