‘Three Cups of Tea' for students

Vernon — Glen Meadow students recently attended the school’s second book club meeting, featuring “Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Journey to Change a World One Child at a Time,” written by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. “Three Cups of Tea” relates the story of Mortenson, who had planned to climb K2 in honor of his deceased sister, but became lost in the mountains of Pakistan. He wandered into a poor village where the village chief and his people took him in. Moved by their extraordinary kindness and concerned when he saw the children writing in the dirt with sticks to do their schoolwork, Mortenson promised to return and build a school for their children. Over the next decade, Mortenson built more than 60 schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan. He has endured death threats, a kidnapping and more in order to fulfill his promise. The young reader’s edition, read by Glen Meadow students, was adapted for younger readers and includes photos, illustrations, and an exclusive interview with Mortenson’s 12-year-old daughter, Amira, who has traveled with her father. Students and staff enjoyed sipping three cups of tea and hot chocolate, along with assorted treats, as they discussed the message conveyed in this book. They also received an annotated bibliography of additional books to complement “Three Cups of Tea.” Everyone watched Amira Mortenson’s music video for this book and participated in a raffle drawing to win Amira’s CD and gift certificates to Barnes and Noble. Proceeds from the purchase of Amira’s music CD are donated to Pennies for Peace, an offshoot of Mortenson’s organization, Central Asia Institute. The goal is to include more parents and teachers in the book club. The next selection will be “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas,” a historical fiction novel set during the Holocaust.