Michael J. Bellito ’72

The high school where Michael J. Bellito ’72 taught speech and English for 32 years has made his new novel, Ten Again, required reading for freshman honors English students. Following his own advice to “write what you know,” Bellito set his first novel in the Chicago suburbs in 1960. The nostalgic look at the adventures of a 10-year-old boy has been likened to the cult movie classic “A Christmas Story.” Info on the book (available at major online booksellers) and Bellito’s upcoming Chicago-area appearances are at www.Illinoisauthors.org. Bellito is retired from John Hersey High School in Arlington Heights, Ill., and now teaches at Harper College. He and his wife live in Wheeling, Ill.