Paul Revere Inaugurates Literary Festival, Celebrates Young Authors Evening

By LILY TINOCO | Reporter

Paul Revere Charter Middle School launched Literary Festival: Books Bring Us Together—combining its annual Young Authors Evening and Book Fair—on Thursday evening, May 19.

The revamped event was open to the young authors, their families and the wider school community.

“This year, PRIDE proudly underwrote both events and turned it into a festival to celebrate the art of writing and the joy of reading,” outgoing PRIDE President Maryam Zar said. “Librarian Gabriella Gualano named the festival ‘Literacy Brings us Together,’ and it most certainly did.”

The evening began in the library where students scanned the Book Fair and purchased books, journals and school supplies. Gualano said the “ever-popular” spy-pens were—unsurprisingly—a hit this year.

Students then celebrated with authentic tacos and dessert, as well as a photo booth for Paul Revere families to commemorate the special night.

The highly anticipated Young Authors Evening commenced at 6 p.m. This year marked the 18th Annual Young Authors Evening, centered around the 2022 Paul Revere Anthology.

“The Anthology is a compilation of student writing and art, and the evening honors the student writers and authors who have contributed,” Parent Volunteer Kim Gayler explained. “It was a really wonderful evening, so great to have everyone together again.”

This year’s event marked the event’s return to an in-person celebration after being held virtually the past two years. Gayler said 558 authors and 22 artists contributed their work to the Anthology.

Principal Tom Iannucci wrote that the Anthology offers insight on “the emotions, personal experiences, victories and humor of our times, all seen through [Paul Revere’s] middle schoolers’ eyes.”

“So sit back, open up our newest publication and savor the creative scholarly talents of the next generation’s leaders,” he wrote in the Anthology.

At the Young Authors Evening, authors were invited to read parts of their submitted stories, essays or poems to the audience, “while … esteemed English teachers looked on, proud of the wonderful work of their students,” Zar said.

“The student authors were as eloquent as ever and the Planning Committee went the extra mile,” eighth-grade English teacher and emcee John Slavin said. “The whole experience had a super fun vibe, and it was a nice touch to have the book fair, photo booth and food trucks. What a joyous way to celebrate the Revere community.”

Bridgette Daley’s sixth-grade English class described the night as the “best event [they’ve] been to in sixth grade.”

Organizers of the event said they are confident the Literary Festival will become a Paul Revere tradition for years to come.

“See you next year at the second annual PRMS Literacy Festival,” Zar concluded.