‘Scythe’ author Neal Shusterman to share insights, sign books at Sanford schools

SANFORD, Maine — A senior walked into the library at Sanford High School and returned the copy of “Scythe,” by bestselling author Neal Shusterman, that he had borrowed.

“This is the first book I’ve ever wanted to finish,” he told SHS librarian Jennifer Raymond.

Raymond considered that a win, she said. But then the student took their exchange to the next level. He told Raymond he couldn’t wait to read the second book in the author’s popular “The Arc of the Scythe” series.

Raymond didn’t carry that one at the high school library, but for the senior that was not a problem. He went to Goodall Library, signed up for a library card, and took out that second book himself.

“There are just some books that hook people in,” Raymond said.

Lots of local teenagers have read Shusterman’s books, according to Raymond. Now they will have the chance to meet him and get their copies signed.

Shusterman, the author of such young adult works as “Unwind,” “Courage to Dream,” and the aforementioned “The Arc of the Scythe” series, will visit Sanford Middle School and Sanford High School on Thursday, April 4. At each school, he will speak for an hour and sign copies of his books for students.

“He’s a pretty big deal,” Raymond said.

Raymond credited her colleague, Julie Williams, the library and media specialist at Sanford Middle School, with bringing Shusterman to the community amid his busy schedule.

Seventh-graders in the district have read “Courage to Dream,” Shusterman’s graphic novel about the Holocaust, Raymond said. Over at the high school, members of the SHS Book Club are currently reading “Scythe,” the first book in the author’s series, she added.

Young Adult books usually focus on themes, such as identity, that are important and relatable to their readers, according to Raymond. Shusterman’s “Scythe” series offers a utopian vision with a subversive dystopian twist.

According to his website, storyman.com, Shusterman is an award-winning author of more than 30 books. He wrote one of his novels, “Dry,” with his son, Jarrod.

Raymond said she has a lot of students who are readers and writers. She said Shusterman’s visit will be a good opportunity to ask a published author about his writing process.

In fact, Shusterman himself got his start as a writer while in the ninth grade.

“I had an English teacher who really made a difference in my life,” Shusterman, who lives in Florida, wrote on his website. “She saw my love of writing and challenged me to write a story a month for extra credit ... I took her up on the challenge, and by the end of ninth grade, I really began to feel like a writer. That’s when writing emerged above all my other interests as my driving passion.”

To build up excitement for Shusterman’s visit, Raymond’s students have created posters highlighting the author’s works and promoting his upcoming visit. Those posters, created through Canva, a free online graphic design tool, are now on display inside the SHS library. Students are voting for their favorite posters, and the top three artists in the contest each will win a free Shusterman book for him to sign.

“This is just a rare opportunity,” Raymond said.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: NYT bestselling author Neal Shusterman to visit Sanford schools