Bringing the Magic of Books to Life

Seven Peaks School is thrilled to welcome two local authors, Irene Cooper and Kerry Chaput, as special guests at this year’s Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB) regional competitions. Their visits will offer students an exciting opportunity to engage with professional writers and explore the power of storytelling.

OBOB is an annual reading competition that fosters a love for literature, teamwork, and critical thinking skills. To enrich this experience, Seven Peaks has invited these accomplished authors to share their insights, inspire young readers, and discuss the creative process.

Irene Cooper will be presenting on March 8 at the 6th-8th grade regional competition. She is an award-winning poet and novelist, known for her feminist noir novel FOUND, winner of the North Street Prize, as well as COMMITTAL, a poet-friendly spy-fy. Her poetry collection, spare change, was a finalist for the 2022 Oregon Book Awards, and her upcoming book, even my dreams are over the constant state of anxiety, continues her exploration of language and storytelling.

Beyond her work as an author, Irene is deeply involved in the literary community. She supports creative writing programs in regional prisons, teaches at OSU-Cascades, and serves as an editor for Airlie Press. During her visit, she will discuss the power of poetry, storytelling, and how literature can shape our understanding of the world. To learn more about Irene’s work, visit irenecooperwrites.com.

On March 15, at the 3rd-5th grade regional competition, students will have the opportunity to meet Kerry Chaput, a multi-award-winning historical fiction author. Kerry is recognized for her gripping adventure stories featuring courageous characters navigating historical challenges with resilience and a touch of magic. She is a silver medal winner in the Independent Publisher Awards and a finalist for the National Indie Excellence Awards. Her novels bring history to life in a way that captivates young readers.

In her OBOB presentation, Kerry will introduce students to the art of historical fiction, exploring how writers bring real-world events to life through storytelling. She will also share her personal journey as an author and offer insights into the writing process. To explore her books, visit kerrywrites.com.

These special guest author visits are part of Seven Peaks School’s commitment to fostering a love of literature and storytelling among students. By providing young readers with the opportunity to connect with professional writers, the school hopes to inspire creativity, deepen literary appreciation, and encourage students to explore their own storytelling potential.