The View From Saturday is not a heavy read, either literally or academically. It is a feel-good story about students making connections with one another, and ultimately becoming friends, thanks to their academic prowess. Cue the eye rolling, often from boys, who find out that the competition in the book is not sports related. Remind them that even though there is no ball involved, the competition gets pretty intense, and they will definitely want to know who comes out with the high score.

Some students may gawk at the coincidences in the book, and automatically assume that it is all a bit much. And you know what? Maybe it is. But coincidences aside, people tend to find a soft spot for these kids as they continue to read. There is a lot to identify with since each character has unique passions and traits, so if you have kids who are on the fence, take a minute to help them connect with the text by identifying which character most resonates with them and why.