One School, One Book

We are thrilled to announce that Cog by Greg Van Eekhout is our 2026 One School, One Book selection.

Cog tells the tale of five robots and their unforgettable journey to rescue their inventor from the corporation that controls them all.  

Cog was a nominee for the Andre Norton Award for Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction, part of the Nebula Awards, which annually recognizes the best works of science fiction or fantasy published in the United States.

Cog is different from any book we’ve read during my time here at Fay.  While it is a humorous and high-stakes adventure fueled by heart and intrigue, it also tackles complex moral questions. As you read, you will encounter scenes where some of the robot characters act with unkindness and even cruelty. These scenes are designed to spark meaningful conversations at school and at home about being an upstander, demonstrating empathy, using technology responsibly, and the importance of following your moral compass.

Each member of our Lower School family irings home a “book bag.”  Each bag contains:

We ask that each family set aside time during the day or evening to read aloud with their child.  We will spend time at morning meetings discussing an idea or two inspired by the assigned reading. Teachers will also dedicate some class time to develop background knowledge and explore the text in greater depth. 

As the cold weather continues in February, we look forward to hosting some cozy Zoom read-alouds, where mystery readers will read the selected chapter aloud for you and your family to enjoy!

An audio version of Cog can be purchased and downloaded through www.audible.com and is also available through Sora, the app used by our Fay School library. We would once again ask that if you choose to listen to the audio version, please commit to do so as a family. There is something powerful about listening to the humor and message of this particular book together.  

A parent/guardian round table discussion will take place on Thursday, February 19, at 8:15 am in the Student Lounge. Please join English Department Chair Mary Munkenbeck, Lower School Counselor Skylar Seligman, and Head of Lower School Kaitlyn Cronin as we make connections between the text and the social-emotional learning that happens at Fay, all while enjoying our morning coffee!  

We are thrilled to share this exciting adventure tale with you and to come together as a community to further our love of reading.