How to Host a Book Club for Reader-ly Middle Schoolers

In the last few years, I've noticed a trend on Instagram. My feed has been flooded with wonderfully curated pictures of poetry tea times and book adventure clubs hosted by area libraries, homeschool co-ops, or even just individual families. These posts usually start with some kind of convincing preamble like, "Do you have a child who doesn't like reading? Wanna get them hooked? All you have to do is host a monthly book experience to encourage even the most reluctant of readers to keep turning pages."

I applaud those who host over-the-top book-ish gatherings complete with games, snacks, and crafts that coordinate with the themes of the book. I did that in our co-op for years because I found great value in building a shared experience around the pages of a book. I still do.