A Legacy of Literature: Honoring Nine Years of the LBJ High School LitWits Book Club and the Voices That Inspired Us

 

This past summer, a special package arrived for the members of the LitWits, Lyndon B. Johnson High School’s staff book club. Inside were not just books, but a remarkable opportunity: exclusive advance copies of Twice, the newest novel from world-renowned author Mitch Albom. Comprised of teachers, administrators, counselors, and staff from across the campus, the LitWits were not just reading the book before its official release to the world, set for October 7, 2025—they were personally asked by Mitch Albom to provide him with their feedback on his new book about a love story and magical second chances.

 

A year ago, one powerful novel sparked a district-wide movement. Inspired by Mitch Albom's The Little Liar, Johnson High School librarian Raquel Ramon was determined to share its message with United ISD students, as it is a profound exploration of the consequences of silence and the enduring weight of truth. By confronting the historical reality of the Holocaust through these characters, she believed students could better understand the importance of choosing empathy and integrity in the face of injustice. She spearheaded the initiative, uniting 21 UISD librarians and securing funding from school and district leaders to bring the book into the hands of over 1,700 students.  

 

This opened the door to an unforgettable virtual meeting with the incomparable Mitch Albom on February 5, 2025. Upon learning that the LBJ High School’s  LitWits adult book club had read both The Little Liar and The Stranger in the Lifeboat, a new opportunity arose. Albom requested a second virtual meeting just for the LitWits book club members. It was during this event that Albom made the offer: Albom would gift autographed copies of Twice to each member once the book was released in October.

 

On February 25, 2026, the autographed copies of Twice arrived and were distributed to the LitWits at their final LitWits meeting of the year. This year, the club traversed the moral labyrinth of Mitch Albom’s The Little Liar, felt the rhythmic, raw heartbeat of John Schu’s Louder Than Hunger, and wrestled with the haunting, reflective beauty of Twice.

The air at the LitWits' final meeting was thick with a profound sense of shared history. This was not merely the end of another reading season; it was the grand, sweeping denouement of a nine-year journey. Over nearly a decade, the LitWits have journeyed through a vast library of narratives and curated a sanctuary of thought, debate, laughter, and insight. LitWits wasn't just a club, but a bridge between educators and students, fostering a shared culture of literacy across the entire campus. From the harrowing survival in Unbroken (Laura Hillenbrand) and the chilling suspense of The Bunker Diary (Kevin Brooks) to the modern relevance of Dear Evan Hansen (Val Emmich), these stories became a common language. We also navigated through the experiences of grief in Abuela, Don't Forget Me (Rex Ogle), to wrestling with the weight of truth in Mitch Albom’s The Little Liar and the raw, rhythmic pulse of John Schu’s Louder Than Hunger; these titles represent the caliber of literature that defined our community. Some of our LitWits members—teachers from every department—collaborated closely with school librarian Mrs. Ramon to bring the magic of these selected titles directly to the student body. By reading and discussing the same powerful books with our students, we built a unique culture of "shared subtext" across the halls. To the students who read alongside us: Thank you. You proved that at Johnson High, a good book is never just a solo journey—it’s a community event.

But the most significant, unread chapter of the LitWits end-of-the-year meeting arrived with the announcement that librarian Raquel Ramon would no longer be hosting the club.

“While I am closing this book,  Ramon states, my journey as an advocate and host continues. I will continue to move forward with The Book Bunch, a student library book club I have been honored to sponsor for the past 21 years, as well as with my continued collaborations with the incredible teachers and classes here at LBJ High School. As for the LitWits, the past nine years—defined by the stories shared, the authors who inspired us, and the community we built—represent a legacy that will stay with me forever, tucked away on the most cherished shelves of my heart.”