Olivia Allen: A look at Quad-Cities summer reading programs (2024)

After this past week, many Quad-Cities students have started their summer break.

I remember that feeling— that sweet, freeing release from academia. I can almost smell the sunscreen, bug spray and chlorine just thinking about it.

While summer is a pivotal break for all learners, it can also give rise to learning loss for many.

If you type “the summer slide” into Google Scholar, you’ll find plenty of academic research on students’ learning losses— dips in grade-level proficiency rates or gains— over the summer, with notable jumps following the COVID-19 pandemic.

While concerning, these findings shouldn’t come as a shock, especially in areas like the Quad-Cities metro. It’s not always students’ fault— if children don’t have access to or knowledge of summer enrichment opportunities, and they can’t afford to shelve books at home, how can they reasonably stay on top of scholastic learning over the summer?

Fortunately, public libraries aim to help fill those exact gaps— and those in the QC metro have a slate of summer reading challenges, activities and other opportunities available this summer.

On Thursday, I stopped by Runner’s Park for the East Moline Public Library’s Summer Reading Kick-Off.

Kids —some with snow cones in hand, others sporting fresh temporary tattoos —could participate in various activities and lawn games as parents registered them for summer reading programs at the East Moline Library.

Despite being a book-themed event, karaoke tunes and the spirit of summer filled the air. As I walked in, three kids— Genevieve Gray, 5, AJ Munoz, 8, and Liam Leonard, 10— were singing “Believer” by Imagine Dragons on stage.

I later discovered all three had signed up for summer reading programs. Genevieve told me she’s heading into kindergarten, and thankfully, is excited about it. At the moment, “Fish is Fish” by Leo Lionni is her favorite book.

Liam and AJ , both students at George O. Barr Elementary School in Silvis, said they primarily enjoy reading for the “action.” This was evident in their favorite reading selections, as Liam chose the “Who? What? When?” series by Bob Fowke, while AJ opted for Spider-Man Comics.

Elimeleck Simkomba, a fifth-grader at Glenview Middle School in East Moline, said he enjoys books like Harry Potter (along with the movies) and reads 45 minutes “most days.”

The Bettendorf, Davenport, East Moline and Rock Island Public libraries each use the online “Beanstack” platform for summer reading programming. Here, library members can participate in various reading challenges and access other virtual material.

This year’s Summer Reading theme is “Read, Renew, Repeat,” including the following challenges:

“Read-to-Me” Challenge, for babies/toddlers: Participants must read a total of 50 books to their child by Saturday, July 27.

“Children’s Reader” Challenge, for kindergarten to sixth-grade: Participants must read at least 600 minutes by July 27, earning a “logging badge” for every 60 minutes of reading. After five badges, participants will receive a “Half-Way Award” from the library. If a participant reaches 10 badges, they’ll earn a “Final Reading Award,” completion certificate and raffle prize entrance.

“Teen Summer 2024” Challenge, for sixth-12th grade: Participants must read a total of 1,200 minutes by July 27, following the same reward system as above.

Beanstack also offers more self-paced summer reading activities for adults ages 19 and up.

The Rock Island Library is hosting one challenge for all ages: To read 1,000 minutes in eight weeks. Participants will still log their times via Beanstack, and they’ll still have a shot at an age-appropriate raffle prize if they beat the challenge.

According to the Rock Island Library’s website, summer reading challengers reached 455,681 minutes in 2023 – so Rock Island readers, I believe in you.

The Moline Public Library will put on a separate slate of summer reading activities for children, teens and adults, each with its own “Summer of Adventure” theme.

Children from preschool to fifth grade will embark on a quest to become a “Reading Knight," with each day logged bringing participants one step closer to knighthood — and prizes, of course.

Teens in sixth to 12th grade are tasked with reading 900 minutes or 450 pages by July 27. Here, participants can also earn prize tickets and drawing entries along the way by, volunteering, attending programs and writing book reviews. Those who beat the challenge earn a prize and an invite to the Moline Library’s next “Teen Lock-In” on Saturday, Aug. 3.

Adults 18 and up can participate by filling out their own summer reading log and can take home a free book when they sign up. Each book read or program attended is equal to one ticket participants can use for a chance at prizes.

I’d recommend visiting your local library’s website for more details on each specific program, and I’d definitely recommend participating yourself. That’s what I’m doing, as I’ve been meaning to read more non-news content. And admittedly, I’ve been slacking.

A handful of partially read books currently lie next to my dresser, just yearning for my attention. “Liv, don’t you want to keep your mind sharp? How about expanding your vocabulary and worldview?” they whisper as I often choose to doom-scroll, instead.

So, I figured the summer readers I cover— along with you, the reader— could help hold me accountable with my reading this summer.

Here’s what I plan on reading:

“The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom” by Don Miguel Ruiz

This is a reflective, yet somewhat “in your face” self-help book based on ancient Toltec wisdom. It urges readers to re-think the many “agreements”— learned, and often self-denying, social norms, expectations and behaviors— they’ve made in life while offering a new, transformative “code of conduct” focused on self-freedom, love and overall happiness.

I’ve read up to the Second Agreement, “Don’t Take Anything Personally.” Luckily as a journalist, I’m pretty good at this one already, but I’m excited to continue reading and, hopefully, shift my mindset for the better.

“Les Misérables” by Victor Hugo

Les Mis is one of my favorite musicals of all time. As a historic and die-hard rap fan, I can say “Red and Black” gets me just as hyped as the “Work REMIX” by A$AP Ferg and Co.

While my first introduction to Les Mis was through its Broadway score, it’s based on what many consider one of the greatest novels of the 19th century.

In March, I got a chance to see the Broadway tour of Les Mis in Des Moines – effectively re-igniting my love for the show and its story, particularly. It explores themes of moral philosophy and justice; familial, platonic and romantic love while also giving a historical perspective on French antimonarchism.

As both a self-dubbed “history buff” and former thespian, I’m super excited to dig into the novel. You’ll have to bear with me, though, it's a whopping 1,462 pages long. This one may trail with me into fall.

“Jujutsu Kaisen” by Gege Akutami

I’ll be candid about this one – Jujustu Kaisen (JJK) is one of my favorite new-gen anime series. It takes place in modern-day Japan, where some humans are born with the supernatural ability to fight "cursed spirits" which terrorize the world in the shadows. It contains a cast of amazing characters, each with a unique set of characteristics and weight in the overall storyline. JJK also makes several enjoyable, comedic references to Western media (one of its main protagonists, Yuji, being a Jennifer Lawrence fanboy, for example.)

The next season isn’t expected to air until maybe 2025, though, so I’m left wondering about the fate of my beloved characters.

…Or so I thought.

If you’re an anime fan, you’re probably familiar with a cross we anime-only consumers have to bear: manga leaks, which often manifest into spoilers.

If all this sounds like a foreign language to you, here’s an explainer: “Manga” specifically refers to published Japanese graphic novels, whereas “anime” is often the serialized TV or movie version of these stories, much like superhero movies based on comic books.

Anyways, I’m typically an anime-only, not reading manga. Unfortunately, one brief glimpse at my Twitter feed one morning unveiled a devastating, and I mean gut-wrenching, spoiler. Still, I lack the context leading up to said spoiler, so I’ve got some summer reading to do.

The anime ended at volume eight of the manga, leaving me with 18 to catch up on right now. New volumes are released every Sunday, but since it’s a mix of both dialogue and illustration, I should be able to get up-to-date rather quickly.

I’ll check back in my last July column and let you know how I did, along with what I thought of each book or series on my list. In the meantime, I’ll be doing some reading – and you should, too.

Student shout-outs

This week, Davenport and Rock Island high school students earned the Seal of Biliteracy from their respective states. Four Davenport students earned the Global Seal of Biliteracy, separate from and more thorough than the state exams, this year— West High School students Anthony Bueno, Nataly Herrera, Mayli Hernandez and Alejandra Herrera. Rocky had nine students earn either the Seal of Biliteracy* or official Commendations for the state of Illinois, including:

On May 15, Davenport West student Kylie Daily took the top spot in gas metal arc welding at Eastern Iowa Community College’s Third Annual Welding Competition and Showcase. She and other competitors were judged by local American Welding Society Certified Welding Inspectors, and the event also aimed to connect students with future employment pathways.

On Monday, the following Pleasant Valley fifth-graders were recognized by the LeClaire American Legion for winning their school’s annual Fifth Grade Flag Essay Contest:

Last week, Black Hawk College honored six students at its annual Student Art Exhibition. The contest yielded 65 entries, with exhibition juror Steve Banks selecting 25 final pieces. Student Tarah Smith, of Pleasant Valley, won the “Best in Show” award for a gouache painting titled “Self Portrait.” Other 2023 winners include: