By: Christina Samek, Outreach Specialist

It’s finally summertime here in Cleveland, Ohio (our global headquarters) and while the livin’ isn’t always easy, the reading has sure helped. We launched Sora Sweet Reads over two months ago (and two months early!) to support schools amidst closures due to COVID-19. The program, which began in 2014 as a summer reading program to help schools combat the summer slide, has evolved over the years. This year’s program – which runs through July 31 – offers 30 free and simultaneous use juvenile and young adult ebooks (and select audiobooks) along with free, complementary marketing materials, including student worksheets, social media graphics, a staff memo and a letter to parents.

With most schools making the transition to remote learning, we hoped the program would help support changing curriculum and students adapting to home classrooms. We also hoped the titles would offer a bit of a fun reading reprieve. With titles like Big Nate from the Top, The Downstairs Girl, Ms. Marvel (available now!), The Strange Case of Origami Yoda and more, there are a lot of stories to get lost in.

So, were our hopes validated?

These reads must be sweet!

Since April 15, with over 30,000 schools participating, we’ve seen a 525% increase over last year’s program….with over five weeks left to go! Now, with the new release of Marvel’s Ms. Marvel (added to participating schools’ collections in the Sora reading app on June 15), we expect the momentum to continue.

Our top three downloads are within the elementary and middle school collection. Coming in first by a landslide is Arcade or Bust, followed by Big Nate: From the Top, and then The Dirt Diary. Older readers gravitated to Black Panther (ended June 15) and The Way You Make Me Feel.

Interested in learning more about the Sweet Reads offerings?

Check out our webinar series, where the team breaks down recommendations for popular reads, unique formats, and curriculum tie-ins.

Encourage your students to keep coming back for seconds on these sweet reads!

About the Author:

Christina Samek is an Outreach Specialist at OverDrive. She develops resources that help K-12 educators grow engagement among their students, faculty and parents. Prior to coming to OverDrive, she worked in the magazine industry. She has a degree in journalism and English literature from Miami University (OH). She loves reading, writing, running, her adorable little boy, her husband, cherry turnovers and her dog, Willow.