Washougal adult, student book clubs discuss book on racism, police brutality

Washougal — Adult and student book clubs teamed up for a joint meeting to discuss “All American Boys” by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely, a young adult novel that covers racism and police brutality and features two teen boys as the narrators. A book club from the Washougal branch of Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries met with Washougal High School’s Wild Panther Book Club on Feb. 9 to discuss the book, which was selected by Hillary Marshall, the high school’s library media specialist, and Rachael Ries, branch manager of the Washougal Community Library. “We explained to students that we were doing this combined book club to energize the adult club and show how we handle controversial issues in a vibrant and respectful manner,” Marshall said in a release from the school district. “I wanted the adults to feel the energy and enthusiasm for reading that our teens exude.” Rosie Valadez, president of the Wild Panther Book Club, wrote the discussion questions and ran the book club meeting. This was the first combined book club meeting between the two groups.