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Kaleidoscope Book Club for Educators
GLSEN Washington State is starting an intersectionality book club for educators called The Kaleidoscope Book Club. At the book club meetings, we will discuss the book and also how educators can bring that material into their classrooms or student clubs. We will select books by and/or about LGBTQ+ people-- focusing on representation of people of color and/or disabled people. At the meetings, we will have trained facilitators to lead the discussions and potentially guest speakers as well.
We are excited to begin this project and hope you will register to join us!
The first 5 people to register will get a free book so sign up early!
Here is the schedule and registration links for the upcoming book club sessions:
Thursday Feb 16th 5-6pm: Julián is a Mermaid by Jessica Love
Book Summary: While riding the subway home from the pool with his abuela one day, Julián notices three women spectacularly dressed up. Their hair billows in brilliant hues, their dresses end in fishtails, and their joy fills the train car. When Julián gets home, daydreaming of the magic he's seen, all he can think about is dressing up just like the ladies in his own fabulous mermaid costume: a butter-yellow curtain for his tail, the fronds of a potted fern for his headdress. But what will Abuela think about the mess he makes--and even more importantly, what will she think about how Julián sees himself?
Registration link: Julián is a Mermaid Registration Link
Book Info:
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Suggested audience age: 4-8
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Book is available as a book, ebook and audiobook from most public library systems in WA and Amazon.
Thursday March 16th, 2023 5-6: I'll Be the One by Layla Lee
Book Summary: Skye Shin has heard it all. Fat girls shouldn’t dance. Wear bright colors. Shouldn’t call attention to themselves. But Skye dreams of joining the glittering world of K-Pop, and to do that, she’s about to break all the rules that society, the media, and even her own mother, have set for girls like her. She’ll challenge thousands of other performers in an internationally televised competition looking for the next K-pop star, and she’ll do it better than anyone else. When Skye nails her audition, she’s immediately swept into a whirlwind of countless practices, shocking performances, and the drama that comes with reality TV. What she doesn’t count on are the highly fat-phobic beauty standards of the Korean pop entertainment industry, her sudden media fame and scrutiny, or the sparks that soon fly with her fellow competitor, Henry Cho. But Skye has her sights on becoming the world’s first plus-sized K-pop star, and that means winning the competition—without losing herself.
Registration Link: I'll Be the One Registration
Book Info:
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Suggested audience age: 10-14
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Book is available as a book, ebook and audiobook from most public library systems in WA and from Amazon.
Thursday April 20th 5-6pm: Wild and Crooked by Leah Thomas
Book Summary: In Samsboro, Kentucky, Kalyn Spence's name is inseparable from the brutal murder her father committed when he was a teenager. Forced to return to town, Kalyn must attend school under a pseudonym . . . or face the lingering anger of Samsboro's citizens, who refuse to forget the crime. Gus Peake has never had the luxury of redefining himself. A Samsboro native, he's either known as the "disabled kid" because of his cerebral palsy, or as the kid whose dad was murdered. Gus just wants to be known as himself. When Gus meets Kalyn, her frankness is refreshing, and they form a deep friendship. Until their families' pasts emerge. And when the accepted version of the truth is questioned, Kalyn and Gus are caught in the center of a national uproar. Can they break free from a legacy of inherited lies and chart their own paths forward?
Registration Link: Wild and Crooked Registration
Book Info:
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Suggested audience age: 14-17
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Book is available as a book, ebook and audiobook from most public library systems in WA and from Amazon.
Thursday May 18th 5-6pm: Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
Book Summary: Yadriel has summoned a ghost, and now he can’t get rid of him. When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his gender, Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs the ritual himself, and then sets out to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free. However, the ghost he summons is actually Julian Diaz, the school’s resident bad boy, and Julian is not about to go quietly into death. He’s determined to find out what happened and tie up some loose ends before he leaves. Left with no choice, Yadriel agrees to help Julian, so that they can both get what they want. But the longer Yadriel spends with Julian, the less he wants to let him leave.
Registration Link: Cemetery Boys Registration
Book Info:
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Suggested audience age: 14-17
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Book is available as a book, ebook and audiobook from most public library systems in WA and from Amazon.