Dystopian Book Club for Davidson Students

Prepare to be amazed as you watch your differently-wired kiddo make real friends, explore this unique content, grow under the guidance of this expert mentor, and be seen in all their glory!

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Ages: 13-18

Class size: Maximum- 8 Students

Level: All Levels

Price Per Session: $41.80 weekly

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Why Take This Course?

Have a highly gifted or twice exceptional reader who lights up when a story gets big, complex, or imaginative? Do they crave conversations that go deeper than surface-level plot? Do they want friends who love ideas as much as they do? In Book Club, they will finally meet their people.

This is more than reading. This is a community built around curiosity, meaning, and the joy of connecting through stories. Say hello to a book club designed specifically for bright minds that think differently!

As we read together, students learn to analyze, wonder, debate, connect, and discover—while having a truly great time.

In partnership with Davidson Young Scholars, we've created a space where advanced readers finally find their people. Through carefully selected texts, engaging discussions, and creative exploration, students will dive into stories that challenge assumptions, spark curiosity, and create lasting friendships with intellectual peers who "get it."

Students will: ✅ Find genuine belonging with peers who share their intensity, curiosity, and love of complex ideas ✅ Develop sophisticated literary analysis skills as they uncover themes, symbols, and deeper meanings in texts ✅ Strengthen critical thinking through discussions that honor diverse interpretations and encourage intellectual risk-taking ✅ Build confidence as readers and communicators in a supportive environment designed for their unique learning profiles ✅ Explore multiple ways of expressing understanding—through discussion, creative projects, writing, and artistic response ✅ Cultivate a lifelong love of reading by discovering books that match their intellectual needs and personal interests ✅ Form meaningful friendships with students who appreciate depth, nuance, and "what if" questions as much as they do

For teens ages 13-18 who love big ideas—ethics, society, fairness, leadership—and crave stories that challenge how they see the world, Dystopian Book Club offers a bold exploration of power, humanity, and systems through compelling speculative fiction. Centered on mature thematic analysis and intellectual debate, this course strengthens critical thinking while fostering deep connections with peers who share the same intensity and passion for ideas that go far beyond the plot.

Each weekly session blends:
📚 Advanced Literary Analysis – Examine mature themes through accessible, compelling texts including Scythe, The Hunger Games, Divergent, Ender's Game, and student-selected titles, identify allegory and social commentary, and support each other in defending interpretations
🗣️ Bold Intellectual Discussion – Debate philosophical questions embedded in speculative worlds, engage with perspectives different from your own, and explore how dystopian fiction reflects our society's tensions through multiple channels including debate, artistic interpretation, and analytical writing

This course is designed for highly gifted and twice-exceptional teens who demonstrate advanced analytical abilities and is ideal for readers ready to tackle mature themes with intellectual rigor. Through close reading, creative response, and individualized support for comprehension and social interaction, students will expand their understanding of power, ethics, and what it means to be human when systems fail.

If your teen loves examining big ideas and wants discussions that challenge how they see the world, Dystopian Book Club is their gateway to thinking boldly about stories that make them think differently.

The biggest bonus? Students who find books they love often become voracious, lifelong readers.

Why Take This Course? Have a highly gifted or twice exceptional reader who lights up when a story gets big, complex, or imaginative? Do they crave conversations that go deeper than surface-level plot? Do they want friends who love ideas as much as they do? In Book Club, they will finally meet their people.
This is more than reading. This is a community built around curiosity, meaning, and the joy of connecting through stories. Say hello to a book club designed specifically for bright minds that think differently!
Each Book Club group explores rich, age-appropriate texts that challenge students to think critically, make creative connections, discuss big themes, and see themselves in new ways. Guided by a warm instructor who understands the needs of highly gifted learners, students will find a space where their intensity, imagination, and questions are welcomed.
As we read together, students learn to analyze, wonder, debate, connect, and discover—while having a truly great time.
In partnership with Davidson Young Scholars, we've created a space where advanced readers finally find their people. Through carefully selected texts, engaging discussions, and creative exploration, students will dive into stories that challenge assumptions, spark curiosity, and create lasting friendships with intellectual peers who "get it."
Students will: ✅ Find genuine belonging with peers who share their intensity, curiosity, and love of complex ideas ✅ Develop sophisticated literary analysis skills as they uncover themes, symbols, and deeper meanings in texts ✅ Strengthen critical thinking through discussions that honor diverse interpretations and encourage intellectual risk-taking ✅ Build confidence as readers and communicators in a supportive environment designed for their unique learning profiles ✅ Explore multiple ways of expressing understanding—through discussion, creative projects, writing, and artistic response ✅ Cultivate a lifelong love of reading by discovering books that match their intellectual needs and personal interests ✅ Form meaningful friendships with students who appreciate depth, nuance, and "what if" questions as much as they do
For teens ages 13-18 who love big ideas—ethics, society, fairness, leadership—and crave stories that challenge how they see the world, Dystopian Book Club offers a bold exploration of power, humanity, and systems through compelling speculative fiction. Centered on mature thematic analysis and intellectual debate, this course strengthens critical thinking while fostering deep connections with peers who share the same intensity and passion for ideas that go far beyond the plot.
Each weekly session blends:
📚 Advanced Literary Analysis – Examine mature themes through accessible, compelling texts including Scythe, The Hunger Games, Divergent, Ender's Game, and student-selected titles, identify allegory and social commentary, and support each other in defending interpretations
🗣️ Bold Intellectual Discussion – Debate philosophical questions embedded in speculative worlds, engage with perspectives different from your own, and explore how dystopian fiction reflects our society's tensions through multiple channels including debate, artistic interpretation, and analytical writing
This course is designed for highly gifted and twice-exceptional teens who demonstrate advanced analytical abilities and is ideal for readers ready to tackle mature themes with intellectual rigor. Through close reading, creative response, and individualized support for comprehension and social interaction, students will expand their understanding of power, ethics, and what it means to be human when systems fail.
By the end of the course, your student will have:
✔️ Mastered identification of allegory, social commentary, and philosophical themes in literature
✔️ Developed ability to defend interpretations and engage in sophisticated literary debate
✔️ Built critical thinking skills examining "what if" scenarios and societal structures
✔️ Gained connection with intellectually matched peers who share their depth and intensity
If your teen loves examining big ideas and wants discussions that challenge how they see the world, Dystopian Book Club is their gateway to thinking boldly about stories that make them think differently.
The biggest bonus? Students who find books they love often become voracious, lifelong readers.
By the end of the course, your student will have:
✔️ Mastered identification of allegory, social commentary, and philosophical themes in literature
✔️ Developed ability to defend interpretations and engage in sophisticated literary debate
✔️ Built critical thinking skills examining "what if" scenarios and societal structures
✔️ Gained connection with intellectually matched peers who share their depth and intensity
Internet connection and a can-do-attitude!

Our Promise To You

Satisfaction Guarantee: If you’re not 100% IN LOVE with your courses:

Payment Plan: Let us know in the first 24 hours and we’ll immediately stop all payments. After that, no worries! Tell us anytime, and we’ll stop future payments after a 30-day processing period.
Paid in Full: You can switch to another class of equal value or get a credit for the remaining balance for future classes.

We can offer you a 100% satisfaction guarantee because we know what we do works for hundreds of other families—and we know it will work for your family, too!

We’re taking all the risk because you’re getting over $2000 in bonuses when you sign up, and you could cancel the class and keep all the bonuses.

My promise to you.

-Mr. Sam

How To Enroll

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What Our Parents Say…

YSA Mentors take extra time to make sure we understand the subject and always welcome questions!
-Abby, age 13
My son absolutely LOVES his classes at YSA and we always look forward to Fall. YSA makes learning FUN and not boring.
-Felicia
As a family, we have so much fun discussing the topics in class. YSA makes our dinner time conversations thought provoking and exciting!
-Jillian

Meet Your Mentor

Jennifer Hughes

Professor Jennifer Hughes is a retired criminal, international and family court attorney with over 23 years in legal practice. She has taught both in person and online middle and high school for over fifteen years and was the History Department Chair at a non-traditional charter school. She also was an Associate Criminal Justice Professor and has over thirty years of experience competing in Speech and Debate events, including Congress, Lincoln Douglas, Public Forum, Moot Court and Model UN.

Jennifer created her High School Debate program and coaches Debate students for both the NSDA and TOC circuits. Her students have won competitions such as Harvard, obtained national bids and won State championships. Since 2009, she has taught Advanced Placement Courses such as APUSH and Comparative Government. Professor Hughes, as a parent of both neurotypical and neurodiverse kids, fosters classes that are inclusive and tailored to each individual learner.

Questions Asked By Fellow Parents

4 KEY things:
1- A focus on the positive! We don’t focus on what students aren’t doing, we support what they are and we know the rest will come. We develop strengths, interests, and relationships. We build students up so they can build a better world! And do it with the new friends they make in our program!
2- Like-minded neurodivergent peers. Our asynchronous students need one another and YSA is a safe haven for these kiddos to connect around their asynchronies, quirks, and interests. We’re a place where they can be their authentic selves and make friends while doing so!
3- Passionate, masterful neurodivergent mentors who have walked the walk and can authentically validate and support your child with personal experience and care AND expertise as we all have advanced masters + degrees
4-Content your students care about taught in a way they love! We offer the courses they need to be taking, not the ones they’re required to take.
Come by and see for yourself!
Please don’t confuse reactive “distance learning” and virtual enrichment programming. After all, a student who is completely fried from a boring zoom class is often quick to pick up a tablet or phone, right?
Our courses are not at all the same animal =)
THIS IS A SATISFACTION GUARANTEE, so your child must attend the class in question to qualify.
If you’re not 100% IN LOVE with your courses, here are your options:
1- 8-Week Courses Refund requests must be received up to 24 hours after the first course begins to do one of the following options:
Payment plan or Paid in full- 3 options: transfer to another course of the same price, get a 100% refund credit toward a future class, or get a 75% money-back to the original payment method.
2- 16+ Week CoursesThe deposit made at the time of enrollment is non-refundable. Cancellation options are:
Payment plan- Cancellation requests received up to 24 hours after the first course begins will stop any future payments. Any cancellation requests beyond that require a 30-day notice to stop the membership/billing.
Paid in full- Cancellation requests require a 30-day notice. The remaining balance at the end of the 30-day cancellation period can be used to transfer to another class or be converted to credit toward a future class.
Please read the description of each course before enrolling.
We do! We have 3 kinds:
1- Word of mouth: 25% off- we know that the best way to reach new families is word of mouth. When you help another family enroll in a YSA class and they name you at checkout, you will get 25% off the cost of the course you’re currently enrolled in once they stay past the refund period. Note— this applies to all regular courses, BUT only applies to the first month of membership courses.
2- Multi-sibling: 10% off- We believe in supporting whole families and we are willing to put our money where our mouth is! When you sign-up 2 or more kiddos you will receive 10% off. Note— this does not apply to our membership courses.
3-Multi-course: 10% off- To fully serve your family, we hope to provide your child with all the courses they dream of taking! To make this more affordable, when you enroll in 3 or more classes, you will receive 10% off. Note— this does not apply to our membership courses.
Of course!
As we like to say, if you’re on our site, you’re in the right place.
Our programming is for students who are not being supported or challenged enough in school.
If you have an asynchronous kiddo who you know has strengths and struggles, our courses are for your child.
2e students experience such asynchronous development that it proves difficult to have hard age limits.
We often evaluate students on a case by case basis =)
Please email us and we’ll discuss: sam@youngscholarsacademy.org
All of our programs are 100% virtual. This allows us to bring together the twice-exceptional/neurodivergent students of the world, connect them, and nurture them!
Your child may very well enter a 6-person class with 5 other students from 5 different states/countries!
Cool, right?