Told in alternating perspective across 4 chapters, From Casts to Comics introduces readers to Max, a basketball player living in the Pacific Northwest who is about to be kicked off his team for poor marks in English. His only hope? To take part in a letter exchange program for extra credit, but ugh, that means reading and writing!He is connected with Min, who is part of the program because she loves to read, write, and connect with new friends.

The two of them are opposite in every way, it seems, except maybe for one. Both share a love of art, which gives Min a great idea.

Maybe, just maybe, she can help Max to love reading by turning her letters to him into comics!This decodable book written for middle school audiences and beyond is the first of 8 in the These First Letters Collection. With it, readers will spend time practicing the short vowel sounds.

This collection is the first of many in development by Storyshares, the goal of which is to create a new shelf in the global library designed to reach even the most left-behind readers in middle school and beyond. It combines key science of reading principles with characters, topics, themes, and imagery built around young adult interests.

Interested in learning more about these books or providing feedback? Reach out to info@storyshares. org.

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