Fall 2023 Book Clubs
PacPrep book clubs go beyond the ordinary; they are interactive, communal, and seriously fun! Moreover, each group offers exclusive, private visits from the book's author.
If your child is eager to make new friends within their age group, engage in book discussions and conversations, and foster their critical thinking abilities and creativity in a fun and cozy setting, we encourage you to enroll your child in this 6-week virtual book club. The PacPrep facilitator will guide the students through dynamic instruction, even leading them through games and activites that spark engagement and collaboration. By the end of the series, each student will have met a published author —how cool is that?!
While we have respective grade bands outlined for each book, please feel free to review excerpts (using the links) to determine the best fit for your child. The cost to participate is just $25, which includes 6 full weeks of classes, the author visit, and a signed copy. Registration for fall 2023 book clubs is now closed.
October 2nd - November 10th (6 weeks)
Brisco: Life As A Therapy Dog
2nd & 3rd Grades | Wednesdays 2:00-2:45pm PDT / 5:00-5:45pm EDT
About The Author
Author Margot Bennett lives in Cary, North Carolina. She enjoys playing the drums, but only to the best listeners ever —her dogs! She has worked on a therapy dog team for over 10 years, raising 10 service dogs along the way. She brings a special guest to her author visits- can you guess who?
PacPrep Facilitator
DJ Ruggiero (they/them/she) is an animal lover! DJ’s pets regularly make appearances in their class sessions and they use that to not only connect with their students, but “geek out” about books, helping stories come to life.
Little Monarchs
3rd, 4th, and 5th Grades | Tuesdays 4:00-4:45pm PDT / 7:00-7:45pm EDT
About the Author
Jonathan Case, author of Little Monarchs, says he can’t trust people who choose cake over pie! He firmly believes that art takes time, and, “good comics are the most wondrous and work-intensive creation that an individual human being can produce.” He brings his passion for art to each of his author visits. He lives in Silverton, Oregon.
PacPrep Faciliator
Tracy Johnston (she/her/hers) is an experienced educator, bringing her love for adventure into everything she does. She naturally weaves art, current events, and social-emotional learning into her lessons, sparking creativity and compassion along the way. In her spare time, she can be found enjoying ultrarunning and beach time with her family.
IVELIZ EXPLAINS IT ALL
6th, 7th, and 8th Grades | Wednesdays 4:00-4:45pm PDT / 7:00-7:45pm EDT
About the Author
Author Andrea Beatriz Arango lives in Charlottesville, Virginia and finds that the more books she reads, the better of a writer she becomes. She enjoys volunteering with a wildlife rehab center, and especially loves opossums! Andrea also shares that she loves roleplaying games such as Dungeons & Dragons. She even says, “the weirder the better!”
PacPrep Facilitator
Joyce Young (she/her/hers) received high praise from both her “book clubbers” as well as their families after teaching one of our groups last spring. As an author herself, she brings not only insight into the industry to her work with students, but is naturally joyful, inviting students into being themselves along the way.
QUILLIFER
8th, 9th, 10th and 11th Grades | Thursdays 5:00-5:45pm PDT / 8:00-8:45pm EDT
About the Author
When talking about publishing his book, Walter Jon Williams, author of Quillifer, wants students to know that it’s all luck. With that said, you need to be ready for when luck arrives! He enjoys keeping author visits interactive, and looks forward to receiving emails from his readers. Walter lives in Valencia County, New Mexico.
PacPrep Facilitator
Maxx Hill (they/them/theirs) is a talented instructor utilizing their art expertise to leverage student engagement. They thoughtfully support students with making connections to characters, analyzing theme and plot through multiple perspectives, and curate an accessible opportunity for students to interact along the way. In their free time, you can find them training their cat or creating some masterpiece!
The More the Merrier!
Have you gotten this far thinking something along the lines of, “Wow, this sounds great, but my child is a little apprehensive” ? They are absolutely welcome to invite a friend! We are happy to ensure they are grouped together and feel comfortable participating in the book club.