Author features local artists' work

FORT KENT - An author of a science fiction trilogy is featuring the artwork of local high school students Mariah Babin, Kendra Theriault, Elizabeth Green and Nancy Fournier on his website.

PICTURES ARE WORTH WORDS - Nancy Fournier (right) and Mariah Babin (left) show off their artwork.  Author  J.Z. Colby is featuring their work, along with the art of Kendra Theriault and Elizabeth Green on the author's website.  Babin took a first place and Theriault took second place. - Birden image

Babin won a first place spot in the 2011 contest in which participants created art based on the incredible journey of five young adults from poverty and oppression to respected citizenship in the wide universe.

Kendra Theriault took second place while Green and Fournier had an honorable mention.

Babin drew a scene at a bakery, where much of the action occurs in the first book.  She said, "I had no idea what to do, so I went online, and I found a picture and got an idea in my head, and I went with it."

Fournier was more interested in the relationships between the characters.  "I thought Miko was the best character, so I decided to draw him and make him like I pictured him in my mind."  She said, "I took different features from one of my friends and put together the drawing."

Teacher Brigitte Morse, who specializes in finding ways to reach reluctant readers, said she found the book in an education magazine.  She said, "I got it, read it, and thought the kids would like it."

She contacted the author, J.Z. Colby, and he provided several copies to the class, along with sequels.  Morse said, "The book was about teenagers that did not have an easy time and about how they learned to read and write."

Some of the students discovered that reading could be an enjoyable experience.

Morse said, "It was funny because Mariah in particular was saying, "Nah, I'm just reading for the assignment."  Then when she finished, she asked, "Miss, can I have book two?""  Since then, Babin has completed three of the books (there will be a total of six books when publishers release the latest one in 2012).

Along with the free books, Morse found Kindle gift certificates so students could purchase copies for the Kindle eReader application on the MacBook computers.

She said, "I actually had other students searching for more books and one student saving his money to purchase books.  It really triggered an interest in reading for students who are reluctant readers."

She said that several students moved from needing to read in a group to becoming independent readers.