At WHS the divide between teachers and students isn’t just in the classroom; it’s also on the bookshelves. While students often describe reading as almost purely a form of entertainment, teachers appreciate the insights they gain through analyzing what they read. 

   Most WHS teachers enjoy reading books that trigger a personal reaction that leads to high engagement.

   “I enjoy fiction most for the sake of the emotional experience that can take place,” said English teacher Mike Kelley. “I am not a huge fantasy or sci-fi fan, and yet any time I get engrossed in a good story, I can forget about the genre.”

   For some students, however, the escape from their everyday world is the greatest draw, making them fans of the genres that present other realities. 

   “I generally read fantasy. I just find it really interesting and engaging,” said freshman Averie Higginson. “I would say me and my friends influence each other when it comes to book recommendations.”   

   Some students are simply non-readers beyond what is required for school, and many teachers understand that feeling about books even though their thinking has changed as they’ve gotten older.

   “I didn’t like to read as a teenager, and I especially didn’t like to read fiction. I didn’t see the purpose of reading about made up people,” said Kelley. “In college, though, I came to learn that books – even fiction, maybe especially fiction – can teach us about ourselves and our interior lives.”

   While self-reflection can be a draw for some adult readers, many students read books more for the plot, especially when the story gets them hooked and helps hold their interest from beginning to end.

   “I read a lot of rom-coms because they are fun and they make me feel more laid back, especially when I am at school,” said sophomore Youmna Badlissi. “I always judge a book by its cover; when the cover looks interesting I always pick it up and read the back, usually looking for something predictable. I like the types of books where I already know how it is going to end.”

    Some teachers discovered their favorite genre only after they had the freedom to choose to read whatever they liked.

   “I don’t think I ever read any historical fiction back when I was in high school,” said math teacher Paul Buccheri about his favorite type of book. “I think when you’re not forced to read history books, then you can read something you’re interested in, and it becomes more interesting.” 

    While some teachers’ grew to like books with age, others grew up liking books, but their preferences in genres have changed over time.

   “I think I did read a little more fantasy in high school, and then I kind of moved away from that,” said math teacher Rebecca Walz. “I like ‘A Court of Thorns and Roses,’ that whole series,” 

   Other teachers have preferences that are not completely based on their growth and age, but more centered on what kind of person they are. 

   “I don’t really have any genres that I won’t read. Tech-nical science fiction is not really my thing,” said librarian Erica Lockwell. “I always sort of read a little bit of everything.”

   Students, however, seem to be drawn more to stories that are engaging based on the storyline, and for some suspense is a huge attraction.   

   “I really like mystery thrillers because I like trying to reason out the plot before the detective does,” said sophomore Olivia Higginson. “My least favorite genre is romance. I think it’s very predictable, it’s always the same ending.” 

   School librarians may have the best insight into the differences between what teachers check out of the library and what students are most interested in reading.

   “Students love mysteries; fantasy, romance, and manga are really big, too. They also tend to avoid nonfiction, which is a shame because there is a lot of pretty exciting narrative nonfiction these days,” said Lockwell. “I think teachers tend to lean more toward science fiction, historical fiction, or any books that have a deep meaning behind them, but of course it depends on the teacher as a person.” 

   While their tastes in books may differ, WHS readers all demonstrate that reading can be an enjoyable experience when based on personal choice.