As we’ve mentioned, it’s All-Star time at Scholastic…when we name 9 kids around the country READ 180 All-Stars. These are all kids who have struggled with reading their whole lives. Before this year, many of them have never read a book. One of these kids is Michael Hale, an 8th grader from just outside of Nashville, Tennessee.

A Nashville Public Radio reporter, Blake Farmer, went out and spent some time with Michael and his teacher, Laura Lipinski, this week–and produced a terrific segment that perfectly captures the emotions of kids who struggle to read and the fantastic teachers who help to teach them.

Michael is darling, Laura is awe-inspiring, and the whole piece reminds me why I have always thought radio is the best medium.

My favorite quote?

Farmer: Hale says he reads to his 2-year-old brother, Dakota, every night. ‘So why do you read to him?’

Michael: ‘So he won’t be afraid like I was.’

Being in PR is a lesson in rejection. Pitching reporters is like approaching a remarkably good-looking person and asking them if they’d like to get a cup of coffee. You’re hopeful they’ll be interested, but there’s always the possibility that they’ll tell you caffeine makes them jittery, and you’ll have no choice but to slink away feeling like a miserable failure. So why do it, you ask?

Because, every once in a while, a reporter says yes, and they do a story that is so poignant and charming and…well…just *gets* it. And you feel like that remarkably good-looking person approached *you.* This is one of those times.

Congratulations to all this year’s All-Stars. Michael…I hope you get college and a go-cart.