A change is coming to summer reading at Jefferson Township High School this during the upcoming vacation. Instead of each grade level reading a different book, the entire school will read the same one in preparation to return to school in September.

The program is entitled “One Book, One School,” and it’s been a year in the making, according to Dr. Mary Thornton, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction.

“We’ve spent the last year exploring this, and investigating why it would be a good idea,” Thornton said. “We think it will help bring a sense of unity to the school, and help more kids get interested in reading.”

Every student in the high school, from incoming freshmen to those who will start senior year, will read “The Color of Water” by James McBride. All the teachers and administrators in the building will also read the book, “in an effort to engage not just students, but parents, teachers and administration in our classroom discusions,” according to literature released by the district.

Students will be required to interview a family member from an older generation to discover family heritage and identify family values. Interview questions and other guidelines for the assignment are available on the district’s web site.

Students taking honors classes will be required to do additional reading along with this book.

Since we support reading at Jefferson Patch, we’d like to issue a challenge: Who would like to read the book “The Color of Water” with us? We’d like to get our own reading group together and do an online discussion group in mid-August. If you’re in, reach out to susan.toth@patch.com. Let’s get our own reading group going!