With his homework and studying finished , he reaches into his backpack and pulls out an all new, pristine edition of Suzanne Collins’s “The Hunger Games”. He’s seen the movie, but hasn’t read the book.

Israel Williams, senior, is one of approximately 70 other students and faculty members registered for the annual MHS Reading Marathon, an event that encourages students and teachers alike to pick up a book of any genre in their freetime.

“The marathon includes various things like reading books but at a certain level,” Williams said. “You try to read the most you can in the shortest amount of time.”

Those registering can choose from four different events: The Thoroughbred (nine books in six weeks), the Mustang Run (six books in six weeks), the Pony Express (three books in six weeks) and the Yearling Trot (1,320 pages in six weeks).

This year will mark Williams’ fourth time participating in the event. The marathon provides students an opportunity to connect with others who share the same interests while also improving one’s vocabulary, Williams said.

Liz Pease, language arts teacher, is participating in the Pony Express event (three books in six weeks) for the marathon this year, her second year partaking in the contest.

“My goal is three books, but I have already zipped through two and a half novels,” Pease said. “I have read ‘The Girl in Cabin 10’, ‘The Long Way to an Angry Planet’, and I am halfway through the novel ‘The Shack.'”

Pease participates in the reading marathon because it provides her with a break from the monotony of grading papers, she said.

“I am a language arts teacher who believes that reading is so very important and reading for pleasure is something that is falling by the wayside,” Pease said. “This benefits me because I, too, forget to read in the midst of lesson planning, grading and daily life. The biggest benefit is that when I read, I get to escape into another world and experience fun adventures.”

Librarians Lee Mitchell and Margaret Sullivan organized the annual campaign three years ago in the hopes of promoting an increased interest in reading.

The event has seen an increase in participants this year with 70 competitors, almost twice as many as last year’s 40 competitors, she said.

“For those that complete the challenge, we invite them to the library for lunch,” Mitchell said. “We provide pizza and dessert. We also have a drawing for some gift cards, and everyone who completed the challenge gets a medal that they can wear at graduation.”

Registration began Feb. 1, but the librarians will be accepting registrations throughout the marathon, which ends on March 22.