Books surrounded me as a kid. But finding friends who loved reading as much as I did? Impossible.
Today, as an elementary school librarian, I have students who read 500-page novels faster than they can sing Olivia Rodrigo’s latest hit. But they, too, struggle to find their “book nerd” crew –
other kids who read voraciously with whom they can discuss their favorite novels.
I knew I had to do something about this.
WE GET IT
Finding a Crew of Book Lovers is Hard.
You’re a voracious reader. But finding other bookworms like you is a challenge. And when you want to talk about that book that kept you up until dawn? Forget it.
It’s a bummer when you don’t have friends with whom you can discuss those oh-so-awesome stories.
That all changes right here, right now.
You don’t have to read alone anymore, because The Dawn Society is here to read with you.
Each month, you’ll read an awesome novel, then we will come together for a live discussion on Zoom.
And as if that isn’t enough, you’ll have access to our vibrant discussion platform where you can connect with your new friends whenever you want – all day every day.
Hey! I’m Lauren, your host and a very proud book nerd.
When I had my first baby, I couldn’t wait to fill his shelves with beautiful books. I chose stories at random and loved snuggling up together to read at bedtime. After my second baby was born and we were met with a series of challenges on the home front, reading with my boys became more important than ever.
When our family began reading with intention, our challenges felt more manageable and our conversations became powerful. In fact, I grew so passionate about the positive impact of children’s literature on growing minds and hearts that after nearly fifteen years, I stopped practicing law to become an elementary school librarian and children’s literature blogger.
I’ve witnessed the ability of books to open eyes and change lives, and I love discussing important stories with young readers.
I can’t wait to explore the world through great books with you, too.
Joining The Dawn Society is like Becoming a Member of a Family
There’s nothing better than witnessing a virtual meeting of The Dawn Society. Our members’ excitement is palpable, and there is so much joy as they discuss the book of the month.
Each small group connects on different levels but immediately through their love of stories. Within each group, I aim to encourage connection, foster communication, and create safe spaces built on respect and kindness. Our members become comfortable sharing both what they love and question as they read, as well as how the books resonate with them on a more personal level.
Sometimes our meetings our hilarious. Sometimes they are deeply moving. Sometimes they are extremely powerful. But there is always excitement and happiness. Watching the joy on our members’ faces during meetings is the most fulfilling experience I’ve ever had!
I can’t wait to take this journey with your children, too.
I can’t wait to take this journey with your children, too.
No books are off limits…
Here at The Dawn Society, we don’t believe in banning books, and we pride ourselves on exposing our members to the world!
We value and read books that offer diverse viewpoints, perspectives, and voices.
Our goal is simple: to encourage our members to be kind, inclusive, aware, and compassionate citizens of their communities.
We may read stories with tough or “taboo” topics. We offer our members a safe space in which to discuss these realistic and important issues with their peers.
We are open to stories of all kinds, from “normal” kid stuff to complex issues that may affect our members and other children their age.
We don’t believe in shielding children from stories that touch upon tough or “controversial” issues, because so many children deal with these issues in their real lives, whether known to their peers or not.
By raising awareness and bringing these subjects to light, we seek to eradicate stigma and foster empathy, understanding, kindness, and inclusion.
I can’t wait to take this journey with your children, too.
I love having this positive support for my 11-year-old granddaughter. Lauren is a phenomenal facilitator, and each Zoom meeting carries with it such deep reflection, as she values eaah member’s contributions. And the chosen books are outstanding! My granddaughter counts down the days until each meeting. She simply loves The Dawn Society!
Susie, Grandparent | Colorado
We were inaugural members of The Dawn Society (TDS) Juniors and our son has absolutely loved it! TDS is led by the amazing Lauren Bercuson, herself a devoted reader and mom of young readers. She has chosen incredible far- ranging books, giving our family exposure to authors and titles we hadn’t yet discovered on our own. She has created a safe and engaging space for our son to meet other young advanced readers, and to both learn and share perspectives with kids across the country. We are so grateful for this amazing program and can’t wait to sign up for a year-long subscription as soon as it is available!”
Danielle, Parent | Florida
The Dawn Society is a great way to find books you have have never found on your own. You may get to see the author, which is something you probably won’t ever be able to do normally. I also met people have the same book interests as me. For example, [so many kids] like Wings of Fire, which is my favorite book series ever! I always look forward to the meetings.”
G, Missouri age 9
Being a part of The Dawn Society has been so much fun! Lauren and the other members are friendly and supportive. I love discussing interesting books the club has chosen and learning about neat books that I haven’t read yet!
E, age 11 | Oregon
I just wanted to share how much [my daughter] has been enjoying the book club. She can be hard to pull out of her shell, but she has really loved having a “safe space” where she can interact with other kids who love books! Kudos to you for putting together such a great program. Keep up the great work!
Jennifer, Parent| Missouri
Thank you so much for everything you’ve done to foster my children’s love of reading. You are remarkable!
Colleen, Parent | New Jersey
You’re Invited. Come Read with Us!
1. Join Now
Joining is easy! Simply click the “Join a Book Club” button, pick the time slot that works for you, and you’re in!
2. Participate in dynamic book club experiences!
Once you join, the first step is simple: read the book of the month! Then we do all the rest. You come to our virtual book club meeting, and we moderate to ensure maximum participation, deep thinking – and did we say fun? Prepare for laughter – and meaningful conversation, too.
3. Connect with your new
community
We’ve run enough book clubs to know that our members are excited to connect – and they want more than just a once-a-month discussion. That’s why we’ve introduced a private forum (moderated by our team) where members can connect in a safe space at their leisure. Cause what good is being in a book club when you have to wait for weeks to chat with your new pals?
Here’s what others have asked before subscribing to The Dawn Society
Do I have to re-sign up every month? I don’t understand how the meeting times work?
Nope! Once you join, the subscription will auto-renew each month until you cancel. With regard to the meeting time, pick the time slot that works best for your child. So, if the third Thursday of the month at the 7:45 p.m. time slot is best for your child, your child will be automatically re-enrolled in that small group each month, until you choose to cancel your subscription (but why would you do that? Your child will love being a member of The Dawn Society!) This alleviates stress when it comes to planning – you simply know that the third Thursday of each month will be book club day!
What if my child has to miss a meeting at their designated time?
Don’t worry – you can simply join another group’s discussion for the month if you are able, and you still have the ability to discuss the book with the rest of your group in The Dawn Society’s awesome discussion forum! Just reach out to Lauren via the discussion forum or email.
Can I register more than one child? How should I do this?
Absolutely! Please register each child in a separate order, and make sure to register using different email addresses for each child. For our dashboard, each member must have a unique email address to create their own account!
Will my child be with the same kids each time?
The goal is to have our groups stay together. This is how we truly build connection and community!
Is the book of the month included in the price?
No, the book is not included in your monthly subscription. We recommend checking out the book from your local library or purchasing it from your local bookstore. If you can not find it nearby, we love shopping at bookshop.org (it supports independent book shops around the country!), the publishers’ websites, or Amazon.
What if a meeting falls on a holiday?
We recognize that some meetings may conflict with a national or other holiday. In this case, the affected group will vote together on a new date and time for that month’s meeting. We will select the date that works for the majority of the group. No problem!
My child doesn’t really love to read, will this help?
It depends. To many of the children in The Dawn Society, reading is as essential as breathing. Most of our members love to read and they love to discuss the books they read. That being said, if your child has expressed an interest or desire to read more, this may be a great option. On the other hand, it is important to remember that book clubs aren’t for every kid, and you should not force your child to be ina book club. The last thing you want to do is make reading a chore when it should be a gift.
My child is in 2nd grade. Can they join the book club?
Is your child an advanced reader? Do they have the social maturity to discuss books with older children? We recommend The Dawn Society Juniors for voracious (often advanced) readers in third and fourth grade who love to have insightful and meaningful discussions about the books they are reading. You know your child best and are most suited to make the decision as to whether this will be a good fit for your little one!
Will my child meet an author every month?
No. We will have author visits, at no extra charge, every three to four months. If your child is a member of The Dawn Society that month, he/she/they will be able to attend the exclusive webinar!
What’s the deal with the discussion forum? I don’t want my child to talk to random people or private message with anyone.
Don’t worry. The discussion forum is secure and for The Dawn Society members only; our team will moderate it daily. There is no way to private message another member on the forum. All new members will be required to sign our Community Guidelines prior to getting started, which highlight our core values and explain the rules for participating both on the forum and in our Zoom meetings.
“I had the opportunity to meet the book club members of The Dawn Society after they had read and discussed one of my books, and I was so impressed by their thoughtful and interesting questions. It was such a pleasure to speak with such engaged and excited readers!”
“My meeting with The Dawn Society was so fun and enlightening. I could tell the participants had engaged in incredibly deep and meaningful conversations about my book, and I loved their insights. What a wonderful club!”
“My author visit with The Dawn Society couldn’t have been better. Lauren was an amazing host, and the members were so engaged. It was a terrific interaction!”
“I had the best time talking with The Dawn Society book club members about Maizy Chen’s Last Chance. Our lively discussions were fun and insightful and it was a joy to speak directly with readers!”
