--- title: "Reading Everywhere: book group" url: https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/book group/ description: "Children's and YA book reviews. Library stuff. Possible overuse of the word AWESOME!" --- # Reading Everywhere: book group - [About](https://readingeverywhere.com/p/about-me.html) - [Review Policy](https://readingeverywhere.com/p/review-policy.html) - [Frequently Visited Posts](https://readingeverywhere.com/p/frequently-visited-posts.html) Showing posts with label book group . [Show all posts](https://readingeverywhere.com/) Showing posts with label book group . [Show all posts](https://readingeverywhere.com/) ## Friday, May 18, 2012 ### [YA Books for an Adult Book Group](https://readingeverywhere.com/2012/05/ya-books-for-adult-book-group.html) I was starting to feel like the last librarian on earth who wasn't in a book group when my friend invited me to join hers. Hooray! Besides spending time with friends and meeting new people, one of the reasons I'm excited to participate is that this group reads adult books. Er, that is, books for grown-ups. ...I mean, the term "adult" is so awkward, isn't it? It means one thing to writers and librarians, but to the rest of the world, it's another thing entirely. *ahem* I've found that if you put the emphasis on the first syllable instead of the second ("AAH-dult" instead of "a-DULT"), it sounds less... um... you know. *ahem ahem* Anyway. As a teen services librarian. I work at the AAH-dult reference desk, but since I read primarily in YA in children's, I have trouble with AAH-dult readers' advisory. Because, to be honest... adult books, I'm just not that into you. But I should be! Professionally, I need to be! Thus, I've joined this book group. I've only been to two meetings so far, and I'm really impressed with their quality of discussion. These ladies take their reading seriously, and I love it. I'm excited to read their selections and challenge myself to take the occasional step outside of my preferred comfort zone of children's and YA literature. But eventually, it will be my turn to choose the book. And even though this book group primarily reads adult books, it seems like they're open to reading YA. Many of them enjoyed The Hunger Games , so this is an opportunity to introduce them to more great YA titles. What kind of YA book would appeal to an adult book group? I'm thinking books with strong characters, complex motivations, intricate plotting, and top-notch writing. Books with situations and emotions they can relate to when looking back on their teen years. Happily, I can think of a few YA books that would make great picks for adult book groups. [*Code Name Verity*](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1423152190/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=readineveryw-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1423152190) , by Elizabeth Wein Two young women in World War II. With its detailed historical setting, incredible plot, and depiction of a strong female friendship, this is my top YA pick for an adult book group right now. (See [my *Code Name Verity* review](https://readingeverywhere.com/2012/05/book-review-code-name-verity-by.html) for more gushing about this tremendously excellent book.) [*The Fault in Our Stars*](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0525478817/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=readineveryw-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0525478817) , by John Green Two teens with cancer fall in love-- and it's not as emotionally manipulative as the premise suggests. It's serious, it's funny, it's insightful, it's inspiring... what's not to love? There's so much to discuss here-- the plot, the writing style, whether or not teens really talk like Hazel and Augustus (and whether or not that actually matters)... (I [reviewed *The Fault in Our Stars*](https://readingeverywhere.com/2012/02/book-review-fault-in-our-stars-by-john.html) a few months ago.) [*The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian*](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316068209/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=readineveryw-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0316068209) , by Sherman Alexie The author presents a semi-autobiographical story about a Native American boy who chooses to leave the reservation to pursue a better education. Alexie is a noted author for adults, and his YA book has great crossover appeal for both age groups. It's hilarious and heartbreaking and full of hope, and the fact that so much of the book is drawn from Alexie's life gives any book group a great deal to discuss. [*Beauty Queens*](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0439895979/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=readineveryw-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0439895979) , by Libba Bray A plane full of beauty pageant contestants crashes on a desert island, and satire of everything ensues. This is a love-it-or-hate-it kind of book-- and I love it. I would have to get to know my book group better before attempting to guess how they'd react to it, but for some groups, this could be a huge hit and prompt a lively discussion. I adore the way Libba Bray wraps up weighty issues in a hilarious package, and the feminist themes in this book make me want to stand up and cheer. [*If I Stay*](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/014241543X/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=readineveryw-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=014241543X) , by Gayle Forman A girl loses her family in a terrible car accident. Hovering between life and death in a coma, she must decide whether to go or stay. The emotionally affecting story as Mia looks back on her life thus far, the vivid portayal of her family and her boyfriend, and the intricate plot that unfolds through flashbacks make this book a very appealing book group pick. It eems to be universally enjoyed by both teens and adults, and I have a feeling an adult audience will connect more with the family aspect of the novel than the teens will-- it would be interesting to compare what each age group focuses on when discussing this novel. What do you think? What YA titles would you suggest for an adult book group? Posted by [Allison](https://www.blogger.com/profile/06628530227439660832) at [3:56 PM](https://readingeverywhere.com/2012/05/ya-books-for-adult-book-group.html) Labels: [book group](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/book%20group) , [book list](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/book%20list) ## Tuesday, January 31, 2012 ### [Top Ten Tuesday](https://readingeverywhere.com/2012/01/top-ten-tuesday.html) Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted at [The Broke and the Bookish](http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/) . This week's topic is Great Book Club Picks . Last summer, I did a series of blog posts about how to run a tween book group ( [Part 1](http://readingeverywhere.blogspot.com/2011/06/how-to-run-tween-book-group-part-1.html) , [part 2](http://readingeverywhere.blogspot.com/2011/06/how-to-run-tween-book-group-part-2.html) , [part 3](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/07/how-to-run-tween-book-group-part-3.html) ), so I was eager to jump on this topic and recommend more book club friendly titles. 1. [*The Fault in our Stars*, by John Green](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0525478817/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=readineveryw-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0525478817) The book everyone's buzzing about right now, and for very good reason-- this is one of those perfect YA books that would impress a book club filled with adults. 2. [*Little Princes*, by Conor Grennan](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005UVQ5BW/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=readineveryw-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B005UVQ5BW) Kind of the opposite of the above-- a book marketed to an adult audience with a great deal of teen appeal. ( [See my review of the *Little Princes* audiobook.](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/03/little-princes-by-conor-grennan.html) ) 3. [*Across the Universe*, by Beth Revis](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1595144676/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=readineveryw-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1595144676) Its cross-genre appeal and dual narration with both a male and a female narrator make this a good book club choice. So often, especially with YA book clubs, it's hard to find a book that will please the guys and the girls. This one should solve that problem! ( [See my review of *Across the Universe* and its excellent sequel, *A Million Suns.*](https://readingeverywhere.com/2012/01/book-review-across-universe-series-by.html) ) 4. [*Scored*, by Lauren McLaughlin](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0375868208/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=readineveryw-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0375868208) With its fascinating commentary on standardized testing and morality, I think this book would generate thoughtful discussion in a book club setting. It's a genuinely fun and engaging read with a lot of substance behind it-- a book club dream come true! (Stay tuned for an [Authors are ROCKSTARS!](http://authorsarerockstars.com/) interview with Lauren McLaughlin.) 5. [*Thirteen Reasons Why*, by Jay Asher](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/159514188X/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=readineveryw-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=159514188X) Teens will be drawn into this book by the intense subject matter about suicide and placing blame, and those same elements will give book club members a lot to talk about. The characters in this one are interestingly flawed, making room for some good debate. 6. [*The Westing Game*, by Ellen Raskin](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ZZ543K/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=readineveryw-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B003ZZ543K) A quirky book with a crowd-pleasing mystery and a large ensemble cast, I think a book club would have fun delving into the various characters' motivations. Especially those of Mr. Westing himself! I would love to hear other readers' interpretations of his character. 7. [*Warp Speed*, by Lisa Yee](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0545122767/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=readineveryw-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0545122767) With themes of feeling out of place, bullying, and friendship, this is a book that will speak to most any reader. Any of Lisa Yee's books would be a great choice for a book club. 8. [*Okay For Now*, by Gary D. Schmidt](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0547152604/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=readineveryw-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0547152604) Almost universally enjoyed by anyone who reads it, this book has a lot of material for discussion. I was fascinated by the conversation about whether it's meant to be realistic or not at School Library Journal's [Heavy Medal blog](http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/heavymedal/2012/01/02/okay-for-now/) , and would love to that type of exploration play out at a book club setting. ( [See my review.](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/02/okay-for-now-by-gary-d-schmidt.html) I'm still mourning the fact that this one didn't get a Newbery nod!) 9. [*The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks*, by E. Lockhart](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0786838191/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=readineveryw-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0786838191) This is perhaps my ultimate book club pick! The plot is intriguing, the boarding school pranks are entertaining, and there's SO much to discuss regarding feminism and Frankie's motivations. 10. [*Wonderstruck*, by Brian Selznick](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0545027896/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=readineveryw-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0545027896) There are so many themes to discuss here-- disability, loss, the historical details, as well as the way the text and images interact. Anyone who's read it has a lot to say. ( [See my review.](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/09/wonderstruck-by-brian-selznick.html) ) Posted by [Allison](https://www.blogger.com/profile/06628530227439660832) at [6:00 AM](https://readingeverywhere.com/2012/01/top-ten-tuesday.html) Labels: [book group](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/book%20group) , [top ten tuesday](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/top%20ten%20tuesday) ## Tuesday, July 5, 2011 ### [How to Run a Tween Book Group, Part 3](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/07/how-to-run-tween-book-group-part-3.html) I'm wrapping up my series on running a successful tween book group with ideas for activities! If you missed the previous posts, here's [part 1](http://readingeverywhere.blogspot.com/2011/06/how-to-run-tween-book-group-part-1.html) and [part 2](http://readingeverywhere.blogspot.com/2011/06/how-to-run-tween-book-group-part-2.html) . To spice up an ordinary book discussion, you can incorporate an activity that happens separately from the book discussion (I recommend having it take place before the discussion, to break the ice), or a more low-key activity that can be done while the discussion takes place. Examples of the former: The Hunger Games : Mini Games Hold a 15 minute mock Hunger Games with some of the skills/trials mentioned in the book. I had great success with the following three competitions: Identify the Root: set out a variety of root vegetables labeled with numbers, and make a gamesheet for the participants to write down their best guesses for each root. Provide a mix of easy ones (carrot, potato) and more obscure (rutabaga, burdock). Hand to Hand Combat: aka thumb wrestling. Hee. Target Practice: participants take turns with a Nerf archery set and a target. I awarded the winner a bag of "poison berries" (actually: Skittles) and a Kit Kat bar (Kit KAT... KATniss... yeah, I know, I'm stretching with that one. But hey, chocolate!) The Lightning Thief : Toilet paper toga game Divide participants into groups of 3-5. Supply each team with a roll of toilet paper. One team member serves at the model; the others use the toilet paper to dress the model in a toga. Prizes can be awarded for finishing first, originality, creative design, etc. I gave the winning team blue foods, like blue corn tortilla chips and chocolate covered blueberries, in honor of the blue foods Percy's mom likes to make for him. Here's an example of a low-key activity that can be done while carrying on a book discussion: Rules : Create your own word cards One of the characters in Rules communicates by pointing to cards with words on them, and the main character notices he doesn't have certain words that truly express who he is and how he feels, so she creates new word cards for him. Hand each book group participant 3-4 small squares of paper, some colored pencils, and ask them to think of words they can't live without. They can illustrate their own, personal word cards while discussing the book, and share at the end, if they wish. Simple and fun! Well, there you have it: my best tips for running a tween book group. I'd love to hear yours! Posted by [Allison](https://www.blogger.com/profile/06628530227439660832) at [8:15 AM](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/07/how-to-run-tween-book-group-part-3.html) Labels: [book group](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/book%20group) , [librarianship](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/librarianship) ## Friday, June 17, 2011 ### [How to Run a Tween Book Group, Part 2](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/06/how-to-run-tween-book-group-part-2.html) This post is the second in my series on running a tween book group. If you missed part 1, [check it out!](http://readingeverywhere.blogspot.com/2011/06/how-to-run-tween-book-group-part-1.html) What do tweens want from a book group? They want activities. I thought games or crafts might be too young, too kid-like, but I quickly discovered that this age group still enjoys a fun activity paired with a good book group discussion. Sometimes the activity can kick off the discussion, or if the discussion isn’t picking up steam, the activity can essentially take its place. They want food. No brainer, right? I should note that I learned from a wise colleague never to offer food that can be used as projectile weapons, such as peanut M&Ms, in case an impromptu food fight breaks out. Smart! They want book group to NOT be like school. Publishers often supply well-intentioned book discussion questions for their books, but I'm telling you right now, most of those questions are too formal, too intimidating for this age group in a non-school setting. The publisher's questions might be perfect for the classroom- I'm certainly not saying the tweens can't handle more involved questions!- but for a library book group, which is extremely extracurricular, I like to keep it light and inviting. So what do the tweens want to talk about? They want to talk about the book's cover. It's a seemingly simple topic that can be a great jumping-off point for discussing their expectations of the book based on the cover and the jacket copy. Here are a few questions along these lines... - When you first saw this book, what did you think it was going to be like? - After reading it, was it pretty much what you expected, or did it turn out to be something else entirely? - Why do you think the cover is designed this way, with this image? - If you were redesigning this book’s cover, what would you put on it? They want to discuss genre. Try questions like... - What kind of book would you say this is? - Does it fall strictly into one genre, or does it cross over between more than one? - If you were recommending this book to a friend, what would you tell them to get them to read it? - Would this book appeal to someone who doesn't like this genre? Why or why not? They want to relate the book to their own experiences. Ask them... - Has anything like [main character’s experience] ever happened to you? - What would you do if…? - Have you ever felt like…? - Did you ever know someone who...? Next time: I'll wrap up this series on tween book groups with details of some [activities to pair with book group discussions](http://readingeverywhere.blogspot.com/2011/07/how-to-run-tween-book-group-part-3.html) . Posted by [Allison](https://www.blogger.com/profile/06628530227439660832) at [8:07 AM](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/06/how-to-run-tween-book-group-part-2.html) Labels: [book group](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/book%20group) , [librarianship](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/librarianship) ## Tuesday, June 14, 2011 ### [How to Run a Tween Book Group, Part 1](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/06/how-to-run-tween-book-group-part-1.html) The days are growing long and school is almost out... how to keep those young minds engaged in reading over the next few months? I've had great success running a book group for tweens as part of a library Summer Reading Program. Why summer? Running a book group during the summer gives it a low pressure, low commitment appeal for the participants. It's a time of the year when the tweens don't necessarily have too many other things going on, anyway. The book group is fun, and then it's over by the time their schedules get jam-packed again. Plus- and don't tell the tweens this!- summer is when they really need the brain exercise of reading a book and finding something to say about it. Why tweens? Your mileage may vary, but I find the middle school age group to be the most receptive to this kind of activity. They're old enough to read books with plenty of thought-provoking content, but not yet so self-conscious that they won't open up and talk in front of their peers. Does it work? You might think it would be hard to generate a sense of camaraderie among kids who only meet three times during the summer and then go their separate ways, but over three years of hosting a summer tween book group, I watched the so many of same kids come back to book group, growing taller each time they returned. For me, the ultimate affirmation that this book group format works was when one of our regulars delayed his family's out-of-state move by one day... just so he could attend his last book group meeting. Awwwww. What to read? Choose a book that will really engage the participants, something they would read for fun. Ideally, the book should foster discussion, but be fast-paced and gripping, and should have appeal to both male and female readers. Here are a few titles that have been a big hit with my tween book group: The Hunger Games , by Suzanne Collins Schooled , by Gordon Korman Rules , by Cynthia Lord Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie , by David Lubar Life As We Knew It , by Susan Beth Pfeffer The Lightning Thief , by Rick Riordan Next time: [what do tweens want from a book group](http://readingeverywhere.blogspot.com/2011/06/how-to-run-tween-book-group-part-2.html) ? Posted by [Allison](https://www.blogger.com/profile/06628530227439660832) at [10:12 AM](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/06/how-to-run-tween-book-group-part-1.html) Labels: [book group](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/book%20group) , [librarianship](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/librarianship) [Older Posts](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/book%20group?updated-max=2011-06-14T10:12:00-07:00&max-results=20&start=20&by-date=false) [Home](https://readingeverywhere.com/) Subscribe to: [Posts (Atom)](https://readingeverywhere.com/feeds/posts/default)