Mr. Witt smiles while holding Firekeeper’s Daughter, the latest book the club will read. Mr. Witt reads four books at a time.
Books and Bagels is a year-long, diverse group of people who meet in the library to discuss different types of literature.
This year the High School has a new librarian, Mrs. Janelle Gegg who is also the club’s sponsor. Gegg has had a book club before at her old school, Shelton High School, so she has some experience. This year’s first book is Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley, chosen by Gegg.
“I looked at quite a few reviews and I saw it on multiple reading lists of pretty prominent sources, especially Reese Witherspoon having it on one of hers as well,” Gegg said.
The book is based around a biracial tribal member, Daunis Fontain, who puts her life on pause to care for her mother after tragedy strikes her family.
“Everyone is going to take from it what they can relate to from personal experience. One thing I liked about the book was that it brought attention to Native Americans and just the fact that it is written from a different perspective, so we get a lot more understanding of a different population than maybe one that we are familiar with,” Gegg said.
With the first book being chosen, the club will try to tackle two others this year, hopefully finishing Firekeeper’s Daughter before the end of the semester. Gegg plans to get input, from a variety of characters and have members vote for the up-and-coming literature. Books and Bagels is made up of four students and eight faculty members.
“I really like to discuss books in a mixed group, because it is teachers and students both. It’s just a good way to start a Friday morning and there is food,” English teacher David Witt said.
Witt has been in the club since the beginning, when Faye Friesen started it, the now-retired librarian and sponsor. Witt joined the club because he reads books that he wouldn’t have chosen for himself. He also encourages other students to join as there aren’t as many members.
“I think that it’s a good month to start books and bagels because its young adult read month called Teentober, so it’s a perfect time to get kids excited about reading something for fun and hopefully find a new book or become readers if they aren’t already,” Gegg said.
