December Book Clubs

Middle School Lunch Book Clubs, one for 5th-6th graders, one for 7th-8th graders, meet monthly. We alternate between talking about books in general (#readingnow), and talking about a specific, student-chosen book that participants have read. For the latter, the first three students to sign up get a free copy of the book.

This month, 5th and 6th graders chose to read Front Desk, by Kelly Yang: "Recent immigrants from China and desperate for work and money, Mia Tang's parents take a job managing a rundown motel in Southern California--and Mia often has to run the front desk." We started the meeting with a choice of activities; create a new cover for the book (the cover makes it look like a happy-go-lucky, humorous story, which it isn't!), and/or help the group create a poem inspired by the book. Discussion followed, accompanied, as always, by homemade cookies!

7th-8th graders chose to read Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi: "Aru stretches the truth to fit in at her private school, but when she is dared to prove an ancient lamp is cursed, she inadvertently frees an ancient demon." We started the meeting with students having to solve a crossword puzzle that contained a clue about how to light a "lamp" (actually a small, battery-powered tree with twinkle lights), then had an impassioned discussion about the book (with cookies, of course--apple-cider-caramel or gingerbread with salted maple frosting).

5th-6th graders' group poem:

Justice

Works all day

Hides in plain sight

Enables you to be in charge

Offers an opportunity

Gives a warm feeling

Lets you tell your true stories

Takes risks