Books Rule in Middle School
(BRIMS)
2016-17
BRiMS is a book group made up of students in grades 6th and 7th who love books and reading. Meetings are held on the last Wednesday of the month during lunch, and a special snack is provided. BRiMS was formed on February 29, 2012.
Meeting Dates and topics for each meeting:
August 31st -- Share the best book that you read over the summer break.
September 27th -- Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper
November 3rd -- Meet author Jewell Parker Rhodes and read one of her books
November 30th -- Skype with Between Shades of Gray author, Ruta Sepetys
January 24th -- Read a book with a character who might be a bestie or a frenemy.
February 22nd -- Lost in the Sun by Lisa Graff
March 29th -- What are you favorite genres to read?
May 17th -- End of the year meeting, plan for next year
August 31st -- Share the best book that you read over the summer break.
September 27th -- Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper
November 3rd -- Meet author Jewell Parker Rhodes and read one of her books
November 30th -- Skype with Between Shades of Gray author, Ruta Sepetys
January 24th -- Read a book with a character who might be a bestie or a frenemy.
February 22nd -- Lost in the Sun by Lisa Graff
March 29th -- What are you favorite genres to read?
May 17th -- End of the year meeting, plan for next year
May 17, 2017BRiMS consisted of more 7th graders than 6th graders. Next year, these 7th graders will join Bookmarked Junior Edition, and there will be only two returning students to BRiMS. The current group was asked for recommendations for next year's book group. Here are some of their suggestions: read a book by Rick Riordan, read Stan Lee's Zodiac Legacy, in November read an historical fiction set in the early 1900s, read a book with a very dark theme and some violence, read a sci fi like the Neptune Project, read a book with a female protagonist for March's Women's History Month, read a novel in verse for April's National Poetry Month, and choose a book set in alternate universes or written with alternating voices. No matter what we read, it will be another lively year of reading and talking about good books.
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March 29, 2017
For this group meeting, the members shared which genres were their favorite/s. One student is a big fan of non-fiction. He likes it because he wants to know everything, he finds out about real events, and he is able to follow whatever interests him at the time like learning all about World War I. A lot of the students love mysteries because they like to find out what happens while the characters are trying to figure it out, too. A small group loves teen issues about real life problems with John Green being one of their very favorite authors. A very few are into the creepy and read as much horror as possible. One student said that dystopia novels are cool. Fantasy was mentioned as a fav, also by a couple of students. It seems their reading habits are all over the map. That is why the fiction section of the library needs to be so large. It needs to meet the interests of 100s of students.
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February 22, 2017
January 24, 2017
November 30, 2016
November 3, 2016
September 27, 2016
Two years ago a Donor's Choose grant brought 30 copies of Sharon Draper's book to the shelves of the library for BRiMS. That group loved the book so much that it seemed worth a read for the 2016-17 members. This current group fell in love with Melody just like before. Students felt assured that they would befriend Melody if she was in their class, and they did not understand how her classmates could treat her so cruelly. Of course, we never know how we will respond in new situations, but how wonderful that this book could bring out the empathy from so many. This book is a true winner for middle school.
August 31, 2016
Students met for BRiMS today and were asked to bring in a book to share that they read and loved from this past summer. Some brought the book that they read for summer reading. That was cool. Others found books at their local library or books that they had on their shelves at home. Some highlights were Nimona by Noelle Stevenson. The character of Nimona is great because of her shape shifting ability and her evil tendencies. Students felt the book ended without full resolution, and they would like to see a part two. Several book to movie adaptions were discussed. The Fifth Wave by Richard Yancey has a very likable narrator. The 101 Dalmations book by Dodie Smith was liked because it included more humor and details than the movie. Of course, a book discussion about summer reads would not be complete without discussing Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Not one of the 30 members thought it was the best book they read this summer, but they did like the plot and all of its twists and turns. One member lamented how short it was and that it only took him four hours to read it. This group of thirty students are readers and seem to love the chance to talk books.