Haggist is responsible for the selection of books read during the sessions—with input from the readers, particularly BCB creative director Mathew Peter-Carter. While publishers have approached her to take on their titles, Haggist has preferred to choose independently and tries to pick titles that kids would not necessarily pick for themselves. She says: “We aim to balance classics and contemporary books, and generally look for something that’s beautifully writen, reads aloud well, and offers great discussion.” The discussions, which take place aſter the readings, offer the children the unique opportunit to cross-reference knowledge and make links to current affairs or something happening in one of their lives. But Haggist does applaud the how children’s publishers have expanded their repertoire and seem to be thinking about a number of audiences. She explains: “I remember seeing Anthony Horowitz at a festival in about 2007 and thinking that [with his Alex Rider series] he was one of the few authors out there really writing for and succeeding with boys. Now there is a plethora of book series that are turning boys into readers.”
Melissa Haggist founded the Book Club Bunch four years ago in an attempt to inspire her son and his male friends to become more engaged with books
This diversit of experience can be seen in titles on tap for future sessions, such as Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich’s upcoming If This Gets Out (Hachete Children’s), a queer YA romance focusing on the relationship of two members of America’s biggest boyband, who realise they will never have the support of their management. “It’s so important that children have the opportunit to consider the lived experiences reflected back at them in literature.” Though books are chosen primarily for story and character, many tackle weight issues in a subtle way: Onjali Q Raúf’s The Boy at the Back of the Class (Hachete Children’s) and Morris Gleitzman’s Boy Overboard (Penguin) have helped to instigate discussions on the migrant experience, and Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods (PRH Children’s) led to a talk about misogyny.
Of course, as a business based
on live performance and working within schools and bookshops, BCB had to pivot its model over the past 18 months. Fortunately, it had been experimenting with virtual content pre-pandemic, but during lockdowns BCB offering daily virtual book clubs for boys and girls to support working parents. “It was a very dynamic time and a steep learning curve, but it cemented the online book club offering,” says Haggist.
Pivoting in lockdown Last summer, BCB created a new product, almost 10 hours of online reading and discussions by senior readers, Peter-Carter and Alex White, of George Orwell’s
TheBookseller.com
We try to associate books with entertainment, relaxation and fun to create a desirability around reading that motivates young people
Melissa Haggist
Animal Farm. Haggist said: “It captures the energy and accessibilit yet elevated nature of our book clubs. We have been approached by a children’s video-on-demand service to license our vlogs, and we are hoping to record more of these for Key Stage 2.” Peter-Carter adds: “We’re looking to expand our age-range following the success of our Animal Farm club, so we’re looking to add some other classics, like Charlote Brontë’s Jane Eyre and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.” In a strange way, Peter-Carter suggests, the online expansion has been a boon for BCB. He says: “Our live concept has been proven many times over in schools, with our ‘clubbers’ and parents. But we maybe this will help us expand and reach all the children we would like to.” In the end, Peter-Carter loves how children respond positively to hearing a trained actor read out the books, and promises: “Nothing will encourage home independent reading quite like our readers ending on a cliff-hanger in the middle of a fantastic book.”
Book Club Bunch reads
If this Gets Out Sophie Gonzales & Cale Dietrich Hodder Children’s Books, £6.55, 9781444963793 On a whirlwind tour through Europe with an unrelenting schedule, boyband members Ruben and Zach come to rely on each other more and more, and their already close friendship evolves into a romance. Can they hold tight to each other when the whole world seems to want to come between them?
The Boy at the Back of the Class Onjali Q Raúf Orion Children’s Books, £7.99, 9781510105010 Told with heart and humour, The Boy at the Back of the Class is a child’s perspective on the refugee crisis, high- lighting the importance of friendship and kindness in a world that doesn’t always make sense. The novel won the Blue Peter Book Award and the Waterstones Chil- dren’s Book Prize.
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