Amanda Snyder, a Whitehall High School English teacher, is the adviser of the WHS Book Club, a role she took over in 2014.

There are about 20 members in the club. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the meetings, which are held two Wednesdays a month, take place virtually.

Compared to how some book clubs are run, Snyder said, “We try to keep things really general about reading and writing activities. I try not to make it too academic because they do enough academic stuff in school throughout the day. It’s more of enjoyment for and love of reading and just excitement about the books,” Snyder said.

“A lot of students get turned [off] from the book club because they think it’s a second English class,” said Aishat Sheriff, a book club member and a WHS senior. “I always try to stress that’s not what it is.”

Sheriff is the current president of the club. This is her fourth year as a part the club. She first became a member her freshman year, was elected vice president in her sophomore year and was named president for her junior and senior years.

“When I was in eighth grade, we got a new librarian (at Whitehall-Coplay Middle School) named Mrs. Lewis. Since there hadn’t been a book club in the middle school, she decided to start one. She ran it alongside the school’s then psychologist Dr. Pinho,” Sheriff said. “That year of book club in the middle school operated similarly to the one in the high school, so I consider eighth grade to be my first taste of what the high school’s would be. Since I was the secretary for the middle school’s book club, I made it a goal for myself to eventually become president for the one in our high school - so that’s exactly what happened.”

As Snyder and Sheriff conveyed, members of the club do not simply choose a book to read, come together and discuss it. WHS Book Club involves itself in much more. One major event is the Halloween Read and Treat held in and around the high school library for young children. Last year’s event was held virtually. Some other events and activities the club participates in are painting rocks with book quotes and placing them around the community, Blind Date with a Book, Valentine’s Day letters to a literary crush and a “Harry Potter” breakout, which is similar to an escape room.

“We’re unique because we don’t do reading assignments. We’re a lot more active than that,” Sheriff said. “We’re open to participating in numerous book activities throughout the school year. Sometimes we do crafts, sometimes we play games and sometimes we just have a discussion. Even under this year’s unique circumstances, we want to keep it as fun and active as possible.”

For National Novel Writers Month, held in November, some aspiring novelists in the club explore exercises on how to start a novel. In April, when National Poetry Month occurs, members participate in various activities, such as carrying a favorite poem in a pocket on a particular day.

The Reading Olympics, which takes place in the spring, is another activity. During the event, WHS Book Club members compete against other Pennsylvania high schools in memory knowledge of about 25 books required to be read for the challenge. The top three teams in the competition get books signed by the authors that were on the list. Just three book titles students will be reading for the upcoming competition are “Everything, Everything” by Nicola Yoon, “Dumplin’” by Julie Murphy and “Six of Crows” by Leigh Bardugo.

This year, it will be held April 15 virtually on Zoom, and usually about 12-15 WHS Book Club members participate.

“Because we only have so many books to go around, we don’t read them together. One person might be reading one book while another person might be reading a different book and then they’ll swap,” Snyder said. “Toward the spring, we’ll have a discussion on those books.”

“Trash” by Andy Mulligan was a popular book that members liked a couple years ago.

Sheriff said being part of the book club has helped her when she has had a stressful day.

“No matter what kind of day I’m having, no matter what kind of stress I’m under, the book club always manages to lift my spirits,” she said. “That’s the best thing about it - the positive energy. It’s not often you get to be surrounded by people who appreciate the same things as you do. High school can be chaotic for anybody, so it’s really nice to dial down and just escape into the world of literature with others.”

If you are a WHS student and are interested in joining the club, email Snyder at snydera@whitehallcoplay.org.

“We’d always be happy to have more members,” Snyder said.