Pride LGBTQ+ Joyful Book Club
In this eight-week class, students will read, analyze, and discuss 3 positive books featuring LGBTQ+ characters.
Elle O'Keeffe, MBA PhD
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(159)
What's included
8 live meetings
4 in-class hoursHomework
1 hour per week. Reading the books between classes is necessary.Class Experience
US Grade 8 - 10
Let's read and talk and read some more. Teens identify with the characters in the books they read, so this course provides an opportunity for LGBTQIA teens to see themselves in great books. This course focuses on effective ways to discuss the elements of a story including inciting incident, rising action, setting, conflict, turning point, falling action, and resolution. We will use reader response, queer theory, and cultural analysis to discuss YA novels with strong joyful positive LGBTQIA characters. The class is structured in 7 parts which means we move fast -- this pace makes the class enjoyable and keeps learner energy high. Welcome and greeting Quote share -- attendees share a memorable quote from the week's chapters Main Discussion Prompt provided by Teacher Elle Complete as a team: GMC, 9-grid plot plan, or another analysis tool Learner-led q and a Open discussion about themes, concepts, text-to-text, text-to-life, and text-to-self connections Wrap-up Interaction is key in this course. The goal is to discuss, share, and listen to one another throughout each session. I will engage with students via Q and A, guided discussion, and feedback. This is not a lecture course; rather, it is a group discussion guided by an engaged instructor. Our goal is to have fun while immersing ourselves in books.
Learning Goals
Students will discuss elements of a book, the importance of representation, the pros and cons of tropes, and the harm of stereotypes. Learners will have ample opportunity to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate during each session.
I will prepare the following activities and guidance but the content of the book club is flexible by design as members of the club should play an active role in what the club is and what we do with our time together.
Week One:
Full introductions
Discussion of what happens in the book club
Discussion of genre, themes, and plot
Introduction to the three books
Week Two
Intro to Book Club and each other
Open discussion of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz FIRST 150 PAGES based on prompt presented by the teacher.
Week Three
Brief greetings
Quote share from the final 158 pages of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Complete GMC table as a group
Open discussion of tropes, stereotypes, and fresh angles presented in the final half of the book
Week Four
Brief greetings
Student-led Q and A about the first half of Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour
Open discussion based on two prompts provided by the teacher
Week Five
Brief greetings
Discussion of Text-to-text connections, text-to-life, text-to-me connections in the second half of Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour
Discussion of why connections matter and how the connection we feel to and see between a book and life are related to representation
Week Six
Brief greetings
Discussion of themes presented in the first half of Wonders of the Invisible World by Christopher Barzak
Venn Diagram activity: compare and contrast two characters from the books read in this club
Week Seven
Brief greetings
Discussion of genre-specific traits in the second half of Wonders of the Invisible World by Christopher Barzak
Discussion of character growth from beginning to end of Wonders of the Invisible World by Christopher Barzak
Week Eight
Brief greetings
Conflict --> Key Events --> Resolution in all three books
Final thoughts
Other Details
Parental Guidance
This is a reading club for teens who identify as LGBTQIA. We will read Young Adult novels with positive joyful queer characters. Queer in this reading club includes gay, lesbian, trans, and bisexual characters. All of these books have happy endings.
Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour -- A mysterious old letter and a love story between Ava and Emi.
Ranking on Amazon: #253 in Teen & Young Adult LGBTQ+ Romance
Wonders of the Invisible World by Christopher Barzak -- A family curse and a love story between Aidan and Jarrod
Rankings on Amazon:
#268 in LGBTQ+ Literature & Fiction for Teens
#440 in Paranormal Fantasy for Teens
#440 in Paranormal Mystery, Thriller & Suspense for Teens
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz Loss, family struggles, and a love story between Aristotle and Dante in the same border town but worlds apart
Rankings on Amazon:
#2 in Coming of Age Fiction for Teens
#4 in LGBTQ+ Literature & Fiction for Teens
#5 in Teen & Young Adult Fiction about Being a Teen (Books)
Supply List
Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour Wonders of the Invisible World by Christopher Barzak Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Language of Instruction
English
Joined May, 2020
4.9
159reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
Doctoral Degree in English from University of Central Florida
I have a BA in English Literature, an MA in Technical Writing, and a Ph.D. in English: Texts and Technology. I have been teaching for 21 years. Reviews
Live Group Class
$15
weekly or $120 for 8 classes1x per week, 8 weeks
30 min
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-16
4-10 learners per class
Financial Assistance
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Tutoring
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