Click on the link below to vote for your ten favorite books!
BVMS Galley Book Club
Our library has been chosen as one of twenty library groups across the country to be a part of a teen book club in conjunction with the Johnson County Library and YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association.) Students participating in the book club will be asked to read galley copies of books (books that have not yet been published), engage in monthly discussions, provide well thought out reviews, and submit these reviews online independently. After submitting their reviews, students will be able to keep the galley copy for their own personal use.
Our book club, along with the other nineteen national groups, will nominate books that will become part of the YALSA Teen Top Ten Titles for the year. This is a huge opportunity for students to read pre-published books and have a chance to see their input be part of the publishing process. Two students in past book clubs have had their reviews printed on the back of the books and publishers have changed design covers based on reviews and recommendations.
Month book club meetings will take place in the library during lunchtime with Mr. Hume and Ms. Rinne from the Stanley branch of the Johnson County Library facilitating the discussion. Students will be given a choice as to what book they would like to read and review. Popular books that have be reviewed in the past as part of this program include:
Naturals by Jennifer Smith
Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare
A Death-Struck Year by Makiia Lucier
Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
The Kill Order by James Dashner
The Young Elites by Marie Lu
The galley copies that are sent by publishers to be reviewed have not been pre-read or reviewed prior to the students selecting them. They will be books that are categorized as teen/young adult books, however, they may contain mature language/content, violence, or other controversial material. If a student feels uncomfortable at any point while reading one of these books, he/she is welcome to return it and exchange it for a different one. You are also welcome to pre-read any of your child’s choices and/or exchange it if you do not approve of the content.
As a participant of the Galley Book Club, you will be able to earn community service hours for your time spent reading (2 hours for each book read), attending the lunches (.5 hours for each lunch meeting), and writing reviews (.5 hours for each written review). This would be a total of 3 hours earned for every book completed.
Because of the possibility of different Gating Procedures (distance vs. hybrid vs. full attendance) meeting dates will be decided on a month by month basis but will be announced to students at least two weeks in advance. I intend to hold meetings the last week of the month. Please make sure you join the Galley Canvas class at BVMS Galley Club to receive announcements about the class.
Please go fill out this online form to provide information about yourself to the Galley Club Galley Club Information Form
Thank you for allowing your child to participate in this exciting opportunity. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions at wehume@bluevalleyk12.org or at (913) 239-5110
Sincerely,
Bill Hume
BVMS Library Media Specialist
Follow this link to a spreadsheet that shows all of the galley club books that are currently available. If you find a book that appeals to you, place your name in the yellow column next to the title of the book and we will make arrangements for you to pick up the book at the front desk of BVMS.
