Inspiring Love for Reading: Middle School 40 Book Club

During the 2024-25 school year, students were picking up books with new enthusiasm, thanks to the efforts of Middle School English teacher Dawn Daugherty and her implementation of the 40 Book Club.

This initiative was first inspired by author Donalyn Miller’s The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child. Miller discusses the benefits of redefining the act of reading for students. The 40 Book Club is very much designed upon the same principles and goals: to make reading approachable, easy, and enjoyable, rather than a chore. The initiative encourages middle schoolers to read 40 books over the course of the school year, not for grades, but simply for the joy of reading.

The challenge is less about pressure and more about possibility. Students are given freedom in their book choices, from lengthy favorites like Harry Potter to graphic novel classics like The Baby-Sitters Club, and they’re not required to take quizzes or write reports. “We celebrate everything,” shares Ms. Daugherty. “If you read a book, it counts. If you try something new, it counts even more. We’re really just trying to instill a love for learning and reading.”

Over the four years since its start, the book club has grown into something special. Every student who completes the challenge gets a magnet to celebrate their achievements. T-shirts and social media shoutouts have also become part of the excitement. “It builds passion and connection,” says Ms. Daugherty. “There’s a real bond that forms between the students and me when we talk about books we both love, or when they ask me for recommendations.”

The students aren’t left to finish their books completely on their own time. Students read during advisory periods, at home, and in their spare time during classes. “Once you finish what you have to do, you pick up a book,” says Ms. Daugherty. “It becomes a habit.”

Ms. Daugherty also guides students to explore genres outside their comfort zones, which helps them discover new favorites and strengthens their communication and critical thinking skills. According to her, about 75% of students complete the challenge each year, and she has seen noticeable growth in their reading and writing abilities.

Students like Daniel Klippert `31 have wholeheartedly embraced the program; Daniel has read many works, including those of CS Lewis and Tolkien. “I read almost always at night to go to sleep, and I would get my homework done early to make time to read,” says Daniel. “Good books can tell amazing stories. I was born a bookworm; I can't stop reading unless there are no books for me to read at the time.”

The 40 Book Club has had a large impact on Middle School students’ lives in multiple ways. In environments increasingly dominated by screens, the club reminds us to take a break, to get lost in a good book, and to recognize the importance of reading for its own sake.

Article written by Shiva Shyam `26.