Smith University won a Project Grant for their service project, which incorporated the Common Reader and that year's convention theme into a series of interactive poetry workshops held on their campus and with local third graders. In 2012, when the Common Reader was a collection of poetry by Natasha Tretheway, the Xi Lambda Chapter at Johnson C. There are special awards for chapter activities based on the Common Reader, and service projects related to the Common Reader look very favorable on applications for the Service Award, the Project Grant, and the Outstanding Chapter Award.Ĭhapters have come up with many creative projects related to the Common Reader. The Common Reader program attempts to further Sigma Tau Delta's mission by encouraging service projects and other chapter activities that promote literacy and connect local chapters to their communities. As usual the Common Reader selection is a great choice, something members may not otherwise have encountered but are sure to enjoy. There is a wonderful review of the book by 2014 Convention Chair Sidney Watson available on our website. It's a complex and engrossing tale, quick to read but slow to digest. This year's Common Reader is Justin Torres' We the Animals, a sensitive, episodic coming-of-age novel about three sons of a young, struggling, mixed-race couple in upstate New York. The goal of the project is to provide all Deltans with a common literary experience to build community and encourage dialogue.

All Sigma Tau Deltans are encouraged to read, discuss, and use this book as a jumping-off point for service projects, scholarly papers, and other activities. Every year, Sigma Tau Delta selects a book to be our Common Reader for the year.

Common reader books