Turning the Page: Former Dwyer Student Brings Dyslexia-Friendly Books to Dwyer Middle School Library

Growing up, Evalynn loved stories. Finding books she could enjoy was harder. Now a freshman at Huntington Beach High School, the former Dwyer Middle School student searched the public library, local bookstores, and her school library for titles in formats that worked for her as a student with dyslexia, but found few options. The few options available weren't written for teenagers, and none sparked the love of reading she hoped to find.

Years later, Evalynn has made sure the next generation of readers won't face that same empty shelf.

For her Girl Scout Silver Award, a project designed to help students find what inspires them to give back and create lasting change in their community, Evalynn focused on dyslexia awareness and access to inclusive books. She partnered with Barnes & Noble in Huntington Beach, the Huntington Beach Public Library, and Dwyer Middle School Library Media Tech (LMT) Mr.  Adam Segal to bring dyslexia-friendly young adult novels to the school where her own reading journey was transformed.

"I remember walking into the library and not seeing anything that felt like it was for me," Evalynn shared. "I wanted to make sure that when a student like me walks into Dwyer's library, they see books on the shelf that were made with them in mind." 

The books Evalynn selected are intentionally designed. Pages may be printed on colored paper that helps readers stay calm and focused. Fonts are chosen so letters are clearly distinct and easier to tell apart, and spacing between letters and lines is adjusted to make each page more readable. Evalynn researched these features extensively before saving her own money to purchase 10 books for the Dwyer library.

She didn't stop there. Evalynn also designed an informational display that shares facts about dyslexia, along with summaries of each book, so students who read and learn the way she does know exactly what they're checking out and that these books are there for them.

Evalynn's connection to Dwyer runs deep. Before middle school, reading felt like a struggle she had to push through rather than something she enjoyed. That began to change with the encouragement of her teachers, Colin Priebe, Danielle Gilliland, and Sara Lieberman, and LMT Adam Segal. In Mr. Priebe's class, she discovered novels like The Giver and The Devil's Arithmetic, stories connected to real-world issues that captured her curiosity and kept her turning pages.

"Mr. Priebe helped me see that reading wasn't about how fast I could get through a book. It was about what the story made me think about," Evalynn said. "Once I found the books I loved, I couldn't stop talking about them with my friends." 

That shared excitement helped her build friendships and a sense of belonging with her classmates. Today, she hopes her project creates that same feeling for others.

For Evalynn, the project is personal. Her younger sister, Audrey, also has dyslexia and is a current student at Dwyer. The message she shares with Audrey is the same one she hopes every student who learns differently will hear.

"I always tell Audrey to keep going, " Evalynn said. "Learning differently isn't something that has to isolate you. It's something that makes us special, and it gives us the ability to change the world."

Evalynn's mom, Jordan, has watched her daughter's confidence grow tremendously, and she credits the community that surrounded her along the way.

"It truly took a village," Jordan shared. "Evalynn's teachers and Mr. Segal believed in her and gave her the tools and support she needed. Being able to partner with Dwyer on this project felt like a full-circle moment for our family."

The impact of Evalynn's work is already reaching beyond Dwyer's campus. Her partnerships with Barnes & Noble and the Huntington Beach Public Library have encouraged both to consider carrying more young adult novels in dyslexia-friendly formats, a movement she is excited to see grow.

Although the Silver Award may be the formal milestone, Evalynn's work reaches well past a single project. She hopes the students who come after her will find the books, the support, and the confidence that helped her grow, and that they'll know their challenges don't define them.