Live · Online · Ages 8–14

Reading Clubs Where Kids Actually Talk About Books

Small groups of 6–8 children meet weekly for live, discussion-based sessions led by Dr. Raquel DeSouza— a reading doctorate who makes comprehension click.

📅 Weekly live sessions 👥 Max 8 students 🌎 100% online 🇧🇷 English & Portuguese 💳 $79/month membership or $175/cycle

How It Works

From discovery call to your child's first session — the whole process takes less than a week.

1

Book a Free Call

A 20-minute conversation with Dr. DeSouza to find the right group and book for your child.

2

Choose Your Club

Select the book and session time that fits your family's schedule. English or Portuguese groups available.

3

Join the Platform

Access our Moodle learning platform — BigBlueButton is built right in. No extra apps needed.

4

Start Reading & Discussing

Your child joins their first live session and begins building real comprehension skills.

Six Books. Six Worlds. One Brilliant Reader.

Each club is built around a carefully chosen book that sparks real discussion, builds vocabulary, and develops the kind of deep comprehension that lasts a lifetime. Click "Get the Book" on any title to purchase through Amazon.

📌 Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Sophia James Education LLC earns a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. This helps support our programs.

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Fantasy & Adventure

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

by C.S. Lewis

Four siblings step through a wardrobe into the magical world of Narnia — a land caught in eternal winter under the White Witch's spell. This beloved classic sparks rich discussions about courage, sacrifice, good vs. evil, and what it means to be a hero.

Symbolism Moral themes Inference Character analysis
📚 Ages: 8–12 Level: Intermediate 🌟 Classic 🛒 Get the Book
🕷️
Friendship & Life Lessons

Charlotte's Web

by E.B. White

A tender story of friendship between a pig named Wilbur and a spider named Charlotte. Children explore themes of loyalty, loss, and the power of words — while discovering how a single friend can change everything. A perfect book for deep emotional discussion.

Emotional literacy Vocabulary Theme Perspective
📚 Ages: 8–11 Level: Foundational 🌟 Classic 🛒 Get the Book
Mythology & Identity

The Lightning Thief

by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson discovers he's the son of a Greek god and is thrust into a world of monsters, prophecies, and adventure. This action-packed series opener hooks reluctant readers instantly while teaching Greek mythology, plot structure, and how identity shapes a hero.

Mythology Plot structure Foreshadowing Identity
📚 Ages: 9–14 Level: Intermediate 🌟 Series 🛒 Get the Book
🧠
Empathy & Resilience

Out of My Mind

by Sharon Draper

Melody, the smartest kid in her school, has cerebral palsy and cannot speak or write. This powerful, perspective-shifting novel builds empathy and challenges assumptions. Extraordinary for discussions about inclusion, determination, how we judge others, and what it means to truly listen.

Empathy Point of view Social issues Resilience
📚 Ages: 10–14 Level: Advanced 🌟 Award winner 🛒 Get the Book
🌊
Survival & Courage

Escaping the Giant Wave

by Peg Kehret

Thirteen-year-old Kyle is left in charge of his little sister at a beach resort when a massive earthquake triggers a devastating tsunami. A pulse-pounding survival story that sparks powerful discussions about responsibility, quick thinking under pressure, fear, and what we discover about ourselves in a crisis.

Survival Cause & effect Responsibility Suspense & tension
📚 Ages: 9–13 Level: Intermediate 🌟 Action-packed 🛒 Get the Book
Identity & Belonging

Starfish

by Lisa Fipps

Ellie has been bullied about her weight her entire life — even by her own family. Told in beautiful, accessible verse, this award-winning novel is a powerful exploration of body image, self-worth, standing up for yourself, and finding the courage to take up the space you deserve. Exceptional for discussions about kindness, identity, and what it truly means to belong.

Verse novel Self-worth Anti-bullying Emotional depth
📚 Ages: 10–14 Level: Intermediate 🌟 Award winner 🛒 Get the Book

One Price. No Billing Surprises. Ever.

Each book cycle runs 6–8 weeks depending on the book and how deep your group's discussions go. You always know the price before a new cycle begins — and flex weeks are included at no extra charge.

Members pay $79/month and auto-continue into each new book cycle — the simplest option for families who want ongoing growth. Prefer to try one book first? Enroll for a single cycle at $175 with no commitment. Flex weeks 7–8 are always included free.

Single Book Cycle

Try one book · no commitment · re-enroll anytime

$175/cycle

Per child · 6–8 weeks · one complete book

  • 6–8 live sessions — full book cycle
  • Choose your book and start date
  • Discussion guide every session
  • Personal end-of-cycle parent update
  • Flex weeks included — no extra charge
  • Re-enroll for next book anytime
Enroll for One Cycle — $175

Clube de Leitura

Portuguese group · bilingual families worldwide

$99/mo

Per child · monthly membership · cancel anytime

  • 6–8 live sessions per book cycle
  • Conducted fully in Portuguese
  • Max 8 students per group
  • Bilingual discussion guides
  • Personal end-of-cycle parent update
  • Serving US · Brazil · Europe
Book a Bilingual Discovery Call

Need private 1-on-1 support alongside the club?

Private tutoring sessions available for children who need targeted, personalized attention. Limited slots — book in advance.

$110/session

Check availability →
🎉 Founding Member Rate — Limited Time

The first 10 families to enroll receive a special founding rate of $59/month — locked in for as long as they remain members. This offer ends once all founding spots are filled.

Claim Your Founding Spot →

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The SJE Scholarship Spot

One spot in each group is reserved for a family who needs financial support. If cost is a barrier for your family, please reach out privately — this is never advertised, always handled with care.

Inquire privately →

What a Book Cycle Actually Looks Like

Every cycle follows a thoughtful structure — from the pre-reading warm-up in Week 0 all the way to the personal parent update when the book is complete.

Every 60-Minute Session

0–5 min
Welcome & warm-up

A light check-in question. Gets every child talking before the book begins.

5–15 min
Vocabulary spotlight

3–4 words from this week's reading — explored through conversation, not a quiz.

15–45 min
Deep discussion

The heart of every session. Questions move from literal → inferential → evaluative. Every child speaks.

45–55 min
Reflection journal prompt

One written prompt completed after the session — deepens comprehension between meetings.

55–60 min
Reading assignment + extension

Chapters to read before next session. Optional extension activities for advanced readers — never required.

Week by Week

Week 0
Pre-reading session — meet the group, preview the book, build excitement before page one.
Week 1
First impressions — who is the narrator? Where are we? What do we notice?
Week 2
Character deep dive — motivation, inference, reading between the lines.
Week 3
Conflict & tension — what would YOU do? Connect the story to real life.
Week 4
Theme emergence — what is this book REALLY about? Beyond the story.
Week 5
Climax & turning point — what changes? For whom? Why does it matter?
Week 6
Celebration & reflection — how did the characters change? Personal parent update sent this week.
Wk 7–8
if needed
Extension weeks — author study, creative project, student-led discussion. Included free.

The End-of-Cycle Parent Update

At the end of every cycle, every family receives a personal email from Dr. DeSouza. Not a form letter — a specific, thoughtful note about their child. Here is what it includes:

✨ A moment that stood out — one specific thing your child said or did in discussion that Dr. DeSouza noticed.

📈 What I noticed growing — one skill that developed over the cycle, described in plain language.

🌱 Something to encourage at home — one simple conversation starter to extend the learning beyond the club.

📅 What comes next — the next book title and start date if your family is continuing.

This email is what parents share with other parents. It is how your family grows.

What Your Child Will Gain

Reading comprehension is not just a school skill — it is the foundation of every other kind of learning. Here is what children develop in our clubs.

Book a Free Discovery Call
  • 💬

    Confident Discussion Skills

    Children learn to articulate their thoughts, listen actively, and defend their ideas with evidence from the text.

  • 🔍

    Critical Thinking

    Moving beyond "what happened" to "why it happened" — children learn to infer, analyze, and question.

  • 📖

    Love of Reading

    When books are discussed with enthusiasm and curiosity, children want to read more. That love is the greatest outcome of all.

  • 🤝

    Community & Belonging

    Small groups mean every child is known, heard, and valued. Many students form lasting friendships through shared books.

Everything Parents Ask

If your question isn't here, book a free call and ask Dr. DeSouza directly.

What platform do you use?

We use Moodle — a professional learning management system — with BigBlueButton built directly inside it. Your child logs into one place and the video session is already there. No extra apps, no extra logins.

What ages are the clubs for?

Our clubs serve children ages 8–14. Each book is chosen to match a range within that group. Dr. DeSouza will recommend the best fit for your child during the discovery call.

Do you offer Portuguese-language clubs?

Yes! Dr. DeSouza is fully fluent in Portuguese and offers clubs specifically for bilingual and Portuguese-speaking families. These sessions are conducted in Portuguese and serve families across the US, Brazil, Canada, and Europe.

How many children are in each group?

A maximum of 8 children per group. This is deliberate — small groups mean every child participates, is heard, and receives real attention. We will never sacrifice that for the sake of volume.

Do we need to buy the books?

Yes — families purchase their own copy of each book. We will let you know which book your child's group is reading at least 2 weeks before the first session so you have time to order it.

How does the pricing work exactly?

Members pay $79/month and automatically continue into each new book cycle — the simplest option for families committed to ongoing growth. Prefer to try one book first? A single cycle is $175 for 6–8 sessions covering one complete book, with no commitment to continue. Portuguese-language groups are $175/month. Every option includes flex weeks at no extra charge — you never pay more because discussions ran deep.

What if my child misses a session?

We understand life happens. Please let Dr. DeSouza know in advance when possible. Recordings are not provided to protect the privacy of all children in the group, but missed sessions can be made up through a brief catch-up summary.

Is this a good fit for homeschool families?

Absolutely — our clubs were designed with homeschool families in mind. The discussion-based format supplements any homeschool curriculum beautifully, and the social element gives children a community of readers their own age.

Your Child's Reading Journey Starts Here

Book a free 20-minute discovery call with Dr. DeSouza. Together we'll find the right club, the right book, and the right fit for your child.