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 Kaya Morgan’s Crowning Achievement by Jill Tew.

For as long as she could remember, Kaya Morgan has spent her summers with her dad at the greatest place on Earth: The Renaissance Faire. Full of performers cosplaying as thieving pirates, enchanting fairies, and courageous heroes, the Ren Faire has always been a place where anyone could be anything they wanted to be. And for as long as she could remember, Kaya and her dad have dreamed of her someday being named the first Black Queen of the Faire.

Unfortunately for the last two summers, Kaya has been known as something else: the girl with the dead dad. But she’s not going to let anyone stop her from taking her place as the Queen’s apprentice (the first step on her journey towards Queen). But when the role is given to the pretty and blonde Jessie, the only spot left for Kaya is the Court Jester (who doesn’t even come with a crown).

It’s bad enough that it’s another summer at the Ren Faire without her dad, and that her family thinks her love of medieval times is weird. But with everyone around Kaya determined to put her in a role she doesn’t want to be in, Kaya must decide whether to hold onto her old dreams no matter what, or realize that it’s okay for new dreams to become reality.

The May 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, May 24th, at 4 PM, for the book discussion.