Chat 'n' Chew Book Clubs

In preparation for our literary event, the Junior League of Richmond has partnered with Richmond City Public Schools, Henrico County Public Schools, Chesterfield County Public Schools, and Collegiate School.  These partnerships enable us to host Chat ‘n’ Chew book clubs facilitated by our membership.  These lunchtime events give middle school students a greater appreciation and deeper understanding of all that reading has to offer them.  The JLR provides each student one or two of the author’s books to read during the course of their school year.   The teachers incorporate the books into their classroom curriculum, allowing the students the ability to complete the books in time for the book club events.

Two Chat ‘n’ Chew events were held this year.  Our first event was held in November 2009.  students from Short Pump Middle School and Collegiate School  met on November 10, 2009 at Tuckahoe Public Library, while student representatives from Binford and Henderson middles schools in Richmond met at Henderson Middle School on November 11, 2009.  Our second event was held in January 2010.   Students from Short Pump Middle School and Collegiate School met again on January 26, 2010 at Tuckahoe Public Library, while students from Brown and Thompson Middle Schools in Richmond met at Thompson Middle School.  Each book club was comprised of approximately ten students and was facilitated by the League’s trained volunteers.  Our committee worked closely with the sponsoring classroom teachers to ensure that the format of the discussions coincided with the literary guidelines that the children learn in the classroom.   One week prior to the event, each volunteer participated in a one-hour training session so that she felt confident in her ability to lead a thought-provoking and fun conversation about the featured book.

Be a Junior Author Writing Competition

 Students at each participating school, grades 5-8, were encouraged to enter the Junior League of Richmond's Be a Junior Author Writing Competition.  This writing competition is based on a central theme of one of the author’s books, allowing the students to interpret the author’s story and incorporate their learnings and creative thoughts into a personal essay.  Each essay was judged, by the author or committee, on creativity, clarity, content and style.  Winners were chosen based on participating age groups and were announced by the author at his presentation at Collegiate School  on the evening of February 25, 2010.

To view the winning essays, please click on the following links:

First Place Essay - Three Ways by Mait Innes

Second Place Essay - First Day by Madison Hoffman

Third Place Essay - The Popular by Ellie Fleming

To read details about the essay topic, guidelines, deadlines and selection, please click here.  The essay deadline was February 1, 2010.