James Ponti, author of Dead City, recently visited Polo Park Middle School in Wellington. Dead City is one of this year’s Sunshine State Young Reader Award books.
Ponti spoke to students about the importance of reading, the writing process, and the difference between screenwriting and writing a novel. Ponti wrote for the Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, PBS, the History Channel and he currently works for the Golf Channel.
There were three scheduled sessions throughout the day and a lunch session. Members of the Million Word Club, Battle of the Books teams, and On a Roll students were invited to lunch with Ponti. Lunch was from Park Avenue BBQ Grille and included barbecue chicken, potatoes, salad and coleslaw.
This author visit was made possible through fundraising efforts in the library media center and through a SAC mini-grant.
Every student attending the sessions received a copy of Dead City, which Ponti personally autographed. Many of the students are now reading the sequel Blue Moon, and his third book in the trilogy will be out in October.
The participating teachers were Nora Bernstein, Sheryl Beach, Leslie Benhardus and Sandra Hruska.
ABOVE: Author James Ponti signs books for students.
