Dont You Forget About Me

Young Adult Book Club Ideas for Varying

Grade Levels
By: Alessia Fasanella

Why a Teen Book Club?

Many will say that book clubs are a thing of the past; they belong to a period when people had the
time to go to monthly meetings, read books, and reflect. We live in a fast-paced, contemporary
society that, at times, places more emphasis on reading text messages than literature. There will
always be a yearning, however, to read and to establish a relationship with the honest, raw
characters that grace the pages of novels. You cannot snuggle up with a computer, but you can
enjoy a hot cup of African Nectar Tea, on a lazy Saturday afternoon, with a Pulitzer Prize winner.
Through my two book club experiences, I have discovered how enriching literature can be; also, how
amazing free popcorn, candy, and juice are at book club meetings. In these clubs we read, gossip,
laugh, eat, drink, and attempt to relive some of our most precious childhood memories, while still
creating new ones. This is what has inspired me to choose this topic for my final project. So grab a
cup of hot chocolate and a fist full of popcorn, because the fun is about to begin!

Title: A Single Shard

Author: Linda Sue Park
Grades: 6-7
Activities!
This is an excellent YouTube video that
showcases a man comparing pottery in
the 12th century, a main theme in A
Single Shard, to 21st century pottery.
Great to show to the book club at the
beginning of the meeting!
Pottery Video
This is a link to Linda Sue Parks website,
and it includes a link to her blog entitled
What Im Reading, which is a great
way to stay connected with the author,
and gives an extra insight into her
novels.
Linda Sue Park Blog

Park, Linda Sue. (2001). A single shard. New York: Clarion.

Orphaned as a child, Tree-ear lives in a 12th-century Korean potters village.
He is relatively content living with Crane-man under a bridge, eating nothing
but the scarps of food he manages to find. All that changes when he sees
master potter Min making his beautiful pottery. Tree-ear keeps sneaking off to
watch Min work, and dreams of one day creating his own pottery. One day,
he accidentally breaks a pot, and must work for the master to pay for it.
Though the work is long and hard, Tree-ear is eager to learn. Master Min
eventually entrusts Tree-ear with a life-altering task; he must take Mins pottery
to the Kings Court to display his masters work. This long and tumultuous
journey will change Tree-ear forever.
Why use it in a book club? I first read this book in my public librarys
Mother/Daughter Book Club. Out of the 8 novels we read, this was my
absolute favourite. It is a necessary addition to any grade 6 or 7 book club for
a number of reasons. Firstly, novels that take the reader through a dangerous
journey, like this novel does, are a staple in book club culture. Secondly, it is
difficult to find novels that produce main characters that both boys and girls
can relate to, and Tree-ear is one of those characters. Thirdly, this story is an
incredible coming of age tale that, I feel, will deeply resonate with younger
high school students. Finally, this book can easily be discussed with a larger
group of students as the themes and steps of the journey can be broken up
and meditated on individually, and later discussed with the group.
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Title: Walk Two Moons

Author: Sharon Creech
Grades: 6-7

Creech, Sharon. (1994). Walk two moons. New

York: HarperCollins.

Salamanca Tree Hiddle is a thirteen-year-old girl whom

everyone calls Sal. She is travelling with her
grandparents, Gramps and Gran, from Ohio to Idaho in
search of someone very dear to her: her mother. On
the way, Sal begins to tell her grandparents the story of
Phoebe Winterbottom, her best friend, whos own
mother has disappeared after having received strange
messages from a potential lunatic. Sal tells Phoebes
story in order to come to terms with her own. She only
has one week to find her mother before her birthday,
and bring her home. This is an inspiring, humorous, and
heartfelt tale of a young girl and her yearning for a
family. It reminds us to treasure those who love us, and
above all, to never judge a man until youve walked
two moons in his moccasins.
Why use it in a book club?
I also first read this book in my Mother/Daughter Book
Club in grade six. This novel is an excellent selection for
any book club due to journey that Sal and her
grandparents embark on. Journey novels are a
staple in book club culture as they spark interesting
discussions, and this particular novel echoes this while
promoting the theme of family love.

Activity!
This is one of the most incredible
slideshows made for this book! It is
a follow-along slideshow that
shows where Sal travels along her
trip (using maps, pictures, and
diagrams), and it also gives a
historical lesson about each place
she and her grandparents
encounter. An excellent tool to
help your book club students
understand the context of the
novel and where it takes place!
C
Let's Explore!

Alvermann, D.E., Green, C., Wisenbaker, J.M. & Young, J.P. (1999). Adolescents' perceptions and
negotiations of literacy practices in after-school read and talk clubs. American Educational Research
Journal, 36(2), 221-264. Retrieved from: http://aer.sagepub.com/content/36/2/221.short
An article entitled Adolescents' Perceptions and Negotiations of Literacy Practices in After-School
Read and Talk Clubs. This article delves deeper into the benefits that literary after-school talk has on
adolescents, and outlines how social reading clubs can provide social outlets and stages on which to try out
new subject positions within sanctioned literacy events involving a community of peers (Alvermann, Green,
Wisenbaker & Young, 1999, p.221). This article helped me understand what students and their parents think of
after-school read and talk clubs. As educators it is necessary to comprehend what our students needs are. This
article cited students who, at first, were reluctant to join the reading club, but came to see it as a platform to
discuss various teen issues.
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Title: Pirates!
Author: Celia Rees
Grades: 7-9

Rees, Celia. (2003). Pirates! New York: Bloomsbury.

This novel is based on the true events of the lives of Nancy Kington and Minerva
Sharpe, two women who grew up in very different social classes, but fled for a life on
the high seas. Nancy is the daughter of a wealthy plantation owner, while Minerva is
one of her fathers slaves. Together these two women break the boundaries of class,
gender, and race, in order to claim their independence. Why use it? This book was
one of my absolute favourite young adult reads. It has adventure, drama, mystery,
and romance, while focusing on racial and gender biases. It is a necessary inclusion
for any book club simply due to the fact that we must inspire our youth to challenge
inequality and fight for freedom. This book can also be used in a wide variety of
projects, and lends itself to excellent discussions.
Activity!
Here is a great idea for a book club activity! This is a Photo Story
board that my sister and I made when she was in grade 8. The
task was to basically recreate the story in pictures. The bristle
board was burned and coffee was poured on it to make it look
like parchment, my sister and I dressed up as the characters, and
the photos were all edited. As a teacher it is important to get your
students to cooperate with one another. A Photo story is an
optimal way to do so; each person can be responsible for one
section of the text, and then all their photos can be combined on
one large board to recreate the story. Have them showcase their
projects at the following book club meeting!

Title: To Kill A Mockingbird

Author: Harper Lee
Grades: 8-9

Lee, Harper. (1960). To kill a mockingbird.

Philadelphia: Lippincott.
The classic tale of a young girl and the racism that
overwhelms her family and Alabama during the Great
Depression; To Kill a Mockingbird is renowned for its humour
and warmth, as it is told through the eyes of young Scout. As
she examines the experiences with racial struggles in
America, this unforgettable novel takes readers to the roots
of human behaviour, and introduces them to Atticus Finch,
one of the best-written racial heroes of classical literature.
Why use it in a book club? This novel is ideal for any book
club selection as it gives the students an excellent subject to
dissect, debate, and research: racism. No book club would
be complete without To Kill a Mockingbird as contemporary
21st century young adult readers may not be aware of how
racial prejudice and discrimination have evolved throughout
the decades.
Activity!
Character Facebook Activity
This is a Character Facebook Activity for this novel. It costs $3.00, yet teachers can easily
find inspiration from this idea and then apply it to a free website such as Edmodo, which can
be used in the same way. It is an excellent way to engage your students. Have each
member of the book club create a Fake Profile for a character in the book, and then
present it to the rest of the club!
Daniels, H. (2006). Literature circles: voice and choice in book clubs and reading groups. Stenhouse
Publishers: Professional Development for Teacher, by Teachers, 1-2.
Retrieved from: http://www.stenhouse.com/assets/PDFs/0333ho.pdf
An article entitled Literature Circles: Voice and Choice in Book Clubs and Reading Groups, which
goes into detail about how teachers should go about grading (or not grading) students during group book
discussions. Teachers must ensure that they dont undermine the genuineness of the book club conversation
[while they enhance] the collaborative culture of each session (Daniels, 2004, p.1). This article helped me
reflect upon the best way to implement a young adult book club in a classroom, and if students should be graded
on their book discussions. This is an interesting topic for teachers to reflect upon: should we quantitatively
assess students based on their involvement in reading groups? Personally, I always enjoyed reading simply for
pleasure, without having to worry about an evaluation. However, if an educator is implementing a book club
within their English classes, then it is necessary to collect a set of marks for the students reading and oral
competencies.
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Title: The Princess Bride

Author: William Goldman
Grades: 8-9

Goldman, William. (1973). The princess bride:

S. Morgenstern's classic tale of true love and
high adventure. New York: Harcourt Brace
Jovanovich.
The timeless tale of high adventure, a swashbuckling
journey, and true love; The Princess Bride is peppered
with strange beasts and unforgettable characters.
Buttercup and Westleys romance is brought to a
dreadful end with his murder, but even death cannot
stop true love. The Princess Bride will have young
readers laughing until they cry.
Why use it in a book club?
I have previously stated that novels that take their
readers on a journey are staples in book club culture,
and this book does this to a whole new level. There is a
character in this novel that will resonate with each
teenager. In my personal experience I find that this
book can lend itself to incredible discussions.
Activity!
The Princess Bride Monopoly Game! A fun game to
engage in with your students during your meeting;
students must offer a question for discussion that
everyone will engage in every time they pass GO.
The Princess Bride Monopoly
Jones, E. J. (2009). Hands-on reading: the pioneer book club. The Alan Review, 55(1), 26-27.
Retrieved from: http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/VALib/v55_n1/jones.html
An article from The Alan Review journal entitled Hands-On Reading: The Pioneer Book Club, by
Carol Elizabeth Jones, exhibiting how an after-school book club, pertaining to the topic of survival in the
wilderness, helped the high school members form a real community, [while] showing respect and patience for
one another and working together to complete projects (Jones, 2009, p.26). The researchers claim that once
they saw how much the students had emotionally grown through their hands-on book club, they wished to
implement another in the following year. What is most fascinating about this particular article is how beneficial
book clubs can be for young adults, no matter the overlying theme of the club. In this case, the them was
survival in the wilderness, yet the students still managed to transform the meetings into social outlets where
they came together as a community of teenagers and had fun. This contagious motivation to read and participate
with peers is exactly what educators look to establish in6their classrooms.

Title: A Separate Peace

Author: John Knowles
Grade: 9

Knowles, John. (1960). A separate peace. New York: Macmillan.

Knowles novel has been a bestseller and one of the most moving coming of age novels
ever written. It is the tale of two boys. Gene is a lonely, introverted intellectual, while Phineas
is a handsome, athletic daredevil. What happens between them one summer during World
War II changed them forever.
Why use it in a book club?
I first read this book at my mothers urging, and I fell in love with it. Its a simple story whit a
powerful message of what it means to be young. Firstly, as I mentioned earlier, it can be
difficult to find novels that feature boys as main characters, and so this novel will balance
out any book club selection list. Secondly, there is a very powerful, frightening event that
takes place near the end of the novel that will prove to be extremely important to discuss
with students. I promise that if you use this novel in your book club, you wont have any
trouble starting the discussion!
Activity!
WWII Time Period Assignment
A free research assignment for teachers to use with their book club students as an
introduction to the novel; this is an incredible project that allows the students to research
different years during WWII, and how the world was changed because of it. This activity will
get the students interested and motivated to read the book.
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Title: Its Kind Of A Funny Story

Author: Ned Vizzini
Grades: 10-11

Vizzini, Ned. (2006). It's

kind of a funny story.
New York: Miramax
/Hyperion For Children.

Craig is your average

teenager: he wants to
succeed. This entails
getting into the right
school to get him into the
right college to get him the
right job. One day, all of
this becomes too much
and Craig desperately
considers suicide. Instead,
he decides to check
himself into a mental
hospital where his life can
finally begin.

Why use it in a book club?

Craigs story may ring true for
many students in your club
that are experiencing the
pressures of growing up. Its
good to get students talking
about suicide and what
bothers them in life, and this
book is a perfect way to get
that conversation started. The
story itself is also incredibly
comedic, and as book club
books tend to focus heavily
on meanings and themes, its
important to remember that
comedies can be just as
insightful. This book will give
your students a lot to talk
about, and it lends itself to
some very interesting group
activities as well!

Activity!
Create your own mind map! Mind
mapping is an important tool that
Craig uses within the novel to deal
with his depression and anxieties. Let
your students explore the mind
mapping world with this very cool,
colourful, and easy to use tool! If
they are reluctant to use
technology, or you do not possess
enough computers, they can always
simply draw their own mind maps as
well!
https://bubbl.us
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Title: Hooked
Author: Catherine Greenman
Grades: 10-11

Greenman, Catherine. (2011). Hooked. New York: Delacorte.

Never having received the support she needed from her parents, Thea Galehouse has
become very good of taking care of herself. That is, until the day she meets Will, a handsome
senior who she falls for instantly. All is well, even after Will goes to College, as Thea still gets to
visit him regularly. Then, one day, Thea discovers that she is pregnant, and her whole life
changes.
Why use this book in a book club?
This is one of the more recent books that I am including as it was published in 2011. I chose it
because teen pregnancy is becoming a more prevalent issue as time progresses, and it can
be an excellent topic to discuss with them. Also, this story is not an idealized one; on the
contrary, it is raw and real, which makes it more enjoyable to read. Secondly, I wanted to
give teachers and students not only a range of books for different grade levels, but also
books written in and taking place in different times. This is a contemporary selection that I
believe students will enjoy very much! The subject matter is rather mature, which is why I
have suggested it for seniors.
Activity!
Teen Pregnancy: After Baby is Born
This is an ABC documentary following two teen mothers after they had they children. It goes
through the bittersweet and troublesome moments of teenage motherhood, while showing
the positive aspects as well. Its an interesting video that will pull on your heartstrings and get
the book club discussion going!
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Title: The Catcher in The Rye

Author: J.D Salinger
Grades: 8-10

Salinger, J. D. (1951). The catcher in the rye. Boston: Little,

Brown.
This classic novel of teen angst and depression has made the name Holden Caulfield
synonymous with cynical adolescent. Holden recounts the days after his expulsion from his
privileged, private high school, while trying to find himself amidst the phonies of the world.
Why should you use it in a book club?
Teenagers seem to either love Holdens character, worshipping him as the ultimate teen
sage, or they tend to find him ignorant and spoiled. Its a question that will spark much
debate between your book club students. I, myself, found Holden difficult to relate to, while
many other teens in my high school book club identified with him completely. I have also
chosen this book for an older teen audience due to the language used and the overall
content that seems to resonate more deeply with young adults who need to find
themselves.
Activity! (Word Clouds: see picture of boy above)
Create a powerful word cloud using wordle! Word clouds are a visually aesthetic way of
representing main themes, quotes, and words that readers encounter throughout their
reading. This activity is great to engage in with The Catcher in The Rye simply because the
novel has SO many amazing passages in it that young adults will most certainly identify with.

With innovative, pragmatic ideas that will attract and retain teen readers, this guide provides
everything you need to run a successful, teen-centered book club. Covering every step, from planning
and promoting to how to prompt discussion and keep it civilized, this is a one-stop source for the teen
book club leader. Dozens of reproducibles for teens include book lists, ground rules, and book-based
activities. The book even has directions for evaluating your club and lists of resources for more
information. Whether you're starting a teen book club, trying to revive a flagging program, or wish to
build on past success, if you're involved in a teen book club, this guide is a must. (McGill Library &
Goodreads.com) I retrieved this book from the McGill library, as it seemed like the perfect resource
for teachers wanting to implement a book club for their students. What was even more impressive,
however, was how this book directly relates to students who want to implement their very own young
adult reading clubs. This book discusses what a teen book club is, how one can implement it,
numerous book ideas, and so much more! For teachers it also offerssample discussion prompts, books
lists, and reproducible guides that will ensure the success of the club.
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Title: The Fault in our Stars

Author: John Green
Grade: 11

Green, John. (2012). The fault in our stars. New York:

Dutton.

At her mothers request, sixteen-year-old Hazel attends a cancer

patients support group. Although Hazel is sceptical, she
eventually meets and falls in love with Augustus, who is cancer
free after having his leg amputated. Their romance blossoms into
a tale of courage, love, and loss that has captivated young adult
audiences everywhere.
Why use it in a book club?
Cancer is an issue that, thankfully, not many young adults have
experience with. However, it is important to get your students
talking about loss and love. Many students will have had second
hand experiences with cancer and death, and it is important to
make your book club a place where they can express there
feelings without fear of rejection.
Activity!
How wonderful would it be to sit in on your own funeral? To see who came, and to hear the
beautiful words that were said? Death and loss are major themes in The Fault in our Stars. A
great way to have your students engage with this theme is by having them write a Living
Eulogy. Have students choose a family member, a friend, or someone who is close to them,
and allow them to write a eulogy for this person with the goal of sharing it with them.
Also, to encourage the discussion after your students have read the book, show them this
video from John Greens YouTube channel in which he responds to prominent questions
about the book and the movie: John Green: Question Tuesday
Scharber, C. M., Melrose, A., & Wurl, J. (March 20, 2009). Online book clubs for preteens and
teens. Library Review, 58, 3, 176-195. Retrieved from:
http://www.emeraldinsight.com.proxy2.library.mcgill.ca/journals.htm?articleid=1782776&sho
w=html
Two online book clubs are discussed in this article. Basically, the authors examine the
efficiency of online book clubs, and investigate just how beneficial they can be for young
adults. Overall, the online book clubs were shown to be fun, engaging, and convenient for
preteen and teens. They are a flexible way for all students to find the time to participate, and
they encourage more reluctant, quieter students to contribute to the discussion. This article
offers theoretical grounding and rich, practical details so that libraries and teachers can
capitalize and create their own online book clubs. Online book clubs offer a forum that
capitalizes on youths' familiarity with computers and new literacy practices while staying
rooted in traditional practices. Online book clubs are sites of possibility a medium through
which both teachers and students can more readily encourage literate practices in younger
generations. As technology begins to evolve at a frightening rate, it is necessary allow our
students and their literary capabilities do the same. Online book clubs, as shown throughout
this article, may be a perfect way to implement a class project, or weekly reading
discussions. Furthermore, online book clubs can easily be set up through the schools e-mail
database, or through moderated websites like goodreads.com or edmodo.com.
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Journal Article References

Alvermann, D.E., Green, C., Wisenbaker, J.M. & Young, J.P. (1999). Adolescents' perceptions and negotiations
of literacy practices in after-school read and talk clubs. American Educational Research Journal, 36(2),
221-264.
Daniels, H. (2006). Literature circles: voice and choice in book clubs and reading groups. Stenhouse
Publishers: Professional Development for Teacher, by Teachers, 1-2.

Jones, E. J. (2009). Hands-on reading: the pioneer book club. The Alan Review, 55(1), 26-27.

Kunzel, B., & Hardesty, C. (2006). The teen-centered book club: Readers into leaders. Westport, Conn:
Libraries Unlimited. Print.

Scharber, C. M., Melrose, A., & Wurl, J. (March 20, 2009). Online book clubs for preteens and teens. Library
Review, 58, 3, 176-195.

(See Following Pages for Book, Image & Multimedia References)

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Book & Image References

6 Book club tips. (2014). Digital image. Retreat by Random House.
Retrieved from http://www.retreatbyrandomhouse.ca/2013/03/book-club/ (book club logo)
Creech, Sharon. (1994). Walk two moons. New York: HarperCollins.
Image retrieved from http://simplysumiyya.blogspot.ca/2012/08/summer-wrap-up-read-thon-coverchallenge.html
"FWA winner | VP book club." (2000). TheFWA.
Retrieved from http://www.thefwa.com/site/vp-book-club (book shelf decoration)
Goldman, William. (1973). The princess bride: S. Morgenstern's classic tale of true love and high adventure.
New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. Image retrieved from http://www.bcptheater.org
Green, John. (2012). The fault in our stars. New York: Dutton. Image retrieved from www.wikipedia.com
Greenman, Catherine. (2011). Hooked. New York: Delacorte.
Image retrieved from http://www.catherinegreenman.com/books.html
Knowles, John. (1960). A separate peace. New York: Macmillan.
Image retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Separate_Peace
Lee, Harper. (1960). To kill a mockingbird. Philadelphia: Lippincott.
Image retrieved from http://judyoz.com/ccp0-prodshow/to-kill-a-mockingbird-harper-lee-new-softcoverbook.html
Park, Linda Sue. (2001). A single shard. New York: Clarion.
Image retrieved from http://www.bubblews.com/news/2379942-a-single-shard
Word cloud of the catcher in the rye. (2014). Prooffreader.
Image Retrieved from http://www.prooffreader.com/2013/09/word-cloud-catcher-in-rye_9.html (Catcher
in The Rye Word Cloud Image)
Rees, Celia. (2003). Pirates! New York: Bloomsbury.
Image retrieved from http://the-history-girls.blogspot.ca/2013/08/the-spirit-of-times-celia-rees.html
Salinger, J. D. (1951). The catcher in the rye. Boston: Little, Brown.
Image retrieved from http://www.denofgeek.com/books-comics/28049/12-books-that-inexplicablyhavent-been-turned-into-movies-yet
Vizzini, Ned. (2006). It's kind of a funny story. NewYork: Miramax /Hyperion For Children.
Image retrieved from http://www.npr.org/books/titles/157896607/its-kind-of-a-funny-story

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Multimedia References
A separate peace research assignment: powerpoint w/rubric. (2012). Teachers Pay Teachers.
Retrieved from http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/A-Separate-Peace-Research-AssignmentPowerpoint-wRubric-59386
A single shard. (2014). Linda Sue Park Blog.
Retrieved from http://www.lindasuepark.com/books/singleshard/singleshard.html
""A single shard" - comparing 12th and 21st century pottery - PART 1." (2013). YouTube.
Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jgb-bdHMiO0
Bubbl.Us: brainstorming made simple. (2013). Retrieved from https://bubbl.us

Character Facebook activity to kill a mockingbird: Scout, Atticus, Boo. (2012). Teachers Pay Teachers.
Retrieved from http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Character-Facebook-Activity-To-Kill-aMockingbird-Scout-Atticus-Boo-81654
Edmodo. (2012). Retrieved from www.edmodo.com

Question Tuesday: the fault in our stars movie edition. (2013). YouTube.
Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_731GRjCCI

Teen pregnancy: after baby is born. (2009). YouTube.

Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rb4u46f9fS8

The princess bride monopoly game. (2008). Incredible Things.

Retrieved from http://www.incrediblethings.com/toys-games/the-princess-bride-monopoly-is-atweasure/

Walk two moons slideshow. (2014). Pinterest.

Retrieved from http://www.pinterest.com/pin/166351779957895334/
Wordle. (2013). Retrieved from www.wordle.net

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