LOWELL | Oprah Winfrey has nothing on Monica Parilac and Nicole Zaragena, both 11-year old sixth-graders at St. Edwards School. They have formed their own book club, the MKBC.

When the Mighty Knights Book Club met Wednesday, about 15 sixth- and seventh-graders grabbed some lunch while talking up plot points of "A Wrinkle in Time," a Newberry award-winning book by Madeleine L'Engle, the club's first selection.

The lively discussion, moderated by Parilac and Zararena, kept everyone involved.

"Mrs. Who is awesome. She can speak all those different languages," sixth-grader Kiefer Kersey said of one of the book's characters.

Sitting in on the session, Principal Colleen Kennedy said she has been impressed with both the girls who founded the club and the students whose fervor mark it.

Kennedy said Zagarena and Parilac proposed the club in a letter to her and, once approved, handled the letters to parents and a presentation to the St. Edwards Home and School Association. "They are doing everything," she said.

Zagarena said "A Wrinkle in Time" was her idea after reading of it in a magazine.

"It's described as a fight against good and evil. That's why the boys like it," she said.

Parilac noted that students may opt out and rejoin, based on their interest in the book selection.

The school purchased the initial books, and recently the club held a bake sale as a fundraiser to buy later selections. The bake sale netted $101 and $60 has been received in donations to the club which, Kennedy said, is well supported by parents.

Both Zagarena and Parilac are pleased with the initial success of their endeavor.

"The teachers have been hearing about it, and they want to join," Parilac said.