Teen Book Club
Written by Bethany Roberts   
Tuesday, 23 August 2005

A couple of us are interested in getting a book club started for teens. We did this last year for a bit and I had a great time. I don't have a meeting place settled for sure, but if enough people are interested we'll meet at the First Church of the Nazarene on 1000 road on (or around) the first Wednesday of each month from 2:30-4:00.  The dates and reading plan follow this note. Please email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or call me at 785-838-9222 if you are interested or have questions.

I think we could accommodate up to 10 teens if I'm on my own or up to 16 teens if I have a parent available to help lead discussions and keep kids focused. This book list below strikes a balance between high quality modern books and books that have endured over time. We'll weave in the poetry and prose from the classics during class time, and give the kids a no pressure opportunity to share their original works. I'll use terminology and ideas they need to understand in order to be able to think intelligently about literature and their own writing. We'll bring snacks and have a social time during the last half hour. Students who decide to participate don't have to attend every time, but if they come they must have read the book prior to attending. I'm pretty confident in the reading selections, but don't get too mad at me if I change my mind.

Younger Group (Teens who are interested in great stories).
October 5:      Danny Champion of the World by Roald Dahl
November 2:     The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
December 7:     Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
January 11:     The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare
February 8:     The Cay by Theodore Taylor
March 1:        A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
April 5:                Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
May 3:          Ben and Me by Robert Lawson

Older Group:  Teens who are interested in challenging reading and mature themes. October 5:      Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
November 2:     Antigone by Sophocles
December 7:     A Separate Peace by John Knowles
January 11:     Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
February 8:     A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
March 1:        To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
April 5:                The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
May 3:           Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl