| There was a group of children in one of | | | | quiet stories that would have remained |
| the Seattle schools who came up with an | | | | in the dark had something bad not |
| idea. They wanted to turn sad things | | | | happened. A month ago, Mary Cooper and |
| into happy things, find the positive in | | | | her daughter Susanna Stodden went for a |
| the negative. The idea came about | | | | hike in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie |
| because when you are in the third or | | | | National Forest. They were found shot to |
| fourth grade, life can be sweet one | | | | death in a double slaying that convulsed |
| moment, stale candy the next. One of the | | | | the region. |
| girls in the group, Amy, who just turned | | | | The unsolved murders particularly hit |
| 11, had a beloved pet bunny named Roger | | | | home for the children at Decatur AEII |
| who died. The loss still smarts.Through | | | | Elementary School in North Seattle |
| their informal club, Amy and her school | | | | because Cooper was their librarian, the |
| pals—Jasmine, Chloe, Hailey, | | | | keeper of their stories, a smiling |
| Annie, Madi and Naomi—would try to | | | | inspirer of their dreams. "Mary in the |
| turn frowns upside down. The only | | | | Library"—as children sweetly |
| question was how. | | | | christened her—transformed an |
| The children thought about it. They | | | | ordinary place into an extraordinary |
| decided that books would become their | | | | space. |
| tool for making a difference. School had | | | | On a recent afternoon the school's |
| deepened their love of books. They | | | | library was summertime silent. Atop a |
| respected the power of words on the | | | | wood table sat a cardboard box that held |
| printed page—no small feat in a | | | | three dozen books, including one about |
| television age. Books could offer | | | | brainy bunnies and another about that |
| stories with powerful messages, they | | | | mischievous cooking pot. These were |
| knew, and such messages could inspire. | | | | books—along with "Peter and the |
| The girls asked people in their | | | | Starcatchers" and others—that |
| neighborhoods as well as the parents of | | | | Cooper had on her wish list. |
| classmates to donate toasters, baby toys | | | | Her wish came true thanks to Amy, |
| and whatever they could for a big garage | | | | Jasmine, Chloe, Hailey, Annie, Madi and |
| sale the first week of June. They raised | | | | Naomi—along with everyone who |
| $400. | | | | pitched in to help these Decatur |
| The girls bought 36 books. They already | | | | students. After the unthinkable |
| had a home for them inside their | | | | happened, the girls got together. They |
| elementary school library, where one | | | | crafted designs for a bookplate that |
| wall features a poster from the 1963 | | | | will go inside each of the new books |
| March on Washington and another bears a | | | | before school starts. The plate has a |
| photo of the late Coretta Scott King. | | | | sun in one corner, a moon in another. It |
| Inspired by a school librarian, they | | | | shows an open book with its front and |
| worked as a team toward a goal. | | | | back covers in view. One cover says |
| It is easy to miss such learning that | | | | "Mary" and the other says "Cooper." |
| occurs regularly in the public schools. | | | | Down the spine are three words: "In |
| Budget woes, school closures and | | | | Memory Of. Such a worthy tribute is one |
| scandals involving high school hoops | | | | way a group of dedicated children is |
| teams tend to make for juicier | | | | forging lasting good out of a lingering |
| headlines. The book club is one of those | | | | horror. |