By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current
Geneseo Middle School students, in front, Rylee Wagle, in the second row from left, Amelia Anderson and Lena Kempher; and in back, Kori VonHolten, Maura Hamilton and Nyali Bemier show copies of “Final Season,” this year’s On the Same Page Community-Wide Read selection.
Student readers at Geneseo Middle School have selected the Tim Green novel “Final Season,” for the 16th annual On the Same Page Community-Wide Read.
“Final Season” features Ben, whose older brothers and dad coach his sixth-grade football team. The team and family are turned upside down when Ben’s dad, a former NFL player, develops ALS. Now Ben’s mom wants him to stop playing football, but Ben thinks this may be the final season his dad will be able to coach him.
Volunteer sixth, seventh, and eighth grade readers select the OSP book each year.
According to Jeanne Brucher, Geneseo Middle School Librarian, “Our reading team was inspired by how closely the story in the book matches the real-life story of the author and his family.”
Author Tim Green, a former Atlanta Falcon and Fox Sports commentator, was diagnosed with ALS in 2016. He can no longer move, but he still writes and does a podcast, using assistive eye-scanning technology. “Final Season” mirrors much of his own family’s reactions to his diagnosis.
Each year, students plan a culminating event to tie to the book. This year’s activities tie to fighting ALS, a topic with a personal connection to GMS as two math teachers, Taylor Mathew and Brad Monier, both have lost parents to the disease.
GMS will host a “Practice 5K” walk from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 11. People are invited to walk the Geneseo Middle School track, talk about the novel, learn more about ALS, and visit the Spring Book Fair.
Another way people can help fight ALS is by ordering an OSP/ALS T-shirt. Proceeds from the T-Shirt sale will benefit Tackle ALS, a program supported by Tim Green that researches ALS.
With the support from the Geneseo Education, Geneseo Kiwanis Club, and the GMS Library, there is no cost to participate in the program.
Copies of the novel will be available in various locations in the community for community members to take, read, and pass along. New this year, book club kits can also be reserved by adult book clubs in the area. Copies my also be picked up at the school office.
Check out the https://gcsdstaff.org/onthesamepage/ to learn more about the OSP program,
“Final Season” and Tim Green, the April 11 event, adult book club kits, or how to order a T-Shirt to support Tackle ALS. Anyone with questions can contact Brucher at the Geneseo Middle School, 309-945-0599.
Students in accompanying photo:
Links:
On the Same Page Website
https://gcsdstaff.org/onthesamepage/
GMS 2026 OSP Book Talk Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_l8Bc597BZ0