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Community Corner

Canton Library sponsors Teen Book Club

Don't just read about book clubs - join one!

Last October, Libby Bush, a senior at , wondered how to pull together of group of like-minded teens for a book discussion group.

“I’ve always loved reading and I’ve read books or seen movies where girls are in book clubs, so I approached the library about it,” Bush said. 

embraced the idea and set to work providing the necessary resources. Library staffer Shana Morales was selected to be the staff moderator.

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The group is currently discussing “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky. Published in 1999, the story is of an awkward boy – a wallflower – and how he makes friends and deals with many of the issues that teenagers face. Next up is “The Glass Castle” by Jeannette Walls – a gritty memoir about a dysfunctional family.

Another future discussion will center around each participant reading and discussing a favorite childhood story. The group ambitiously plans to cover a lot of literary ground – fiction, non-fiction, adult, teen, classics and poetry. The library makes copies of the book available to anyone who wants to read, either by purchasing extra copies or borrowing them via inter-library loan from other locations.

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“I was really surprised by how much the teens wanted to talk about the books,” Morales said. As a young member of the library staff, Morales makes recommendations for additions to the Young Adult/Teen section.

“The teen section is something that I’m very passionate about,” Morales said.

The group, comprising about nine teens, meets on the third Saturday of the month at present, with times decided by consensus.

Kelsey Poe has been to every session.

“This is a good way for me to read books that I like, and be able to talk about them,”  she said. 

“I like the exposure to books that I might not otherwise read,” said Dani Kerr, who appreciates the recommendations from friends in the group.

They are seeking more members, though, to round out the group. They  encourage any area high schooler who is interested to drop by the library and give it a try. The group keeps in contact through a Facebook page: Canton Public Library Teen Book Club.

 Bush said she enjoyed reading the “The Perks of Being a Wallflower.”

“The book is written as a series of letters,” she said, “and I thought that the character was really funny. I could sympathize with him.”

Refreshments are common enticements at the gatherings, with a plate of cookies emerging at a recent session. Even if you haven’t finished reading the book, you can still join the group in discussing the portions you have read.

For information, call the library at 860-693-5800 or check out the Facebook page for the next meeting.

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