Mother Daughter Bookclub Books We Have Read

by Laura Sullivan

Hi friends,

As promised: here is the list of what our mother daughter book club has read over the last four years. Ratings and comments were collected by the mothers and daughters. The scores are amalgamated, and comments are by both mothers and girls. I can't say it was a completely non-biased independent evaluation. For posterity, I must disclose that participants were paid with ice cream. The Stars are from 0-10, with 10 being the highest score.

Girls Book Club Books

Grade 4 Books

The Hundred Dresses, by Eleanor Estes, Louis Slobodkin and Helena Estes

Reading Stars: 8.1

Discussion Stars: 7.8

"I loved this early book. It was a good one to start with."

"This book is so great for younger girls. Should be required reading. Perfect start."

"A great book to start our girls book club with. Kind, sad, funny, and talks about the girl in the middle, the bystander."

"I loved this book about the imprtance of kindness."

"Loved it!"

All of a Kind Family, by Sydney Taylor and Helen John

Reading Stars: 7.7

Discussion Stars: 6.3

"Sweet book--good values. Nice for the grade level."

"Interesting discussion about how things used to be 100 years ago."

"Good discussion - not something thought about by the girls in 4th grade."

Anne of Green Gables, by L.M. Montgomery

Reading Stars: 7.5

Discussion Stars: 5.7

"A favorite of some moms, but too convoluted for 4th grade."

"liked writing style"

"We had a good time and watched the movie."

Sport, by Louise Fitzhugh

Reading Stars: 6.4

Discussion Stars: 7.7

"This book was an awesome book. At first I thought it was going to be for boys but I ended up loving it!"

"I remember a good discussion about his mother….not the best book for adults…but the girls seemed to like it"

"Fun story about a boy (not a girl) lots of adventure"

"Everyone seemed to love the book and was having a blast sharing their thoughts."

Hank Zipzer: Day of the Iguana, by Henry Winkler

Reading Stars: 4.8

Discussion Stars: 5.0

"Not particularly memorable."

"not much to discuss"

The Borrowers, by Mary Norton

Reading Stars: 7.3

Discussion Stars: 7.1

"This book was a crazy book about tiny people called the borrowers who took peoples stuff!"

"good discussion"

"We had so much to talk about!"

Bridge to Terabithia, Katherine Patterson and Donna Diamond

Reading Stars: 8.0

Discussion Stars: 8.3

"This book made me cry both times I read it. It has a crazy twist that you don’t expect but that made it even more interesting."

"Great combo of a terrific good--that's interesting to kids, readable and lots to discuss."

"Very good discussion about individuality, being different"

"I enjoyed this book about friendship and individuality."

"We all teared up just thinking about it!"

The Indian in the Cupboard, by Lynne Reid Banks

Reading Stars: 7.0

Discussion Stars: 5.9

"I thought it would be a boy book, but it's not. One of our favorites.

"Don’t be fooled by the title this book was one of my favorite book. It was funny at some parts and tragic at the next."

Miracle on 49th Street, by Mike Lupica

Reading Stars: 7.8

Discussion Stars: 7.8

”Just because its about basketball doesn't mean its not for girls. The main character is a girl trying to find her real father."

"Girls/sports combo works well for our group."

"about living with cousin, distant father, and dead mother"

"Discussion about relationships; lives with cousin, distant father, dead mother (of course)"

"This book had a great discussion because it was set in Boston and we had all been to their favorite pizza place (upper crust)."

Because of Winn Dixie, by Kate DiCamillo

Reading Stars: 8.7

Discussion Stars: 8.3

"This is an original book and I think everyone should read this book once in their life."

"classic, happy book, about relationship with father"

"Classic misfit southern literature"

"enjoyable tearjerker"

"This night was a fun night we talked about the dog and how cute it sounded."

Grade 5

The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy, by Jeanne Birdsall

Reading Stars: 9.0

Discussion Stars: 9.2

"This book was an amazing story about how 4 girls survive with  out a mother it goes thought sad time , loving times, and happy times you feel like you have known the Penderwick family forever."

"A favorte…perfect"

"A favorite, the girls loved this story. Lots of character discussion"

”It was a great night and we all decided we would read the 2nd on our own."

The Wright 3, by Blue Balliet

Reading Stars: 6.2

Discussion Stars: 3.6

"This book was a great book for people who like mysteries."

"good book--mystery…some didn't read….would like to try this series again"

"Not a lot of people read the book but I thought it was one of my favorite books and now they even have a 2nd and a 3rd wahooo!"

Summer to Die, Lois Lowry

Reading Stars: 7.2

Discussion Stars: 7.6

"This book was an amazing book that was very sad and happy at both parts it reminded me of My Sister's Keeper."

"about relationships with family and neighbors, death in the family"

"Very good discussion about family relationships, death in the family, safe relationships and neighbors"

"good discussion because helped give girls perspective on what leukemia used to be like for kids… now more kids survive"

"excellent discussion- story really touched the girls"

"tough book & topic"

"Not everyone liked this book which is normal but some people found it good like me!"

Ida B: …and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and Possibly Save the World, by Katherine Hannigan

Reading Stars: 7.4

Discussion Stars: 6.7

”This was my all time favorite book of the 5th grade!!!! This was sad happy and depressing all at once I read it 3 times it was so good and now they have a sequel I can't wait to read!"

"another favorite. Should be required reading"

"Great night a lot of kids liked the book and we had so much to talk about!"

Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret, by Judy Blume

Reading Stars: 7.3

Discussion Stars: 7.9

"This book is about learning girl stuff FYI it's only for girls. I liked this book because it taught you not to be uncomfortable with your body and everyone is going thought the same thing."

"Girls opened up more than I thought they would. Unbelievable how this book still has appeal to the next generation"

"about growing up to be a woman and friendships"

"You can imagine- we talked about lots of stuff in a room full of 20 people that doesn't usually get mentioned. Lots of questions from the girls!"

"might want to read a bit older"

"we all read it when we were young; a true rite of passage"

"The discussion was about how she handled it the right was and they thought us what to do when we started to change"

Rules, by Cynthia Lord

Reading Stars: 7.9

Discussion Stars: 8.1

Awesome

"This book was an awesome book. It taught you to always keep your promise and to be a loyal friend."

"Favorite"

"a girl who made rules for her autistic brother"

"Great discussion about people who are different, about how to treat people"

"good discussion about autism - I do think this subject is over discussed"

From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, by E. L. Koningsburg

Reading Stars: 7.0

Discussion Stars: 5.7

"This was a book that I didn’t like as much as the others"

"Plot heavy, spent time reconstructing story"

"hard for girls to relate to this book"

Walk Two Moons, Sharon Creech

Reading Stars: 7.2

Discussion Stars: 6.5

"This book was really good and cute my favorite quote from this book was 'don’t judge me until you have walked to moons in my footsteps'."

"a favorite, mystery"

"A favorite of the girls, mysterious"

"This book was a hit by a lot of the kids and I'm sure your will enjoy it too."

Long Way From Chicago, by Richard Peck

Reading Stars: 5.1

Discussion Stars: 6.0

"Good discussion about relationships within families."

Grade 6

Shakespeare's Secret, by Elise Broach

Reading Stars: 5.3

Discussion Stars: 5.6

"This book was very confusing and not my favorite."

"Mysteries usually are a good discussion, we talk about what we think would happen."

"It was okay. I remember it was a pool party!"

The Revealers, by Doug Wilhelm

Reading Stars: 5.3

Discussion Stars: 5.3

"This book was our school's summer reading book."

"We discussed groups and bullying, friendships."

Flush, by Carl Hiaasen

Reading Stars: 7.0

Discussion Stars: 5.4

"Discussion about the right thing versus the easy thing to do."

The Million Dollar Kick, by Dan Gutman

Reading Stars: 7.3

Discussion Stars: 6.9

"soccer, friendships"

The Anybodies, by N.E. Bode

Reading Stars: 6.4

Discussion Stars: 6.2

"confusing and silly"

"A little plot confusing for girls"

"we discussed how to make a book better"

Lily's Crossing, by Patricia Reilly Giff

Reading Stars: 6.3

Discussion Stars: 6.1

"being left behind and worry about WWII"

"Good talk about being left behind and worrying during WWII"

"one of the girls brought wwII coupons- so cool"

"We had a show 'n tell and we each brought in something from maybe are grandparents if they were alive durring world war 2 and we talked about it!"

A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeline L'Engle

Reading Stars: 4.4

Discussion Stars: 4.7

"I did not like this book."

"I hated this book fantasy and a bit of Utopia."

"Morlocks? Fantasy doesn't go very far with this group although a little talk about Utopian society."

Bloomability, by Sharon Creech

Reading Stars: 6.1

Discussion Stars: 5.7

Great read

Jacob Have I Loved, by Katherine Patterson

Reading Stars: 7.8

Discussion Stars: 8.0

"One of my favorites!"

"Great book about relationships and growing up."

"I loved this book, good discussion about growing up, relationships, treating disenfranchised kindly."

"I liked the ending."

Firegirl, by Tony Abbott

Reading Stars: 7.1

Discussion Stars: 7.0

"Good for discussion--bullying, judging people. Girls talked a lot about it"

"YOU HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK!!!"

"Good discussion about treating peole kindly with disabilities, how someone might feel disabled (or in this case, disfigured)"

"Good discussion about being different in a school setting"

"I loved this book-very enlightening to know what it's like to be disfigured and how people treat you"

Grade 7

Fever 1793, by Laurie Halse Anderson

Reading Stars: 7.8

Discussion Stars: 7.6

"great discussion and history lesson"

"talk about the fever and what was caused by it"

"Good talk about life before medicine and communication; respect for the past"

"first real historical fiction discussion… discussion was about illnesses and how they impacted history"

"good story of early America"

Things not seen, by Andrew Clements

Reading Stars: 7.8

Discussion Stars: 7.2

"About believing people and what you would you do in that situation"

"interesting premise; talk about plot what would you do?"

"interesting perspective on what it must be like to be invisible"

"So fun talking about the surprising ending"

If You Come Softly, by Jacqueline Woodson

Reading Stars: 7.1

Discussion Stars: 6.8

"AN AWESOME BOOK! FULL OF LOVE AND SADNESS!!!!! YOU HAVE TO READ IT"

"contemporary setting and twist ending/ racism got girls talking about important issues"

"Good discussion about racism"

Up a Road Slowly, by Irene Hunt

Reading Stars: 6.8

Discussion Stars: 6.0

"How you can love someone and just not know it?"

Chains, by Laurie Halse Anderson

Reading Stars: 8.5

Discussion Stars: 7.4

"YOU HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK!!!"

"Love this…waiting to read the next one…history and important issues about slavery. Great discussions both when reading and in group."

"Discussed slavery & loyalties, blurred loyalty to British & USA"

"Awesome night!! Everyone was hoping there was a sequel btw! There is:)"

The Green Glass Sea, by Ellen Klages

Reading Stars: 8.9

Discussion Stars: 8.4

"Amazing book"

"One of shea's favorite…interesting topic--learning about bomb. Good for girls to learn about history…lilkable characters

about WWII, an orphan, friendships"

"Good discussion about lesser known aspect of WWII; orphan odd loveable kid"

"Thinking about how someone can just grow to love someone."

Each Little Bird that Sings, by Deborah Wiles

Reading Stars: 7.0

Discussion Stars: 6.1

"good discussion about family and friendships"

"Southern misfit book again- good talk about friendship & when friends fight"

"liked this one; reminded me of Winn Dixie"

I'd Tell You I Love You but I'd Then I'd Have to Kill You, by Ally Carter

Reading Stars: 3.7

Discussion Stars: 3.5

"Good talk about picking good books for book club vs. picking books that are fun to read"

"Not my favorite"

Mockingbird, Katheryn Erskine

Reading Stars: 8.7

Discussion Stars: 8.3

"AWESOME!

"my favorite book- amazing voice--strong main character. About coping."

"autism, tradgedy with brother, relationship with father"

"Good talk about autism and tragedy; narrator is autistic"

"book provided an interesting discussion about autism"

"Everyone loved this book and we dicussed all are thoughts and everyone said they cried reading it!!!"

The Cage, Ruth Minsky Sender

Reading Stars: 8.4

Discussion Stars: 7.2

concentration camps and labor camps in WWII, how the people treated each other then

Talk about concentration camps in WWII; baffling to girls that people would treat each other this way; theme of hope

discussion about WWII… suggstion for future book group -see if there is a grandparent who can come and talk

If I Stay, Gayle Forman

Reading Stars: not yet rated

Discussion Stars: not yet rated

A Million Miles from Boston, Karen Day

Reading Stars: not yet rated

Discussion Stars: not yet rated

Okay for Now, Gary Schmidt

Reading Stars: not yet rated

Discussion Stars: not yet rated

 

Go Girls! - How to Start a Mother Daughter Book Club

by Laura Sullivan

Hello friends,

Welcome to the first chapter of our Go Girls! Book Club Blog.  I have been in many adult book clubs over the years, and I've found book clubs to be a special place; where we can share ideas and opinions- both good and bad. It is an intellectual release for those of us who no longer attend school, but still like to flex our brains with stimulating, spirited conversation. And sharing a little wine with friends now and again too isn't so bad, either.

When my daughter was in 3rd grade, I had a friend whose daughter was in 5th grade and they both were in a mother daughter book club together. I confess- I was a little awestruck by the coolness of this mom of an older child. So wise, and knowing… Her kid was 11, practically a teenager. She was on a path to a life so glamorous, yet fraught with the many difficulties of becoming a teenager. A book club was a perfect place to hash out these problems. Lucky them. But why not lucky me? I could do this too and be that cool knowing mom someday.

So I did. I had a bit of an ulterior motive: I was a little scared about being the mother of a girl who would someday be a teenager. The fighting, crying, bullying, the clothes- and that's just me; what if she did those things, too? Lord help us all. . No, I jest. I wanted to create a group and an environment where we would be united; mothers aligned in our ideas, choices, and our morality. If we could create a group where any one of our girls would feel safe and confident in her choices, and that her friends' mothers felt the same as her mom did, that could be nothing but good. I also wanted to get ahead of what was going to inevitably happen in their lives, socially, emotionally, and physiologically. I wanted to have a venue to talk about all kinds of things. (And boy we have- more on that at a later date.)

We began with a mothers' meeting at my house. I asked nine friends, who had daughters my daughter's age, and most of whom were her friends, too. I figured twenty people was the max that could fit in a regular sized living room with girls squished into one big easy chair, or on the floor. A largish group lends itself for dynamic conversation, too. All nine accepted the invitation, and came to plan. (Listen to this part, because I think it's been critical to our success.) We came up with a list of parameters of how the book club would work, when we would meet, and where we would meet. Over the last four years this list of rules has not deviated- it was a really good plan for us, and it continues to work. If something begins to go off track, the secretary sends out two e-mails a month; one right after our meeting to reiterate what we are reading for the month, and give the meeting place and time. The second comes about a week before book club, as a reminder.

Our Rules

1.  The Calendar

We plan this out at the beginning of the school year, taking into account the already published school calendar. Days may shuffle very slightly, but these girls are committed- they come after a sports practice, or get heir homework and studying beforehand. We meet on Wednesdays, about every 5 weeks.

2. The Time

6:45-9:00

6:45: arrive

7:30: sit down to discuss

8:30: dessert

9:00: out the door with a very polite thank you to the hostesses. (It's not a bridge game, but we try to stick to this.)

3. The Location

We have a list, and if you are up next, it's your turn. If there is vomiting or remodeling at your house, you may switch. No one likes vomit.

4. Ahh…the Food

A note here, because when we had our parent meting someone suggested that we go alcohol free because we are with the girls. One, very wise mother (she must have had an older child- she was one of the cool) suggested that there was nothing wrong with drinking liquor, and, in fact, we are being very responsible adults showing what it is to be moderate drinkers, and to drink responsibly. The audible sigh of agreement and sense is still resonating over the terra firma. We have wine. And beer.

So the list of responsibilities:

Hostess provides: cleanish house (or candles lit and low lights-I'm telling you- it works) and a kid drink

The others sign up to bring one of:

Appetizer 1

Appetizer 2

Fruit

White Wine

Red Wine

Beer

Fruit

Dessert 1

Dessert 2

This is plenty to get by without having dinner before we leave the house. If we know the girls are mostly coming from somewhere else, we'll make the appetizers hearty; potato skins, mini meatball subs, or calzone.

5. The Discussion

Everyone reads the book and contributes to the discussion. To get some of our less conversational girls talking, we have everyone bring a discussion question about the book we've read. A few of the adults gently guide the discussion, but the best discussions are when we hear from everyone. The girls get to learn about their moms in new ways when hear their mom's thoughts and hear anecdotes from their childhoods. Things come up when we're reading these kid books, and they are inevitably about a kid, so the mom's tend to reminisce about and share their own lives. (A useful note- I have used bribery when reading has waned, especially if I hear girls aren’t getting the books finished. I have had a raffle for those to enter who have finished the book. It's been a small token - a DVD, nail polish and ice cream gift certificates to name a few. It's really worked. I've even had a mom's raffle, too.)

6. Choosing the next book

The hostess girl chooses three books, which have been vetted by the mom, and are known to be widely available through our library. The hostess girl presents the books after the discussion, and a blind vote is conducted by the girls to choose the next book. (A note of experience, since I am now one of the wise and cool- if the book is only very little available in your library system, it is usually because it is a crappy, or possibly out of print book.)

These are our, agreed upon rules. Choose your own, but consider them as by laws, and stick with them. Amend the by-laws if something isn't working, but follow them. With clear parameters, a book, and nice people, you will have a good group that will become as meaningful as ours has been for us.

7. The Secretary, Boss, Grand Wizardess…

Someone needs to send out the reminder e-mails, and keep track of books read, the calendar. Pick someone who has an organized closet. If their closet is organized, they are the right person for the job.