If the bookshelves in the library looked empty and the pages of books appeared blank, freshman Blakely Copeland wouldn’t have found a love for reading and the book club wouldn’t exist. Reading impacted the lives of many students by creating connections and allowing them to escape to new worlds. For Copeland, a passion for reading started when she and her mom read together.
“One of the biggest things that got me into reading was in first grade when my mom read the first Harry Potter book to me,” Copeland said. “Reading is a way for me to relax and take my mind off of things that worry me.”
Copeland prefers to read fantasy books, and her favorite book is “Heir of Fire” by Sara J. Maas for its detailed writing and personable characters. Book club read a variety of genres including fantasy and mystery.
“I joined book club because I usually have no one to talk to about good books, and that is usually all you want to do after you finish one,” McKinley Hatch, 10, said. “[My favorite book is] Beautiful Creatures because it was the first book series I read that made me actually want to pick up another book.”
Book club met on Tuesdays after school to discuss their selected book. Books they read included “Divine Rivals” by Rebbeca Ross and “The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelides. Book club member Julianne Rouse, 10, loved book club for the people and environment.
“We read all different types of books in book club. It really just depends on what we are feeling on that meeting day when we pick the next book,” Rouse said. “Whether it’s about the books or just how we have been doing lately, it’s really nice to just have that time once a week.”
The sponsor of book club, Ms. Mackenzie Blank, also enjoys reading. She chose to sponsor book club to provide students with a safe space and group of peers to explore new topics and share their experiences with.
“Books impact my life by exposing me to stories that I would otherwise not encounter. I am able to learn and empathize with experiences and people that I have never actually met,” Ms. Blank said. “I can then apply this empathy and understanding in my life. Books have the power to shape who we are and show us who we want to be.”
Much like Copeland, Ms. Blank’s love for reading sparked at a young age when her mom read the “Harry Potter” books to her.
“If I had never read ‘A Court of Thorns and Roses,’ I would have never discovered the type of books that I like to read and I wouldn’t read as voraciously as I do,” Copeland said. “Reading is so important not only for the mind but for the soul.”
