No Shelf Control!

A Book Club for Grades 4-6

Borrow a copy of "Octopus Moon," a novel-in-verse by Bobbie Pyron about Pearl, a quiet but otherwise typical 10-year-old, who faces an unexpected challenge in 5th grade. Come discuss with us!

Welcome to a new school year of No Shelf Control! If you are in grades 4, 5 or 6 and love to read and have fun talking about books and characters, this just might be the place for you! No Shelf Control meets monthly for discussion and activities related to a book chosen by a librarian just for this age group, freely available through the library, and read ahead of time.

Ten-year-old Pearl loves volunteering at the aquarium in her town; cherishes her grandparents and the time they spend together; and has a small, but important, group of friends she has grown up with. Pearl also used to love school, but with the start of fifth grade, something has changed: "School used to feel like a favorite pair of jeans, almost like a second skin," she thinks to herself. "This week, school has felt like a too-small shirt inside out" (p. 42). Follow Pearl as she struggles with this unexpected change in feelings and finds the help needed to determine what's going on and how she can start enjoying all of the things she used to.

Bobbie Pyron's "Octopus Moon" is a semi-autobiographical novel-in-verse told mainly from the perspective of a young person trying to navigate the onset of anxiety and depression and still maintain the sense of joy and wonder of her earlier self. You can borrow a copy of the book, along with a specially prepared reading guide for our group, from the Connie Morella Library; just ask at either the Circulation Desk or Information Desk for the book for the October meeting of No Shelf Control. The book is also available from the library’s free, downloadable app Libby, or its corresponding website, mcpl.overdrive. com, as an ebook or e-audiobook (it is not currently available in any format through Hoopla). If you use an electronic version, please contact librarian Jeff Coster (Jeffrey.Coster@montgomerycountymd.gov) to request a copy of the reading guide. He can also be contacted with any questions about the program and participant eligibility.

Over the course of the school year, we’ll read books from a wide range of genres—realistic fiction, mystery, humor, science fiction, fantasy, adventure—featuring characters your age and themes such as friendship, family, overcoming adversity, confronting challenges, sorting through conflicting values and other people's expectations, and navigating life, school, sports and other extracurricular activities, while expanding their knowledge of themselves and the world around them. We often use new books published within the last 2-3 years and titles from such award programs as the Black-Eyed Susan. Each session’s interactive discussions and hands-on activities will relate to the major topics and themes of the book in a fun and engaging way.

Library Program Attendance (both virtual and in the branch) is limited to participants within the suggested age range of the program. Children attending an MCPL program under the age of 8 must be accompanied by an adult. Adults attending a program intended for children must have an accompanying child.

Don't have a card right now? Find out how to Get a Library Card.

Have questions about this program? Contact the Connie Morella Library at 240-777-0970 or librarian Jeff Coster at jeffrey.coster@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Accommodation Requests

To request an accommodation, contact the library branch where you want the accommodation. If they are unable to help, or if you need an accommodation for an online resource or event, complete our Accommodation Request Form online or call Library Administration at 240-777-0002.

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