- Hundreds of Salt Lake students received free books at Operation Literacy's event.
- Gov. Spencer Cox and author John Schu emphasized the importance of reading and literacy.
- A bill limiting cellphone use in schools advanced, awaiting Cox's signature to become law.
SALT LAKE CITY — Hundreds of Salt Lake City School District elementary and middle schoolers received free books Friday as part of Operation Literacy's book drop event.
Held at Bryant Middle School, students heard from Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and author John Schu, who provided a copy of "Louder Than Hunger" to every student in attendance from Bryant, in addition to Ensign, Franklin, Wasatch, Washington and Newman elementary schools.
Schu shared his personal journey of overcoming obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, anorexia nervosa and depression to become a teacher, librarian and author through a high-energy, interactive presentation style that managed to keep an auditorium filled with elementary and middle school students engaged.
His book, "Louder Than Hunger," tells the story of a character named Jake Stacey, a fictionalized version of Schu's own life, detailing his battle with various disorders.
"Jake is 13 years old, and he has an eating disorder. You and Jake are about to go on a harrowing journey together. By the time you finish reading this book, you will be friends. Reading Jake's story will change you," Schu said. "You might find that you want to reveal your heart. Tell someone your truth. Telling your story can save your life. It may save someone else's life, too. Jake knows this. John Schu knows this. This is why he wrote this book for you."
In a day celebrating reading, Cox continued to emphasize the importance of addressing what has sometimes been described as a literacy crisis in Utah.
A September 2025 study from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute found that only 46.7% of Utah's third-grade students are reading at grade level.
"Reading has the ability to change everything in your life. I know it's hard to focus sometimes," Cox said. "Putting away our phones, getting off our devices, putting away our video games and just sitting down with the book, it actually can rewire your brain in very, very positive ways."
Putting down devices — specifically phones — also touches on an aspect Cox has been vocal about over the last few years: Getting cellphones out of K-12 classrooms.
In fact, SB69, a bill Cox has touted throughout the session, has advanced through the Utah Legislature.
The bill is a follow-up to a similar bill last year that set a default policy barring students from using their phones during class. This year, Sen. Lincoln Fillmore, R-South Jordan, aimed to apply that same policy throughout the entire school day, including during class breaks and at lunch.
The House voted 46-21 on Wednesday to approve the bill, and the Senate gave a final unanimous nod on Thursday, after lawmakers changed it to require school districts to allow parents to request an accommodation letting their child "briefly" use their cellphones during "non-instructional time."
The legislation now goes to Cox's desk for his consideration, and if signed into law as expected, will take effect July 1.
"We need your help to help make our country a better place, and you can't do that if you can't read," Cox said. "So please, I'm begging you, dive into this book. Read every chance you get."
