Books Rule in Middle School
(BRIMS)
2018-19
BRiMS 2017-18 BRiMS 2016-2017 BRiMS 2015-2016 BRiMS 2014-2015 BRiMS 2013-2014 BRiMS 2012-2013 BRiMS 2011-2012
Members 2018-19
BRiMS is a group of 6th and 7th graders who love books and reading. Meetings are held during the last week of the month at lunch time, and a special snack is always provided. BRiMS was formed on February 29, 2012.
Meeting Dates and topics:
August 30th -- Tell the group about the last book you read that you loved
September 27th -- The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
October 25th -- Paperboy by Vince Vawter
November 14th -- Virtual visit with Liesl Shurtliff, author of Rump, Jack, Red, and Grump
December 19th -- Plan the theme and/or books for March and April
January 29th -- Read a fiction book in diary format
February 28th -- One for the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
April 4th -- Dystopian Fiction
April 25th -- Read a book about a heritage not your own to celebrate the many cultural traditions at our school
August 30th -- Tell the group about the last book you read that you loved
September 27th -- The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
October 25th -- Paperboy by Vince Vawter
November 14th -- Virtual visit with Liesl Shurtliff, author of Rump, Jack, Red, and Grump
December 19th -- Plan the theme and/or books for March and April
January 29th -- Read a fiction book in diary format
February 28th -- One for the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
April 4th -- Dystopian Fiction
April 25th -- Read a book about a heritage not your own to celebrate the many cultural traditions at our school
April 4, 2019
Dystopian fiction is very popular at Taylor. Students explained why they liked it. First, it usually involves adventure, and they like books with fast-paced stories. They explained that reading this type of story makes you thankful for what you have. One student likes the way it relates to real life, and these type of books show that if changes don't happen society could fall apart. Some of the titles that they liked were Gone by Michael Grant, Legend by Marie Lu, and The List by Patricia Forde. Some of the students are reading Lord of the Flies in English and liked that it had a similar theme to Gone where the kids have to govern themselves without adults. The Maze Runner which is very popular in this library was not liked by a member who thought it was just too slow for her. Students really like the discussions in BRiMS where we discuss different books by genre.
January 29, 2019
Reading a book in a diary format often is a fun and fast read. Think about the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. BRiMS members found a variety of titles available in the library in this format. Though the discussion got a bit off target, having a chance to have a voice is important. During this book group time it may not always mean talking about books, but it does mean getting a chance to have an adult and your peers listen to you with respect.
February 26, 2019
The focus of this meeting was suppose to be Hunt's book, One for the Murphys. Only a handful of members finished the book though more read part of it. The students expained that it just wasn't the type of book that they liked. It is realistic fiction about a girl who has to go into a foster home because her step dad injured her and put her mother into the hospital for three months. This was a highly acclaimed book but just these students' cup of tea. Then the discussion moved on to a topic in which all members could relate. What makes a book good? Action was the first thing mentioned, and that is one of the reasons why One for the Murphys was not so appealing; it was slow moving. BRiMS members also want the characters to be relatable, and Ms. Kahn added to that saying that she wants at least one character to be likeable. They also want something to look forward to, or they want the book to have questions that need to be answered by the end. That is why they said they liked mysteries so much. Also, a journey was something that many want to read about which is why fantasy was mentioned as a favorite. Book group is suppose to be for every reader, so the discussions need to take the form of topics that make for good listening and active talking by everyone.
December 19, 2018
Usually in December BRiMS does not meet. Since the topics for the March and April meetings were not set and student voice is important, the group met so that they could give input on the books and/or genres for the future meetings. They decided that they wanted choice. For March, they chose to read a dystopian novel which is a favorite genre of many. The group went round and round on what should be the focus of April and finally came up with something that they could all agree on. Each member will read a book about a protagonist who has a different heritage than their own.
November 14, 2018
This meeting was planned before there were many items on the school calendar. Unfortuantely, the day that families eat at school was also scheduled for the same day as this virtual visit with author, Liesl Shurtliff, was planned. The biggest downside was that some members missed talking to the author because the lunch line was so long. For those who attended, they got to listen Shurtliff explain how she was trained in musical theatre. When she had her kids and was home with them, she began to get the bug to write. Her training in the theatre gave her the skills to understand character, setting, and plot. She spent 15 years honing those skills before she published a book. The students are fans of her fairy tale books: Rump, Red, Jack, and Grump. They had many questions to ask her that were specific to a particular book. She was so gracious to answer all of them. It was another great author visit that students will remember for a long time. To see more pictures visit the author visit page on this website.
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October 25, 2018
We read Paperboy by Vince Vawter for this meeting. Many students seemed to be turned off by the book because the beginning moved too slow for them. Others said that the slower pace fit the mood of the story. For those who made it through to the end of the book had a chance to catch the action-filled and breath catching conclusion of the story. The gruesome ending caught some of the readers off guard because it was so unexpected. The discussion veered away from the book to include all members as students who do not read the selected book are encouraged to attend the meeting.
September 27, 2018
BRiMS read The Girl who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill for the September meeting. As the group discussed the book, they could not decide on their favorite character because there were so many amazing characters in this book, and everyone seemed to have a different favorite. While reading it, we were all waiting to find out how the different threads were going to intersect at the end. The fact that so many characters had to find resolution at the very end made this book so engaging and helped keep everyone on track to find out what happens. Yes, the students were glad about the happy ending but maybe also a little sad that there will be no need for a sequel.
August 30, 2018A new year and a new set of group members in the middle school book group met to discuss what they like and don't like in the books that they have read. For this first meeting, the group discussed a book that they loved not just liked. The students were given the task of saying what they loved about the book without retelling the story or giving away any plot points. A number of students exclaimed their love for historical fiction novels because there is a true story behind the fiction, and the titles mentioned included Salt to the Sea by Sepetys and Alex & Eliza by de la Cruz as well as The Boy on the Wooden Box by Leyson which is a non-fiction title. Several liked the point of view of a book including the funny title. A Dog's Purpose by Cameron. Other funny titles mentioned were the Mr. Lemoncello's Library series by Grabenstein, The Fairy Tale Reform School series by Calonita, and the Magnus Chase series by Riordan. It is going to be a great year!
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