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Brewed Reviews Sparking Authentic Convos About Reading

Our ALL IN series focuses on under-the-radar staff members throughout the district who consistently show they are ALL IN by their actions, ideas, and dedication to their craft. Today's focus: High School East Media Specialist Carly Scallon.

Feb. 9, 2026- Brewed Reviews is the brainchild and initiative of Carly Scallon, High School East's media specialist. It's a student-driven literacy initiative designed to increase library circulation and spark authentic conversations about reading across the school community. It ... ahem ... blends the media center's coffee bar, known as Raider Grounds, with short, student-recorded book reviews shared on Tik Tok and Instagram.

A student duo review of The Summer I Turned Pretty (right) is a prime example of the mission of Brewed Reviews.

"We are meeting students where they are," Scallon said, "and giving them a reason to talk about books with their peers."

That dedication to her students and to the joys of reading and sharing is what defines Scallon, according to High School East Principal Erin Anders.

"When it comes to staff members who always seem to be thinking outside the box on behalf of their students, Carly Scallon is just that," Anders said.

Carly Scallon photo by Allison Goodwin

High School East Media Specialist Carly Scallon happily helps a student check out a book, and almost assuredly is working to encourage a Brewed Review of the work. Photo by Allison Goodwin.

The amount of thought that went into Brew Reviews is evidence of Scallon's dedication. Through the program, students earn a free coffee bar drink when they return a library book and participate in a brief 30-to-60-second video review. These reviews highlight key moments, characters, and personal reactions, ensuring students have genuinely engaged with the text while creating social media content that feels relatable, authentic, and teen-friendly. The videos are then shared on the media center’s TikTok and Instagram accounts — which, of course, Scallon herself created — encouraging other students to check out the same titles and join the conversation.

"The goal of Brewed Reviews," Scallon said, "is twofold: to increase circulation of our collection and to build a reading culture where students influence students. Seeing classmates talk honestly about books they’ve read helps normalize reading, and having the coffee."

Having that cup o' joe is important because the coffee bar itself is a fundraiser to, Scallon hopes, create an SEL center in the back of the media center.

That's about as ALL IN as one media specialist can be, and we commend High School East's Carly Scallon for embodying the mantra and utilizing her creativity and commitment to positively impact the minds and lives of students.

Check out some Brewed Reviews by following Raider Grounds on Instagram.

Carly Scallon ponders what books will work

Carly Scallon scours the bookshelves at the HSE Media Center and ponders what might work best for the next Brewed Review. Photo by Allison Goodwin.