Last night Bishop Maginn High School put up an Amazon Regents Exam Reviews request for 120 books. These books will make it possible for the school’s students could work with their teachers for the critically important state Regent tests which run roughly from now until June and must be passed for graduation.

The list was sold out in hours. So today, 14 more books are on a new mini-list.

Most of the school’s parents can’t afford these essential exam and review books, and the school has no budget for buying enough. So we stepped in, and thanks.

Two things happened. The Wish List sold out very quickly (thanks), and a lot of people are messaging me, frustrated by how fast the list sold and are eager to help if they can. They can.

The school initially planned to publish a longer list, but they are shy about asking for things, so they left some needed books out. I suggested that for the exam books – the ones that allow the students to work on Regent style exams – that they buy two for each class, the teacher gets one, and he or she can hand out the other. That would save a lot of money.

It was a struggle.

“People have given enough,” one official said. “We don’t want to ask for too much,” I told them 14 more books  (now just two more books 11:15 pm.) was not too much, and for the people who couldn’t get to the first list, it would be appreciated. We want to help; this is about the best imaginable way to help these students move forward with their lives.

Too many have suffered enough for a lifetime.

One of the teachers was worried I would be too stressed about a big wish list. I assured them I could handle it. But that’s the way they are, a reason I love them. They always think they are asking for too much.

The reviews on the original list are different from the new 14; they are big and chock full of information in the various subject matters of the exams – geography, history, math, algebra, geometry, social studies. These 14 exam books will show the students exactly what the tests are like.

The school’s teachers are grateful and excited they can work with each of their students individually and prepare for these exams. The results can go on student college application resumes.

We did some scrambling today and came up with a compromise. The books on this new shortlist range in price from $8.49 (the algebra exam books are $18.) to $9.47.

You can check out this list here. I imagine it won’t last as long as the first one. If you need the address for Amazon, it’s 75 Park Avenue, Albany, N.Y., 12202. The number is 518 463-2247.

Some people don’t use Amazon or don’t like it; they are sending me checks instead – Jon Katz, Bishop Maginn Regent Books, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816, or to me via Paypal, [email protected].

Any money I get will go to buy more review and exam books if they are needed. Textbooks can be very expensive.

Thanks for this, both Wish Lists will change lives.