Photo by Reese Mallett

McKinley Hatch, 11, works in AP Biology. McKinley helped start the after school Book Club with friends.

Walking into the classroom prepared to share her thoughts and opinions about her most recent read, junior McKinley Hatch joins in with her friends to start the Book Club meeting.

“Book Club has helped me open myself up to more reading. I used to read, but not as much as I do now that I’m in Book Club,” Hatch said. “It’s encouraged me to not just read for myself but to talk to other people about it.”

Attending Book Club provides Hatch with an opportunity to explore her love of reading. In Book Cub she reads books from all genres and books that include many different themes.

”I read [Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides] for a week, it was so good,” Hatch said. “It was a mystery book, and it had me on the edge of my seat until the very end.”

Book Club chooses books that all members agree to read and discuss. Sometimes members enjoy the books, but individuals dislike the books at times. Hatch experiences this when reading fantasy novels such as “Divine Rivals” by Rebecca Ross.

“I didn’t want to read [Divine Rivals] at all, but Katie, Julianne and Emily were pushing me to read it because they liked it so much,” Hatch said. “And so that’s when I [decided to read it]. I’m one to not finish books, but they helped me finish that book.”

Hatch counts on her friends and the Book Club sponsor, Ms. MacKenzie Blank, just as much as they can count on her. She comes to the meetings prepared and ready to assist the club with whatever needs to be done.

“She brings a positive attitude. To be excited to go read like on [her] own for fun is just great for me to see,” Ms. Blank said. “I think it brings up everyone’s mood in the Book Club, [Hatch’s] excitement and happiness kind of spreads.”

Hatch partnered with her friends to create the Book Club. She assists the Book Club by acting as a buffer between the people in the club who have any type of disagreement.

“If there’s ever strife, or struggling to find a date where everyone can meet, or struggling to pick a book that everyone is interested in, she’s kind of always like a mediator,” Ms. Blank said. “She’s doing her best to make everyone happy, and make sure that everyone feels like they’re still welcome and having a good time.”

Hatch tries to step out of her comfort zone when reading by choosing to read books she would not usually pick up to read.

“I’m most excited to read fantasy,” Hatch said. “I’m trying to branch out and read out of my comfort zone into different genres.” 

The book club allows Hatch to share her thoughts and opinions with like-minded peers and friends.

“I feel like it’s just a way for me to get with my friends after school because I don’t see them [in school],” Hatch said. “I feel like it’s a social gathering, it doesn’t feel like a club. It feels like friends getting together.”