At Wellington, student clubs are more than just a way to pass the time — they’re an opportunity to explore passions, lead initiatives, and build meaningful connections. The upper school Book Club, co-founded by Lucy Allen ’26 and Anna Spicer ’26, is a perfect example of this student-driven approach.
When students identify a missing space or see an opportunity to create something new, Wellington helps make it happen — and then lets them take the lead. That’s exactly how Book Club came to be.
Though new to Wellington’s lineup of clubs, Book Club has quickly become a space for students to engage with literature beyond the classroom. For Lucy, the club grew from a desire to build a community around reading. “I started the Book Club at the beginning of this year because literature has always been a huge passion of mine, and I wanted to create a space where students could come together and discuss books meaningfully,” she explained.
For Anna, the club was the realization of a long-time dream. “Since freshman year, I’ve wanted to start a reading club, but I worried that not enough people would be interested,” she said. When Lucy approached her at the end of their sophomore year with the idea of co-leading, she jumped at the chance.
Book Club is not just a place for students to share their love of reading — it’s also a way for some members to prepare for the AP English Literature and Composition exam. Although Wellington doesn’t offer traditional AP courses, students still receive robust preparation for AP exams through deep engagement with challenging texts and discussion-based learning. Book Club leaders considered this when curating this year’s reading list, selecting books that frequently appear on the AP exam but aren’t already covered in Wellington’s upper school classes. “We chose these books because they are highly critically acclaimed, tackle deep and complex issues, and are commonly referenced on the AP Literature exam,” Lucy said. “I want to make sure our books challenge readers while also giving club members ways to engage with texts that they can use in their AP essays.”
This year’s selections — "A Doll’s House" by Henrik Ibsen, "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, and "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston — were chosen with both literary merit and exam relevance in mind. “We make our discussion questions based on what the AP exam might ask us,” Anna explained. “Sometimes, we even create our own multiple-choice questions to mirror the test format.”
Beyond test prep, the club fosters deep discussion and new perspectives on literature. One of the most thought-provoking debates so far stemmed from “A Doll’s House,” where members discussed whether Nora’s decision to leave her children was empowering or selfish. “Some members argued that she was making a necessary choice for her own independence, while others felt that she was abandoning her responsibilities,” Lucy shared. “It was fascinating to see how personal values and perspectives shaped the way people interpreted the book.”
“The Scarlet Letter” also sparked deep reflection, particularly around themes of public versus private guilt. “We often see Hester as a symbol of resilience, but discussing the book with my members made me reconsider how public shame shaped her identity differently than Dimmesdale’s private suffering,” Lucy said. “It was interesting to think about how that applies to modern society — how people navigate mistakes, reputation, and redemption in a world where everything is so public.”
For both leaders, Book Club has deepened their love of literature in unexpected ways. “I used to read alone because I didn’t know many people who liked books as much as I did,” Anna shared. “Now, I have a whole group of people I can talk to about stories, themes, and ideas. It’s made reading even more meaningful.” Lucy echoed the sentiment, adding that leading the club has challenged her to think more critically, search for deeper themes, and prepare questions that spark discussion. “Books can become so lively when they are discussed with others,” she said.
With dozens of student-led clubs in the upper school, Wellington students have the freedom to explore their interests in ways that are both intellectual and personal. For those curious about joining Book Club — or any of Wellington’s many student organizations — the message is clear: there’s always room for conversation.