The National Teen Book Club is an online book club for state secondary schools and colleges run by Speakers for Schools in partnership with Penguin. The programme was created to encourage young people aged 11-19 to read widely for pleasure while developing the skills and confidence to respond critically and creatively to a chosen text.

Over the course of the school year, the National Teen Book Club introduces young people to six carefully selected books. For each featured book, there are four live online events where participants can join in the discussions about the book’s language, structure and themes with their peers. The online events also include the opportunity to meet a range of speakers and book industry experts, including the book’s author.

The online sessions are delivered via Microsoft Teams and take place on Wednesdays between 3.30pm and 4.30pm.

Cost:  Access to the online discussions is free with a Speakers for Schools account (free). Schools will need to buy copies of the featured book for their students to read.

About Speakers for Schools: Speakers for Schools is the largest social mobility charity in the UK. Its aim is to help young people from state schools and colleges develop the confidence, skills and knowledge that will enable them to achieve their full potential in the world of work by providing them with opportunities to engage with leading employers and high-achieving professionals.

About Penguin Books: Penguin Books was launched in 1935 by publisher Allen Lane. In 2013, it merged with Random House to form Penguin Random House, the world’s leading and first truly global book publishing company, publishing over 1500 titles every year across a wide range of categories and genres.