As some of you have probably already read, I wrote an article a few weeks back about bringing back the Critique Club, a group of Whyvillians who get together to read and talk about great books.

Well... it's ready! Since we never know if our articles will be published in the Times, the new book lists and all other information will be posted in Clwnshoe's City records. Please check there often for updates of information. I will also post the first Critique Club meeting date and time in those city records.

Don't worry, I'll give you enough time to read at least some of the books!

Here is the reading list for all of July. Each Critique Club meeting will have a "featured book" and a "featured topic." The feature topic will relate to an issue in the feature book. This will be the topic of the Critique Club meeting. However this stretches into different books, only time will tell.

Instead of using the "star" system that I had originally anticipated, we will use another system. Books with no rating are what we consider "all ages" books. Books that say "Ages (insert age here) and up," well, that's a little self explanatory. These books will not be sorted by reading level, but by content. Younger citizens, please do not read books above your age level without first getting permission from your parents. Thank you.

"Love Among the Walnuts" by Jean Ferris
"Wicked" by Gregory Macquire (Ages 13 and up)
"The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants" by Ann Brashares
"The Phantom Tollbooth" by Norton Juster
"The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger (Mature 14 year olds and up)
"Inkheart" by Cornelia Funke (Ages 10 and up)
"Which Witch" by Eva Ibbotson
"Wringer" by Jerry Spinelli (Ages 10 and up)
"Much Ado About Nothing" by William Shakespeare

Notice the selection in bold. This is the first meeting's "featured book". We will start off by talking about cruelty to animals and what you think about it. We'll see what happens from there!

A few questions to think about as you read the featured book:

What do you think about what happened ot the pigeons? How do you feel about fur coats? What are your beliefs about animal testing?

Please bring many more questions and related ideas. I hope this will be a great success!

Yours in Whyville,
dartanian