Events › Read the World: A Middle Grade Book Club

Read the World is a book discussion group for youth in 6th to 9th grade. Each month we'll read a book set in a different country then enjoy conversations about the book as well as other cultures and experiences. We'll read from multiple categories, including fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, novels in verse, and more.

This month we'll be reading and discussing Temple Alley Summer by Sachiko Kashiwaba and set in Japan. Please register then stop by the library for a free copy of the book no earlier than one month before the discussion.

One rainy night, Kazu sees a strange figure in a white kimono sneak out of his house--was he dreaming? Did he see a ghost? The next day at school, the very same person is sitting in his class--and all his friends are convinced that the ghost-girl Akari has been their friend for years. If that isn't weird enough, Kazu learns that his house is in the exact location of an ancient temple called Kimyō, which, legend has it, could bring the dead back to life! Kazu sets out to discover what happened to Kimyō Temple and if the rumors of its power are true. His investigation draws the unwanted attention of his neighbor Ms. Minakami and his mysterious new classmate Akari, who is definitely not what she seems. Now, Kazu and Akari must join forces to find and protect the source of the temple's power, before it's too late.

Temple Alley Summer

An ASL (American Sign Language) interpreter can be provided for this program if requested at least seven (7) business days in advance. For assistance, please contact your library or accessibility@aclibrary.org.