Book Club Behind the Scenes: Philippines Edition 2/5
Part Two of Five: The Books
Welcome to Book Club Behind the Scenes! In this guest post series, we’ll get a glimpse into how others are running their book clubs. I hope these insights inspire you to find what works best for your own space and create a book club experience that feels just right for you.
Happy reading!
The book is a crucial component in conducting a book club. The journey in selecting a book starts with reading.
Two years ago, most of the kids in our group were between the ages of 8 and 12; now they are between 10 and 14. So, a middle-grade novel is appropriate. As C.S. Lewis said, “A children’s story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children’s story in the slightest.” This wisdom helps guide me in finding a middle-grade novel that will appeal to our group, as well as one that I personally enjoy.
During the prereading phase of selecting a book, I use a variety of sources to gather ideas, and Reshelving Alexandria is one of them. A shared book list from a trusted source gives me a solid starting point.
Because I live overseas, my connection to the wonderful public library system in the U.S. is through the Libby app and my beloved Paperwhite Kindle. At this stage, I read almost exclusively on my Kindle. Since it’s the cheapest and fastest way to access books, it helps me filter which ones I enjoy and which ones I don’t from my initial list. At this phase, I’m simply enjoying the book.
At least six months before the event, I choose a book. This lead time is essential since we purchase books overseas and need to account for shipping. Knowing our book choices ahead of time also allows us to watch for sales. The goal is to have the book in everyone’s hands at least two months before we meet.
At this stage, I review the list of books I’ve pre-read, considering the quality of the writing, the appropriateness of the content, and the enjoyment of the story. To a limited extent, I try to choose books that will appeal to both boys and girls and that take place in different parts of the world. Additionally, when selecting specific books, I aim for a variety of genres. Interests and preferences are unique—you can’t choose a book that everyone will love, but you can provide variety in the hope that if one book doesn’t connect with a reader, the next one might.
Here are the books we’ve read over the last two years in our book club.
Each family reads the book differently. Some read it aloud together as a family, while others have their older kids read it independently. My kids usually listen to the audiobook. To cut costs, some families even share books, taking turns reading and passing them along.
Personally, I prefer to have a physical copy when I re-read. It allows me to jot down notes, highlight favorite quotes, and easily flip back for ideas as I plan. But I’ll share more about the mechanics in the next post.
Up Next in Series: The Mechanics
Kids’ Book Club Series:
The Books
The Mechanics
The Content
The Pairings
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