Middle School Lunchtime Book Club A Smashing Success

DOUGLAS COUNTY, GA — A lunchtime book club is igniting a passion for reading in Mason Creek Middle School students. Media Specialist Jennifer Baker’s lunchtime book club last year kicked off last year with the book "Wonder" in anticipation of the movie version of the story. The book club proved so popular that Baker has made it a regular school day activity.

The Lunch Bunch Book Club is open to the first 15 students in each grade level who sign up when she announces the new book. Students meet every Tuesday and Thursday during lunch for a lively discussion about the current reading. Sixth-grade students are currently reading "The Homework Machine" by Dan Gutman. As part of their recent book conversations, they discussed what they would invent if they could create anything. One student suggested a microwave that would freeze instead of heating up. Ms. Baker challenges students to continue to think more critically, and often asks about good and bad decisions made by the book’s characters.

One of Baker's favorite books from book club is "The Bully." Baker says in this popular young adult title, "Students learn what it must feel like to be the new kid in school and be bullied," said Baker. "Reading novels like this can help develop empathy in students."

(For more news like this, sign up for Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news in Douglasville — or other neighborhoods. Access Patch on the go with our iPhone app or our brand new app for Android phone users.)

Although most students in the Lunch Bunch Book Club are eager readers, others are just learning to enjoy books. "I want any student who is interested in signing up for book club," said Baker. "We read a wide variety, and I don't want anyone to feel intimidated."

Sixth-grader Kailah Weaver says she enjoys spending her lunchtime engrossed in lively discussions about good books: “I like coming to book club and reading books that have amazing adventures."

In addition to holding book club meetings during lunch, the school organizes "Mason Creek Movie Meet Up" times for any student to meet and enjoy a movie together. So far fellow book lovers have viewed the movies "Wonder" and "A Wrinkle in Time." Seventh and eighth graders in the book club are currently reading "A Bridge to Terabithia."

Photos courtesy Douglas County School System