Art, music, and reading will share the spotlight on a special evening.

Landisville Middle School (LMS), 340 Mumma Drive, will host Night of the Arts on Thursday, April 10, from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

This year, organizers extended the hours of the annual event.

"We wanted to have a longer time period so the kids who are in sports or have other obligations can attend," LMS art teacher Amy Smith said. "We wanted to make it easier for families."

Night of the Arts will feature artwork made by LMS seventh- and eighth-graders. "Part of the whole artistic process has to do with exhibition of their learning and work," said Smith. "And for them to be proud of what they've done and show people. It gives them another outlet. ... I've been teaching at Hempfield since 1999, and I've seen kids gain confidence through this exhibition, and they are able to be more expressive in the art room."

Some members of the school's modern band will perform.

One of the highlights of the evening will be a visit from a special guest, award-winning author Amy Sarig King, who resides in Lititz. King will speak in the LMS gym from 6 to 6:45 p.m.

According to her bio on her website, King has been called "One of the best Y.A. (Young Adult) writers working today" by the New York Times Book Review and has won the Michael L. Printz Award twice, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, the Amelia Walden Award, the Carolyn Field Award, the Margaret A. Edwards Award, and the ALAN (Assembly on Literature for Adolescents of National Council of Teachers of English) Award for her lasting contribution to young adult literature.

Every Hempfield middle school student will receive a copy of King's book "Me and Marvin Gardens" through the One Book, One School initiative, thanks to a grant from the Hempfield Foundation.

"Art and writing are definitely sister processes for sure," Smith said.

In addition to the art displayed on walls in the middle of LMS, students will make chalk murals to welcome visitors into the school.

The LMS Student Council will hold a bake sale. Money raised from Night of the Arts will be donated to three organizations: Little Chiques Park, Clark Nature Preserve, and Conestoga River Club.

LMS librarian Erika Rhodeside said seventh-graders share an experience with the main character of "Me and Marvin Gardens" because the students do a stream study in the spring which directly ties into the novel.

"A Night of the Arts (event) that brings in literature, art, music is a great opportunity for the community to see we can all come together on one central idea," Rhodeside said. "Amy King centers her work on community. She's a local author. When you read 'Me and Marvin Gardens' or any of her work, you are definitely in Lancaster County. I think it's super cool a nationally recognized author is writing about our hometown. It builds that idea of community."

King said, "'Me and Marvin Gardens' is always a special book to talk to students about. They are usually very excited by the science, and that excitement leads to great discussions about the realities and of plastic pollution. I visit many schools that use this book in classrooms, and I always learn something new from student projects. Students teach me so much. In the end, pollution is about their future, and it's always good to talk openly about solutions."

King relishes the chance to talk to students in her home state. "Because all my books are set in Pennsylvania, it's always good to talk to fellow kids who are growing up in Pennsylvania," she said. "With this book, it's extra special because it's a story about the cornfield that surrounded my house in Berks County where I grew up, and how it went from growing corn to growing more than 250 houses. There are many people, young and not so young, in this area who can relate to that."

Night of the Arts is a joint effort between LMS and Centerville Middle School (CMS). "Centerville Middle School is thrilled that Landisville has invited us to their Night of the Arts featuring author A.S. King," CMS librarian Amanda Deck said. "Our student volunteers look forward to helping with the community upcycling art project and other planned activities. One Book, One School creates a unique opportunity for us to connect as a school community. ... We are excited to read the book throughout April."

Elementary school students are invited to attend to see where some of them will be going to middle school. "We want to make connections because middle school can be a very challenging time," said Rhodeside. "It is neat to see how other districts make it a community event, so we wanted to bring that to Hempfield as well."