Course Description

If you are a 6th - 8th grader and love to read, discuss and explore literature, then this is the book club for you! In this course, we will read Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson. Gather together with other students to discuss this touching and powerful story from award-winning author Jacqueline Woodson. Book Synopsis: Raised in South Carolina and New York, Woodson always felt halfway home in each place. In vivid poems, she shares what it was like to grow up as an African American in the 1960s and 1970s, living with the remnants of Jim Crow and her growing awareness of the Civil Rights movement. Touching and powerful, each poem is both accessible and emotionally charged, each line a glimpse into a child’s soul as she searches for her place in the world. Woodson’s eloquent poetry also reflects the joy of finding her voice through writing stories, despite the fact that she struggled with reading as a child. Her love of stories inspired her and stayed with her, creating the first sparks of the gifted writer she was to become. Students will each be given a specific role which will guide the weekly discussion in response to what they have read. You may talk about events and characters in the book, the author's craft, or personal experiences related to the story. Literature circles provide a way for students to engage in critical thinking and reflection as they read, discuss, and respond to books. NOTE: This course will require the student to have a copy of the book and to complete the assigned reading each week and come prepared to each session ready for discussion and fulfilling his/her assigned role within the group.

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