Good Books Young Troublemakers Book Club for Middle School Students

“Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.” – Congressman & civil rights activist John Lewis

SPONSOR A MONTH OF GOOD BOOKS YOUNG TROUBLEMAKERS! HERE

Good Books Young Troublemakers is a book club where middle school-aged kids read great books and practice speaking up. In GBYT, we create a space for participants to reflect on identity, privilege, and power, and offer tools and practice opportunities to help prepare them to use their voices to respond to moments of injustice, both small and large. In short, we help them learn how to engage in “good trouble”!

Interested in donating to Good Books Young Troublemakers? Every donation is put towards advancing the Good Books Young Troublemakers mission of using stories to help kids develop empathy, become confident allies, and engage in good trouble.

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Not only are books fun, but some stories can also help us learn how to think about injustice, use our voices–and be good troublemakers! Join Jamet and Lou to chat about The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman by Gennifer Choldenko.

When eleven-year-old Hank’s mom doesn’t come home, he takes care of his toddler sister, Boo, like he always does. But it’s been a week now. They are out of food and mom has never stayed away this long… Hank knows he needs help, so he and Boo seek out the stranger listed as their emergency contact.

But asking for help has consequences. It means social workers, and a new school, and having to answer questions about his mom that he’s been trying to keep secret. And if they can’t find his mom soon, Hank and Boo may end up in different foster homes–he could lose everything.

Gennifer Choldenko has written a heart-wrenching, healing, and ultimately hopeful story about how complicated family can be. About how you can love someone, even when you can’t rely on them. And about the transformative power of second chances.

The April book club pick was sponsored by a community member. But you are welcome to pick up a free copy, purchase a copy to read, or grab it from the library, and join us at Dog-Eared Books, Saturday, April 26th, at 4 PM, for the book discussion.