Latin American and Caribbean Book Clubs

The first book club is currently underway at Shepard Middle School in Durham. Every week, Outreach Coordinator LeAnne Disla meets with Shepard teachers at the school for workshops related to the themes discussed in Julia Alvarez's books on the Dominican Republic, including politics, gender, family, and freedom. Workshops incorporate film, literature, and food in order to introduce participants to diverse aspects of Dominican life.

From this book club, Shepard teachers have developed meaningful, relevant curriculum that can be implemented in their own classrooms. Teachers have also expanded their partnership to include sister schools in the Dominican Republic, with whom they have developed pen pal relationships.

Start a book club at your school!

1. Choose a book related to Latin America or the Caribbean.

2. Contact CLACS Outreach Program Coordinator LeAnne Disla at leanne.disla@duke.edu.

3. Submit a 1-page description of what you want to do in your book club.

4. We'll purchase the books for you!

5. We'll also send you supplemental curriculum materials, suggested films, and classroom activities to accompany the book.