For students who enjoy the escapism and thrill of books, Book Club the place to be at Cape Coral High School. Book Club is a new addition to Cape High this year and meets every other Tuesday in Melissa Phelps’ room, 152.
Roles have not been officially decided, however unofficially, sophomore Fiona Heinemann is the president, sophomore Cheyenne Sharb is the vice president, and sophomore Yelany Leon is the communications director.
Phelps was able to become the club’s sponsor quite easily considering she is Heinemann’s mother. Aside from that, Phelps enjoys reading herself, so the founders did not have much trouble putting that aspect together.
The idea for the club came about last year while friends Heinemann, Sharb, Leon, and sophomore Adrianna Vaccaro were discussing their enjoyment of reading. During the conversation, the four realized the school was lacking in reading extracurriculars. Thus, the idea sparked and they took action immediately.
Leon recalled that it would be nice to “collaborate our ideas onto other people and just bond with everyone.”
During the first few meetings, slides were gone over. Once things started to pick up and basic rules and future plans were set, members chose their first book via a poll. The club decided on Scythe, written by Neal Shusterman.
Heinemann believes most people chose it because it’s “dystopian kind of and something that could happen in the real world.”
Leon finds that it was a good first pick, “since it was an easy read so it’s not going to be difficult on anybody.”
Currently, they have read roughly 10-15 chapters of the book. Each meeting they discuss how many chapters they will read next and recap the ones they’ve already read.
Sophomore member Rachel Perez expressed that so far she is enjoying the novel because of her love for the genre. She believes the whole group shares her enjoyment as well.
Sophomore member Jocelyn Slater’s interest has also piqued because of the dystopian-like genre.
Perez revealed she joined not only for an interest in reading, but also because, “she saw an opportunity to see her peers,” while doing something she enjoys.
The founders; Leon and Heinemann rooted this club on a love for reading, and they both wish to continue that love and inspire it throughout their peers.
Heinemann appreciates how reading is at your own pace. She compared the activity to watching movies. During a movie you’re “getting everything thrown at your face on a screen.” However, what appeals to her about reading is how you can take things one at a time or all at once, depending on what the reader chooses.
