During the 2025–2026 school year, the Saint Joseph Academy community will be exploring “Empathetic Justice,” one of the traits outlined in The Character of a Graduate of Saint Joseph Academy. According to that statement, a student demonstrates Empathetic Justice through “doing justice with compassion and respect for others . . . [and] work[ing] for systemic change to bring about global equality.”
Over the summer, all students are required to read at least one title from the list that they have not read before. Gaining new insights and perspectives from situations we may not be familiar with exposes us to the needs of the world and helps us to understand our neighbors more fully. So we challenge our students to select a book that will expand their knowledge of unfamiliar cultures and experiences. Because conflict is essential to storytelling, many of the books deal with difficult situations and complex problems. Some titles have content that might be upsetting or provoke strong emotional responses. Families should help their students carefully discern which book is best and are encouraged to look at book reviews and descriptions before choosing a book to read.
In September 2025, students will meet in their homerooms to further explore Empathetic Justice by discussing the books they have read. The small-group setting allows us to deepen our relationships and pray together. Taking time to listen to others’ perspectives is yet another opportunity to grow in empathy. Because this experience is at the heart of what it means to be a member of the SJA community and because we value academic integrity, it is an expectation that all students come prepared to actively participate in the day’s events. Please support us in these efforts by encouraging and reminding students to read throughout the summer.
Questions for Discussion
In addition to your understanding of how the book relates to Empathetic Justice, students should also be prepared to provide a synopsis of the book for those who did not read the same one as they did. As you read the book, think about which passages or quotations have an impact on the way you think about empathy and justice. Keep track of these as you read, and use them to prepare to discuss the following questions:
SJA students may access eBooks and audiobooks from our Sora App by logging in with their SJA Google Account.