St. Michael's kids set up book club

Emily Puetz

Seventh-grader Emily Puetz likes to read. She also likes to discuss with other kids the books she reads. The solution: start an after-school book club.

Emily was one St. Michael's Catholic School students who asked if they could set up such a book discussion club. School librarian Angie Meyer liked the idea. She sent out a note asking seventh and eighth graders if they liked the idea.

Now, Emily and 15 classmates meet twice a month to discuss a book they've all read.

Twelve-year-old Emily said, "I like to read for pleasure. I like to discuss the book with others to get their perspective. I also like to see what books others enjoy."

Sometimes the kids make their book club selection. Other times, they decide to read a book librarian Meyer has recommended.

David Walter

And sometimes they pick a book just because Ms. Meyer didn't like it.

Last month, the club discussed one of those "don't like" books, "The Rag and Bone Shop," by Robert Cormier. Ms. Meyer told the kids, "It's a bad book."

After reading and discussing the book, 12-year-old David Walter thinks the librarian might have been right.

He said the book is about a boy falsely accused of killing a small girl. The boy is finally found to be innocent (the girl's older brother did the killing.) But, the book ends with the boy setting out with a knife for revenge against the bully who falsely accused him.

David said, "I liked the boy at the beginning but not at the end. He kind of turned evil."

Jeffery Strader

David said he likes to read fiction, fantasy and "sometimes horror" books. He admits that sometimes his reading makes it a little hard to get to sleep at night.

This year, the St. Michael's kids added a parent-kid dimension to their reading.

A kid and at least one of his parents agreed to read the same book. Then, last month, they gathered at the school for a night discussion.

The book was "Touching Spirit Bear," by Ben Mikaelsen. It's about a boy who is sentenced to live in exile alone on an island and try to get control of his violent anger. It's an example of "circle justice," where a person who commits a crime has to participate in his or her own rehabilitation.

Emily Puetz and her mother, Susan, were among those that led the parent-kid discussion.

Sara Paynter

But, Emily admitted, "'Touching Spirit Bear' wasn't my favorite. It was kind of confusing."

Twelve-year-old Jeffery Strader said he and his dad, Pete, were the ones who read the book at his home. He said, "My dad is a fast reader but I read slow to get as much as I can out of the reading."

Jeffery said he likes fantasy books like the Harry Potter and Lemony Snickett series. "But, I'm open to everything," he said. He said he often ends up reading more than one book at the same time.

Twelve-year-old Sara Paynter said she likes historic fiction centered around World War II. One of the books she's read was "Numbering the Stars," which involves Jewish kids being hidden from the Germans during the war.

She said she joined the book discussion club because "I thought it would be fun to see what other people thought of the books."

Gabrielle Pfyl

Twelve-year-old Gabrielle Pfyl said she joined the book club because "I thought I'd get more out of the books when they were discussed."

Most of the kids in the book club take part in lots of other activities. For instance, Gabrielle played soccer, basketball and volleyball and is in a chess club.

She also said she's planning to be a lawyer when she grows up. "I'm good at arguing," the seventh grader said.

Jeffery takes part in swim team in the summer and is going to re-start his karate lessons. He also likes acting and singing. "I've done that since I was seven," he said. He said he hopes to have a career in the theater.

Sara takes part in sports and also is in chess and genealogy clubs. She hopes to have an interior design career. "I love to change a room to make it better," she said.

She redecorated her room after getting drapery material, a new chair and pillows for Christmas. "Then, I helped my dad re-paint the room," she said.