Schools

Scullen Students Treat Author Like Rock Star

Anthony Horowitz, in town for Naperville READS, visits with eighth-grade students.

Waving signs wildly, a group of girls screamed, “I love you!” and “We love you!”

The entire crowd was cheering, screaming and jumping.

The students at were responding as if a famous rock band had walked into its gym. This was no rock band, although the man they were clamoring for was treated like a rock star.

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The fervor was for Anthony Horowitz, who, if you were unaware, is the author of the Alex Rider book series and a New York Times bestselling author.

The students at Scullen won a competition that brought the author to meet with its eighth-grade students. The competition was open to all middle schools in District and .

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Horowitz was in town for a Naperville READSevent, which was held Tuesday night at Pfeiffer Hall. He met with students Wednesday afternoon.

Keeley Rosenthal, an eighth-grade teacher at the school, said that when students learned about the challenge among the middle schools to win the visit from Horowitz, they formed committees and subcommittees to plan a number of projects and events to show how much they loved Horowitz and his books.

The students put together a movie trailer for one of the books, created a video showing how much they love the books and did a number of other projects, even painting their fingernails with the names of the book titles, she said.

When Horowitz arrived Wednesday afternoon students rolled out the red carpet, even if it was blue paper. He went through a receiving line of students welcoming him to the school's gym.

The band played its fight song while students created a dance to go along.

Horowitz appeared surprised at the response.

The author from London shared a little bit about himself and allowed students and teachers to ask questions. Horowitz said that as a child he didn’t have a good experience at school and his teachers treated him poorly.

“The only place I was happy as a child was in the library,” he said.

He began writing at the age of 8. At 10 he knew he could succeed as a writer.

He said he knew he had one talent he was good at and he wouldn’t let anyone tell him differently, not his teachers, friends or parents.

“If you have one thing you like, you will be successful but don’t let anyone tell you otherwise,” he said.

Students asked him a variety of questions from what his favorite color is (blue), to his age (56), to what music he enjoys (Pink Floyd).

A writing teacher asked about his process and how many times he revises before a book is actually published.  Horowitz explained that first he maps out his book and the chapters. Then he sits down with pen and paper and writes.

Once the book is done he revises it on a computer and sends the copy to his publisher. Then he revises the book again based on revisions from the book publisher.

Students also wanted to know what inspired the Alex Rider books.

“When I was 11 or 12, I went and saw the James Bond movies and loved them,” he said. “But, then James got a little old. … I had an idea, what if James Bond was a teenager again.”

After the main event in the school gym, a smaller group of students met with Horowitz, many taking photos with him, having him sign their T-shirts and even asking for hugs.

Daniel Park, 14, was one of the students who was instrumental in the committee that worked to bring Horowitz to the school.

Although the entire process was time consuming, it was fun, he said.

“This has been so awesome and his feedback means so much to me,” Park said.

Park and other students created a video that Horowitz was able to watch Wednesday during a more intimate meeting in the school library. He told the students that their work was top notch based on his experience working in movies.

“If we hadn’t won, I wouldn’t have changed a thing,” Park said.

Another student who was involved in the projects that ultimately won the Horowitz visit was Adam Boik, 13.

“We were willing to take the chance to win his visit with us,” Boik said. “He was very funny and kind, very kind. … What I’ll take away is that hard work always pays off and taking a risk is the way to go.”

He was presented with a gift bag filled with Naperville-related items and then more questions were asked of Horowitz, including what advice he had for aspiring writers.

“The more you read the better you will write," he said. "Write. Get out and have adventures. If you're going to write you need to have adventures. Do something illegal but don’t get caught. Believe in yourself. This is a tough business. … You have to believe in yourself.”


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