Love is in the Air… and in Books!

Dempsey Nessler , Staff Writer

March 3, 2025

As we say farewell to February and I Love to Read month, it’s important to continue to celebrate the value and love for reading.

Do you remember those pesky reading logs from elementary school? They might have seemed annoying at the time, but that’s where so many people’s love for reading began; including some of your own peers at Mayo. Students of every grade are reading books and have shared their passion for reading as they presented their top reads.

Reading can bring out worlds that some will never discover in the real world; Just like that imagination you had as a kid, avoiding the floors because they were lava. Books can show you incredible worlds that you can venture off to. When Edmund enters the magical wardrobe to discover a beautiful snowy wonderland In Narnia – only books can bring out that amazing detail and imaginative description. Reading doesn’t have to be boring, it’s enjoyable for everyone if you sit down with the right book for you.

Reading allows you to spend time wisely rather than on your phone, Kate Alleckson says, “This is a great way to look at reading, to see the positives and how it can make you feel better.” Reading can make you feel productive and entertained all at once. When you find a good book you can get lost in the plot and the character’s everyday life. As young students, you should see this as an opportunity to learn to love the art and imagination behind books. Mayo’s librarian, Brittany Meurer, shares this same love by saying “it can be a way to just enjoy something for yourself without having to worry about what you are accomplishing and just relax into this other world and those characters.”

Along with enjoying a book, Ms. Meuer enjoys her job because she ensures that students get to engage in good books. She helps students develop their ability to understand all types of information through Mayo’s books. When you start practicing reading every day such as getting involved in a book club at school or simply just reading on your own, your brain starts to work differently. Students who read consistently for fun develop better comprehension skills. This can help with things such as your other school work and even big tests like the ACT; building up your comprehension skills from a young age all the way to ACT prep books doesn’t stop there.

Books are for everyone. Mayo’s teacher Mrs. Steganga sees the value in reading because it means she has free time to get away from her stressful reality. Not only is she grateful that books bring her the joy of being satisfied with her free time, but she also thinks reading is an essential part of who she is today. Mrs. Steganga’s favorite type of books are suspense books because she likes to learn about the character’s lives; “It gives me a different perspective of the world that way,” Steganga says. Reading books can teach you about others. They open opportunities to look into the lives of other people, cultures, and identities, which is an important part of development as you grow older to form your own beliefs and opinions.

Reading is an amazing tool to help you grow mentally and cure your boredom. Finding the right book for you and sitting down to read a little bit each day involuntarily is helpful to all people, so continue trying out books and find the love behind reading, whether that’s because you’re told to read in school to being able to step away from reality and jump into the book itself. After hearing from your Mayo peers and staff it’s strongly encouraged that you too find a love for reading and jump into a great plot.

We polled the Spartan community, and here is what we found about what you all enjoy reading.

List of Mayo top ten favorite reads