2014 Session H01: Book Clubs 

The book club will take place online and in-person. There will be one class meeting per book, including a two hour class discussion and activities. At the end of each week, students will receive a narrative evaluation of their writing which will detail what they can improve upon and what they are doing well.

Students will be challenged to take their reading comprehension to the next level, moving from an understanding of the plot to a deeper understanding of the abstract themes, internal and external conflicts, and how the narrative is crafted by the author.

Even if your child has read the selected book once, we suggest enrolling in the course to enhance close reading and literary analysis skills. The Book Club is designed to take readers to the next level by learning to “think like a writer” and “analyze like a literary critic.”

The Book Clubs compliments other English Language Arts Programs at Avid Academy for Gifted Youth.

How much work is required in the course?

Each week, one novel is assigned. In addition to reading the novel closely, students will participate in an online discussion forum and be required to answer at least three discussion questions. Students will respond to a writing prompt in an online blog entry. Finally, they will use the wiki to choose relevant direct quotes and post their interpretation of the quote. These assignments will be completed before the in-class discussion on Saturdays. 

Book Selections

The selected books for the course include award-winners (including Newbery Medalists and Honor Books, Printz Award winners, and American Library Association Best Books), classics, and books recommended by local school districts. 

• H01C - Book Club 5 for Grades 4 - 6 (Saturdays, 1:00 - 3:00 PM)
• H01D - Book Club 7 for Grades 6 - 8 (Saturdays, 3:15 - 5:15 PM)

Tuition and Fees

Students must attend at least 4 face-to-face sessions.  If you are unable to attend a class in-person, you can still read the book and join the online discussion and submit your work online.  However, you do not need to pay the tuition for in-person classes. 

• Return Students - $300
• New Students - $350

How to Register?

• Click Register Now! below to register online
• Send payment to Avid Academy within 5 days to complete the registration

Please make checks payable to Avid Academy and send to Avid Academy for Gifted Youth, 4199 Campus Drive, Suite 260, Irvine, CA 92612. We only accept cash or check as methods of payment.