Mercer Island Boys 'Guys Read' Book Group Meet with Author via Skype

An amazing thing happened last Sunday at 6:30 p.m., as 15 boys — ages 8-11 — sat rapt with attention, taking part in a virtual meet-and-greet with an author to talk about his latest book.

The boys were taking part in an innovative reading project started by local parents, called "Guys Read". Island resident Megan Hand started the book group when her 9-year-old son, Cooper, a reluctant reader, brought home a flyer from that suggested holding a ‘book party’ to get boys interested in reading, “The Guardians of Ga’Hoole.” 

“I thought this was going to be a one-off thing,” said Hand. “But I had Cooper invite his friends and their moms from his class at Lakeridge and (Elementary), and I promised we’d read the book as a group and go see the movie afterward.” Hand said she was shocked when 15 boys and their moms showed up to discuss the book and watch the movie.

“The kids went berserk,” she said. “They insisted that we do another book, until now we’re on our 7th book. They say 3rd grade is the year you go from learning to read to reading to learn; every single boy in our group leaps to the next amazing book—they love it.”

This Sunday, the group met former Hollywood screenplay and freelance writer Eric DelaBarre via a Skype-enabled "seminar" to talk about his new adventure novel, titled “Saltwater Taffy”.

As each boy respectfully asked a question, they learned more than a love of reading, “He (DelaBarre) taught us stuff that we will remember for the rest of our lives,” enthused Alex Patel, age 9. “Yes, we did ask him a lot of questions about the book so we’d learn more about the person who wrote it, but no two questions were the same,” added Jasper Geer, age 8. “He told us how you can make life an adventure, and that we shouldn’t waste time being bored at our age,” said Patel.

“I believe every piece of fiction is an opportunity for education, to get kids excited about reading, because between the pages of a book, adventure awaits!” said DelaBarre. "'Saltwater Taffy' teaches them about money, peer pressure, the importance of doing chores, setting goals and achieving them in action steps…I believe the habits they have at the ‘tween’ age are habits they will have for the rest of their lives. We need to give them the mental tools to make the best choices in life.”

Hand regularly goes to author websites to add dimension to the monthly book discussions, and after befriending author DelaBarre on Facebook, Hand said he suggested an interactive discussion via Skype.

“I had no idea how intense books are now for kids,” said Hand. “They’re fascinating and graphically engaging, so when the boys read about this treasure hunt in Port Townsend, (in "Saltwater Taffy") they really got into it—we’re going to travel there when the weather gets better and go see the places mentioned in the book.”

“Usually I Skype with my grandparents, but this time I got to talk to an author in California, which was a once in a lifetime opportunity,” said Bohn Crain, age 11. “My grandma bought the book for me for my birthday, when my mom told Ms. Hand and then we got to do it for book group,” adds Alex Tiscornia, 9. “I joined the group because it’s time with your friends and time you spend with your mom that you don’t usually have,” said Andrew Kaelin, 9. “It does help me in school because I get to read all these books I never read before,” said Jack Harper, 10. “I read more for pleasure now,” adds Camden Tullett. “I picked up four books awhile ago, but I don’t really count because I am so busy reading.”

Hand said that every chapter of Saltwater Taffy has a “treasure tip” at the end with admonitions, including: "Believe in your abilities, not your disabilities," and "Every Day is a gift, that’s why it’s called the present."

"With the boys standing all around the screen it felt like Eric was right here in the room with us," said Hand. "The boys were totally into it.”

“I remember hearing him (the author) say that an 11 year old kid built the number one most popular iPod app in three months, which was impressive,” said Steven Perzia, 9. “He wanted us to use our imaginations and invent more stuff.” 

“Also, he was trying to say that it doesn’t matter how little you are, you can make a big difference in the world,” adds Chase Crain, 9.

“You can do anything if you put your mind to it,” said Cooper Hand, 9. “He taught a lot of life lessons.”

“This was really cool for both the moms and the boys,” said Megan Hand. “Because the discussion with the author was more philosophical than just about the book, he was encouraging them to keep their mental ideas positive because it shapes who you are, and being at this age is the best time of your life.”