On May 13th, 2026 Bailey's Books visited Stella Elementary Charter Academy, another one of the three Brighstar Elementary Schools. While different from Valor Academy, the enthusiasm of the students stayed constant. Dr J, Principal Castro, the teachers and the students were all so welcoming and put me at ease. Usually I am very nervous going into these events with a moderate amount of sweating, but I felt perfectly calm the entire time. While some books are consistently popular-namely Harry Potter-I've noticed that some schools request certain books more than others. Here at Stella, The Last Kids on Earth series by Max Brallier and "Guts" by Raina Telgemeier are exceptionally popular. I see glimpses of my elementary school self in each student, excited to pick up a new book and free from the burdens of high school that surely await them. Those glimpses remind of why I want to see young students love books as much as I did (and do): reading will truly support you for the rest of your life.
- Ethan
