ABC Life Literacy Canada

(Edmonton, ON - June 28, 2011) - On June 1 the Edmonton Public Library hosted adult literacy learners and practitioners from four of the city’s literacy centres for their first book club meeting, featuring Gail Anderson-Dargatz’s The Stalker. The book club served as a way to create an interest in reading as well as a forum for the learners to talk about the book.

Laurie Greenwood, owner of Laurie’s Book Company and book columnist for CBC Radio’s Radioactive, facilitated the first book club meeting. 28 people attended and participated in the discussion, some having read the book by themselves, while others had read in groups at their local literacy centre.

For Tina, an adult literacy learner, The Stalker was the first adult-themed book she ever read by herself.

For the millions of adult Canadians that struggle with low literacy, finding easy-to-read books with mature themes can be difficult. The Stalker is one of several books from the Good Reads series. Good Reads are short books written in clear language at a Grade 3 to 6 reading level that provide literacy learners and new readers with engaging and accessible books that help improve their reading skills and confidence.

“The Stalker was a good, easy read and I really enjoyed the book,” said Tanya, a learner at the Centre for Family Literacy in Edmonton. “Good Reads are easy to understand for people who have trouble reading. You feel good when you have these books that you know you can read.”

There are six Good Reads books currently available, with an additional five launching in September 2011, including one by Edmonton-based author Marina Endicott, which will likely be the focus of the next book club meeting in the fall.

“There is definitely some momentum now,” said Susan Skaret of The Learning Centre Literacy Association. “People now know what a book club is and are motivated seeing everyone else reading the same book, and that has generated an enthusiasm for reading.”

The 90-minute meeting covered topics such as the overall theme of the story, the setting and the characters. Everyone participated in the discussion and gave their thoughts on who they thought the stalker was and what the moral of the story was.

Even the author, Gail Anderson-Dargatz, was involved. She sent an email greeting to the group telling them how excited she was that so many people were reading her book.

“Having a book club is a great way to get people reading,” said Skaret. “We had a great turnout, everybody participated, and it was a very empowering experience.”

You can start a Good Reads book club too! Download one of the reading guides to help plan your discussions around each book.

For more information on Good Reads, visit www.GoodReadsBooks.ca.

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