All School Read 2026
All School Read 2026
The purpose of the Mill Valley Middle School All School Read (ASR) program is to foster a shared community reading experience that builds empathy and a love of reading by creating student and school engagement around a common theme. This year’s two week All School Read program features activities such as discussions, workshops, art projects, and special events related to the theme of disability awareness. The All School Read is a collaborative program sponsored by district level community partners including its main sponsor the MVMS Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) and supporting sponsor It Takes A Village (ITAV). The All School Read program directly aligns with our district's commitment to building a positive school climate that promotes student engagement around topics that accurately reflect the diversity in identities and experiences that exist among our students, staff, and school community.
Selected Title
Every year, students and staff build community and empathy for others by reading the same book for 30 minutes each morning for two weeks. On Monday, September 14th, each student will be given a copy of Not Nothing by award-winning author Gayle Forman, thanks to the generous funding of the MVMS PTSA. The novel follows Alex, a twelve year old, who has acted in poor judgment and is facing major consequences. A judge sentenced Alex to spend his summer volunteering at a retirement home where to his dismay he is bossed around and later befriended by a young teen named Maya-Jade. Alex hasn’t seen his mom in a year, his aunt and uncle don’t want him, and Shady Glen’s geriatric residents seem like zombies to him.
Josey is 107 and ready for his life to be over. He has evaded death many times, having survived ghettos, dragnets, and a concentration camp—all thanks to the heroism of a woman named Olka and his own ability to sew. But now he spends his days in room 206 at Shady Glen, refusing to speak and waiting (and waiting and waiting) to die. Until Alex knocks on Josey’s door…and Josey begins to tell Alex his story.
As Alex comes back again and again to hear more, an unlikely bond grows between them. Soon a new possibility opens up for Alex: Can he rise to the occasion of his life, even if it means confronting the worst thing that he’s ever done? (Simon & Schuster)
Not Nothing provides the reader with an opportunity to engage with a story that asks the question how will you rise to the occasion when confronted with challenges. At MVMS we are excited to feature this heart felt story for our 2026 All School Read and host author Gayle Forman in a virtual visit on September 25, 2026. Ms. Forman will discuss her inspiration for the story, its implications for all of us, and engage with students in a Question and Answer session. If you have any questions, please contact Amy Kaufman, MVMS Teacher Librarian, at akaufman@mvschools.org.