Each year, NEHS selects two Common Reader texts to unite chapters in a shared literary experience. In 2025-2026, these were Angie Cruz’s How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water and Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library. These texts often serve as a common read for chapters, and become the foundation for the year’s NEHS Scholarships. Earlier this year, we invited Chapter Advisors to recommend titles for one of the 2026-2027 Common Reader texts.
As a reminder, selected texts typically:
- Have been published within the last twenty years and are not part of the traditional English curriculum canon.
- Are challenging and appropriate for accomplished, motivated middle school readers.
- Expand students’ understanding of the human condition, cultures, or histories.
- Are of reasonable length, widely available in multiple formats (preferably paperback), and affordable.
- Are suited for independent reading rather than formal classroom instruction.
We now invite you to cast your vote for one of the 2026–2027 Common Reader texts.
Voting Deadline: Sunday, March 22, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. (CT).
Please review the finalist titles and select the one you would most like your chapter to read and explore in the coming year.
Your voice plays an essential role in shaping this shared reading experience. We look forward to seeing which text will inspire our chapters next year.
More from NEHSXpress: March 17, 2026
Prepare for Spring Awards
Graduation Regalia & Spring Merchandise Sale
NEHS Fundraising Week 2026
Downloading Certificates in NEHS Connect
