A Brave Writer's Life in Brief

Looking for a great read for teens that is filled with potential for insightful Big Juicy Conversations? Look no further than Brave Writer’s online Boomerang Book Club!

[This post contains Amazon affiliate links. When you click on those links to make purchases, Brave Writer receives compensation at no extra cost to you. Thank you!]

February’s selection (for ages 13-18): Unbound: A Novel in Verse, Ann E. Burg. Scholastic Press, 2018. 352 pages.

Grace, a 9-year-old enslaved girl is sent to work in the Big House. Her mother warns her to keep her head down. Witnessing the heartlessness and hatefulness of the Master and Missus first-hand, it is increasingly difficult for strong-willed Grace to hold her tongue. A terrible chain of events is set off when Grace lets out the thoughts she has been holding inside. Grace’s story introduces readers to a little-known chapter in American history—the story of enslaved people who sought freedom in the Great Dismal Swamp, a region spanning the boards of Virginia and North Carolina.

Purchase the novel here.

Brave Writer book clubs provide thought-provoking questions, engagement with one of our talented writing coaches, and a safe place to have interactions online about a common interest: books!

Join us!

Snow as far as the eye can see? Never fear—no bus, no boots, no winter coats needed! The Boomerang Book Club is open! Whatever the weather.

Whether you live in a rural location, are traveling abroad or homebound (under two feet of snow for the next 4 months), we’re only a click away, every day.

[This post contains Amazon affiliate links. When you click on those links to make purchases, Brave Writer receives compensation at no extra cost to you. Thank you!]

January’s Boomerang Book Club selection (for ages 13-18): A Separate Peace by John Knowles. Scribner, 2003. 204 pages.

Set at a boys boarding school in New England during the early years of World War II, A Separate Peace is a harrowing and luminous parable of the dark side of adolescence. Gene is a lonely, introverted intellectual. Phineas is a handsome, taunting, daredevil athlete. What happens between the two friends one summer, like the war itself, banishes the innocence of these boys and their world.

Purchase the novel here.

We’ve curated a gathering place where you and your kids can always find us and other like-minded homeschooling folk. We work hard to maintain a community that’s welcoming and warm. Join us and get a free copy of our language arts guide to go with the book.

“It’s a classic.”

I’m guilty of making my kids read something that I hated in school. Sometimes I want them to read something I don’t even want to teach!

Guess what? We’ve got book club instructors who love these books—so you don’t have to!

Gone are assignments of boring comprehension questions. We uncover the rich, juicy morsels in classic novels together with your teens.

[This page contains Amazon affiliate links. When you click on those links to make purchases, Brave Writer receives compensation at no extra cost to you. Thank you!]

Here’s what we’re reading in December: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Set in Concord, Massachusetts during the Civil War, Little Women was first published in two volumes in 1868 and 1869. The novel follows the lives of Marmee, Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy—the March family! This classic brings to life not only the time period but the tug of war between the expectations of society and being true to yourself—a theme that resonates with readers even today. The Christmas holiday season provides an important setting in the book, and the latest movie adaption will be released in December, so it’s the perfect pick for our December read!

We’ll discuss this classic work of literature with the Brave Writer approach:

• Freedom to explore ideas in writing
• Shared discussion with fellow students and an insightful instructor
• Exploration of literary themes and elements
• Weekly highlighted posts from the student comments

By the end of the month, teens gain COMMAND over the literature and write confidently about the work. And you can check it off your list!

Our book clubs are top notch and fill up fast, so sign up early!