Literary and book clubs are a first for some Vicksburg schools, and are continuing their run at another.

First-year English teacher Vincent Price is leading about a dozen freshmen through seniors in Warren Central High School’s pilot group. Dues are $5 per student.

“This is a new thing for us,” Price said. “We get the students to suggest a book they would like to read, and we’ll select one. The books we’ll read will span all genres.”

“Hopefully,” he added, “by being active in the organization, students will be stronger readers and speakers.”

Meetings are once a month and the first suggested book, chosen by Price and fellow English teacher Theresa Bell, is “Speak” by Laurie Halse Anderson. The book is about a teenager who chooses to be mute.

Another component of Warren Central’s literary club is community service. This holiday season, Price and his students are hosting a book drive for the Warren County Children’s Shelter. New or used books can be dropped off at the high school.

“We’re trying to update the shelter’s collection of books,” Price said. “The (shelter) director told me their shelves are outdated. For the kids at the shelter, it’s going to show that, despite how bad their life may be, there are people who care about them and their education. For the students donating, it’s a chance for them to help.”

Fifth- and sixth-graders at Vicksburg Intermediate are also participating in a first-year book club. So far, 75 students have enrolled.

“The more I can get them to read, the better readers they’ll be,” Principal Sharon Williams said.

The students kicked off the club Saturday by entering a float in the annual Downtown Christmas Parade of Lights. They decorated the float in the theme of “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory,” which they are reading. A kick-off party is also planned at the school.

“I like to read nonfiction and realistic books,” said 12-year-old Markitta Reed-Hunter, the daughter of Margo and Nikki Hunter. She said her friends are excited about the club “because they like to read, too.”

“As a parent, it’s important for a child to read,” said Margo Hunter, a Vicksburg Intermediate teacher. “This club gives them an opportunity to meet each other and help each other. At our school, everyone is involved in something.”

At Bovina Elementary, third-graders have formed a breakfast reading club.

“It’s in the beginning stages,” said Tracy Gordon, lead teacher.

Third grade was chosen because that’s when students begin to read longer books, ones that are divided into chapters.

The group has started with “The Boxcar Children,” a series.

“We want to inspire them to continue to read,” Gordon said. “We’ve been reading some books that are high-interest chapter books.”

The club is in addition to the Accelerated Reading program already in practice within the Vicksburg Warren School District. The optional program rewards students for completing books.

St. Aloysius, the junior and senior high arm of Vicksburg Catholic School, will begin the second year of its reading club in January. About 25 students have signed up.

“Last year was such a huge success,” said Valeria Johnson, club sponsor and school librarian. “My thing this year is service. It’s just not about reading, but about getting out in the community.”

She plans for students to read to children in the community.

“In the spring, we’ll implement a program where the students set their own book goals,” Johnson said. “After they read a book, they’ll write a summary. It gives them something to do besides reading. It’ll help because then I can recommend a book to other students.”

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Contact Manivanh Chanprasith at mchan@vicksburgpost.com