ARTS

Starting a book club was "the best thing I ever did in my former town, when my children were small and I had stopped reading," says Michelle.

Not only did she begin reading again, Michelle started hanging out in libraries and eventually went back to school to get her Masters of Library Sciences degree. And her second book club, the one she started in Highland Park, has been going strong for seven years, with 14 members and a plethora of books and good times.

It is a hot afternoon, but you would never know it by the energy in the backyard on South Seventh Avenue. I count roughly 16 children hanging out on a wooden play set, but their attention is focused on the dynamic blonde woman in front of them.

She is going over stage directions, calling out both children’s and character’s names, giving them direction, praising parts of their performances. She checks the time, and asks them if they are ready to move to a new scene. Half of them eagerly shout their assent, a few others groan.