The library is well-equipped with an abundance of books littering the wooden shelves, but they all would be rendered useless without the devout readership of local bibliophiles. One might ask what makes a bibliophile? Is it the self-indulgent desire to become lost in the beauty of the written word? Is it the intense craving to immerse oneself into another world? To the school book club, PWSH Reads, it is the thought-provoking discussion that follows finishing an epic novel that truly inspires a love for books.

“I love arguing over what we think about books,” senior Eric Lee said. “It opens me up to reading a more diverse selection than what I had considered before.”

Lee is not the only one who recognizes the benefits of being involved in book club. Junior Grace Watkins also enjoys the banter and exposure to new ideas.

“We tend to be pretty fun people who have strong opinions about things,” Watkins said. “The arguments can get intense. It’s not necessarily stuff that you are going to agree with, but it may impact your perspective.”

Watkins first fell in love with words when she was only six year old and she attributes her inspiration to an unlikely source.

“I was obsessed with Scooby Doo,” Watkins said. “I watched it incessantly. I got so scared of everything, and I started reading to try and get my mind off of it. I became hooked.”

While Watkins’ love for books began at an early age, junior Mya Finister’s love for books sprung up as a byproduct of Sustained Silent Reading (SSR) in sixth grade and evolved with the help of PWSH Reads.

“I started reading series and books by the same author and it became an addiction for me,” Finister said.

Though she is more quiet, Finister enjoys using this forum to interact with other personality types.

“Everyone in book club is pretty sociable,” Finister said, “but I’m better at listening to the discussions and getting recommendations than participating. I like it.”

A full schedule of meeting dates for PWSH Reads can be found on the bookmarks located on the librarian and sponsor, Laura Blankenship’s desk.

“Ms. Blankenship has these reading challenges we can do,” Watkins said. “The current one is to read something written in the last year. ‘New Year, New Book,’ is what I think she’s calling it. There are no assignments, just challenges you can do if you want.”

Watkins encourages anyone who enjoys lively debate and conversation to take part in the club on Tuesdays after school.

“It’s good if you love books, but contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be crazy about them,” Watkins said. “It’s pretty much a discussion club. We’re in it to make friends and express our opinions.”

Recommendations from PWSH Reads

Title: The School for Good and Evil

Author: Soman Chainani

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Description: In the village of Gavaldon, two children are chosen every four years. One is chosen to attend the prestigious School of Good and one to attend the School of Evil. Follow the newest selections, best friends Sophie and Agatha, as they find their true selves.

Title: Young Elites

Author: Marie Lu

Genre: Young Adult Dark Fantasy

Description: This book follows Adelina Amouteru, a deeply disturbed and innately powerful survivor of the blood fever. She is recruited by the Young Elites, a gang of fellow survivors who developed unbelievable abilities resulting from the disease. In a world where supernatural or otherworldly powers are feared and disgraced, Adelina has suffered all her life. Now, as she discovers her strength, she prepares to exact her revenge.

Title: Partials

Author: Dan Wells

Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction

Description: A well-written survival story following the decimation of planet Earth and the majority of the human race, Partials adds a unique spin to the typical post apocalyptic tale by focusing on how morality is based off of perspective.