Becky Keen's Perseverance Leads to Successful Virtual Tournament of Books
Becky Keen, a dedicated young adult librarian, successfully led the first fully virtual Tournament of Books in 2021, despite the challenges posed by the pandemic. Her determination in finding participants and the students' maturity made the event a resounding success.
Keen's role involved recruiting students aged 14 and up from various schools. She managed to secure over 30 freshmen from a high school in Spring ISD. Despite the challenges of engaging students during a pandemic, Keen's efforts paid off. The virtual format, a first for the tournament, did not dampen the students' enthusiasm.
One of the event's highlights was the virtual author talk hosted by Keen. She invited Tobly McSmith and Leah Johnson, authors whose works were on the tournament's reading list. The students found this interaction particularly engaging and insightful.
Becky Keen's leadership and perseverance ensured the success of the 2021 Tournament of Books, despite the unique challenges posed by the pandemic. Her efforts in recruiting students and organizing a virtual author talk enriched the students' experience and made the event a memorable one.
