September’s guest librarian is Corrie Mercer. Growing up on Long Island, her family didn’t have money to send her or her siblings to summer camp, but they did indulge in her local library’s summer reading program. While she didn’t get to swim or play tennis, she did get stickers and lots of personal pan pizzas. Plus, her love of reading was able to transport her to places beyond her imagination.
Reading has always been a passion of Corrie’s. She envisioned herself in front of a classroom full of learners as eager as she was about engaging with texts. Because of this, she holds a dual BA in English Textual Studies & Secondary English Education from Syracuse University; and a MS ED in Reading, Writing & Literacy from the University of Pennsylvania. While in school she was taught by authors Mary Carr, Junot Diaz and George Saunders. Later on, Corrie took a course focused on YA literature and children’s picture books and fell in love with Laurie Halse Anderson, Chris Crutcher and Robert Sabuda. Perhaps that should have been a hint to aim her sights on younger learners?
Corrie is now a special education paraprofessional at the Hopkinton Integrated PreSchool. She loves her preschool learners and especially enjoys circle time-reading to and with these kiddos.
When not working or reading, Corrie can be found golf carting around town with her husband, Mark and their two children, Grayson (12) and Phoebe (9). Her love of reading has been passed down to her kids who enjoy coming to the library to pick out as many graphic novels and playaways as they can carry!
You may recognize Corrie from the many times she has chatted up strangers at the circulation desk while checking out her own books for the week. She’s never shy about sharing her thoughts on her latest reads. Or perhaps you’ve seen her at a community event representing Mark’s business, Under Pressure Power Washing.
Besides reading, Corrie and her family enjoy dining out, binging Netflix shows, and snuggling with their pups, Arthur and Leonard.
Corrie recommends:
Anderson, Laurie Halse. Wintergirls
Audrain, Ashley. The Push
Haig, Matthew. The Midnight Library
Hannah, Kristen. Winter Garden
Hartmann, Jennifer. June First
Hilderbrand, Elin. 28 Summers
Lauren, Christina. Love and Other Words
Picoult, Jodi. Plain Truth
Posten, Ashley. The Dead Romantics
Roberts, Nora. Shelter in Place
Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Santopolo, Juill. The Light We Lost
Serle, Rebecca. The Dinner List
Silver, Josie. The Two Lives of Lydia Bird
Yarros, Rebecca. The Last Letter