Marney’s Book Club Continues to Grow

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

Ever since she and her family relocated to Marquez Knolls from Montreal, Quebec, a little over two years ago, Marney Sobel-Abadian has encouraged local children to fall in love with reading—an activity she calls “exercise for the mind.” Bolstered by 15 years of experience as a teacher, she started a book club out of her home and mostly through word of mouth “Marney’s Book Club” has blossomed beyond her wildest dreams.

“Marney’s has been growing,” she said. “I have over 60 kids from the surrounding community, with kids from Palisades Elementary, Palisades High, Corpus Christi School, Marquez Elementary, Canyon Elementary, St. Matthew’s and Paul Revere Middle School.

“I’m busy with book clubs daily running Monday [through] Friday. Groups that were only four are now up to 12. I’ve combined swimming club after book club and am promoting, ‘Marney’s: Exercise for the Mind and Body.’ I’ve employed two fantastic swim coaches, one of them being  2008 Olympic bronze medalist Kim Vandenberg, who lives here in the Palisades. I even have an all boys group and a French club with seventh-grade Revere students. Needless to say, there’s not much time, but it’s all very rewarding and exciting.”

Sobel’s weekends are dedicated to full-time tutoring sessions. She has also started a clothing line called “MARNEY’S MERCH,” an educational fashion brand that carries a variety of hats and hoodies. Ten percent of all purchases will be donated to the American Youth Literacy Foundation. With the holiday season coming, Sobel is offering seven three-hour “Christmukkah” bake and feed the needy sessions.

“Students will bake Christmas and/or Hanukkah cookies, decorate Christmas bags and prepare meals for those less fortunate,” Sobel said. “Pali High students will then personally deliver these meals to those in need. I’m offering seven classes, three of which are already booked up and I expect to fill the rest. Children of all ages will have fun being creative and decorating cookies for their families while also [giving] back to the community.

“Things are rapidly growing… it’s amazing. Marney’s is becoming an educational brand that I hope will continue to expand and foster screen free, unplugged, reconnecting learning for all learners. The Palisades community has been great, kids are away from their screens and loving reading. I thought it’d just be a COVID thing and that would be it, but it’s not.”

Since teaming up with Vandenberg, who works with her a couple days a week, Sobel has hired a second swim teacher. Everything is run from her home. When she started she had four kids, now she is up to 12 per group, Monday through Friday. Prior to her group sessions she also offers two hours of private tutoring.

“Because I’m from Quebec and a lot of Pali High kids are in French class, I have parents saying their kids want to learn it,” Sobel said. “I have a group of four Paul Revere girls who’ve been with me from the beginning and we do an hour of book club and an hour of French club every Thursday to learn a second language. I have videos of the skits they’ve done. They can actually converse in French.

“Up until now, I had all girls except for one boy. News got out and in the past few months, five second-grade boys from three different schools in the Palisades have joined. So it’s not just a girls program anymore. With my tutoring and my clubs, I have over 60 now. And I have three kids of my own. But I genuinely love what I’m doing. Some kind of magic goes on in the backyard. It’s very authentic.”

Over the summer, Sobel ran a one-week, full-day camp. All programs were with professionals in their field and Sobel provided all of the meals and snacks. There was a drama class, an art class, a baking class, a science class and swim instruction. Sobel shared plans to have a summer program in 2022 as well.   

“Kim [Vandenberg] is an exceptional swim coach and these kids get a challenging workout,” Sobel added. “I also work with Daniella Hawkins, a UCLA student who was on the swim team for years and is great with the kids. Kim Harrington is a wonderful yoga instructor who also lives in the Palisades and offers yoga and mindfulness for my students. If the weather gets cold and we don’t want to swim, we do a yoga class with her. My daughter, Roya Abadian, and 11 other fifth-graders at Pali Elementary attend book and swim club with me once a week as well. Kids are getting exercise for the mind and body.

“My boys, Lucca and Val Abadian, along with some friends, all from Pali High, will be distributing the meals to those in need. I want the entire community involved. Kids are having fun baking and leaving with a dozen cookies, but they’re also giving back. It’s teaching them empathy and gratitude.”

When asked if she will have programs for students in kindergarten and first grade, Sobel said: “That’s next on my list. Stay tuned.”

Marney can be reached on Twitter at @marneysobel or Instagram at @homemadewithlove_la.