Mother Daughter Book Club -- Cinder

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

My enjoyment rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
February Mother Daughter Book Club choice

Source:  Personal Copy

Genre:  YA; Dystopian (12 and up)

Objectionable material:  mild violence; use of guns

Remember Jaime Sommers? The Bionic Woman? One day, happily dating Steve Austin, on the way to being married, when she is tragically hurled to earth in a catastrophic sky diving accident. When she awakens from her injuries and surgery – she has been repaired: new ears, new arm, new legs – bigger, better, stronger.

That’s how I envisioned Cinder, Marissa Meyer’s spunky heroine, in her dystopian mashup of the fairy tale Cinderella: Cinder, hurled to earth to be saved from the Lunar people, rebuilt with mechanical parts that make her a Cyborg (was Jaime really a cyborg afterall?), trying to save her planet and her Emperor (who also happens to be super cute).

Surprisingly – I liked this.

Cinder was an easy character to embrace: she was dogged by her stepmother and step sister, bullied by the mainstream humans – but yet, she was able to rebuild robots, droids and cars, flirt with the hottie Prince, had an awesome sidekick, Iko, and was able to withstand the evil Queen Levana. She was one tough cookie.

I knew going into this that it was a series (Scarlet #2 in the Lunar Chronicles) – so the ending wasn’t really and ending. Which rots. I’m not sure I’m that invested in Cinder to read the remaining to see what happens…but I would like to know how it ends. Oh well.

This was our Mother/Daughter book club choice for February.

We haven’t met yet – and normally I wait and post my thoughts until I get feedback from the girls. But, there is a significant chance we won’t be there on Tuesday.

Daisy daughter still hasn’t finished this. It’s totally NOT in her literary comfort zone (not a single cupcake was baked). We shall see.

View all my reviews

Mother Daughter Book Club -- Tuesdays at the Castle

Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George

My enjoyment rating: 3 of 5 stars

Source:  Personal copy

Genre:  Juvenile Fiction

Objectionable material: None

Princess Celie is in a quandary: her parents have disappeared under questionable circumstances, her brother (and heir apparent in his father’s absence) has been forced from authority at the hands of his advisors and an evil prince, and her beloved castle – that transforms to suit her needs and her family’s – has been spellbound and has become dormant.

What is a princess to do? In Celie’s case – she vanquishes the evil overtakers, she sends rescue teams out to find her parents, she organizes the family staff to help in the revolt – and she’s only 11.

This was our mother/daughter book club for January – and the girls (and moms) thought it was delightful!

Celie is spunky, creative and tough; she has an assortment of interesting characters that surround her – but the true gem is the magical Castle, which transforms itself to accommodate the family, guests, and most importantly, Celie.

It wasn’t a perfect book (story lines that didn’t connect or make sense) – but it was fun.

 

No decision yet on our February book!

View all my reviews

October Mother Daughter Book Club -- Stargirl

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

My enjoyment rating: 4 of 5 stars

Daisy Daughter's rating:  4 of 5 stars

Source:  Library

Genre:  YA Fiction

Objectionable material:  None

 

From Amazon: Stargirl. From the day she arrives at quiet Mica High in a burst of color and sound, the hallways hum with the murmur of “Stargirl, Stargirl.” She captures Leo Borlock’s heart with just one smile. She sparks a school-spirit revolution with just one cheer. The students of Mica High are enchanted. At first.
Then they turn on her. Stargirl is suddenly shunned for everything that makes her different, and Leo, panicked and desperate with love, urges her to become the very thing that can destroy her: normal. In this celebration of nonconformity, Newbery Medalist Jerry Spinelli weaves a tense, emotional tale about the perils of popularity and the thrill and inspiration of first love.

This was an extremely powerful book. Such a strong message on the necessity of maintaining your personal uniqueness in the face of overwhelming peer pressure.

The story of Stargirl and Leo has resonated for generations, and is timeless for generations to come.

Staying true to yourself, your beliefs, your soul, your identity, is complicated and difficult to say the least. Not only for a high school student, but for adults as well.

But this book is an essential reminder that our distinctiveness should never be sacrificed, but revered.

 

I was unable to attend our Mother/Daughter book club meeting, but Daisy daughter reported that the girls really enjoyed this, and committed to keeping their inner "Stargirl" alive!

 

Our November Mother Daughter book club selection:

 

The School Story by Andrew Clements

View all my reviews

September Mother Daughter Book Club -- The Mysterious Benedict Society

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

My enjoyment rating: 2 of 5 stars

Daisy Daughter enjoyment rating:  4 of 5 stars

Genre: Juvenile Fiction

Source:  Personal copy

Objectionable material: None

Mother Daughter book club – year #4!

We’ve made it to Middle School! We’ve lost a few members, but the girls were glad to be back together.

Our selection this month was The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart. Mr. Stewart is a local author, so it seemed appropriate to read a book by a “neighbor.”

There were several aspects of this book that the girls enjoyed discussing: What determines a family? What are your strengths/talents? Does this book exemplify teamwork? How well would you have worked as a team?

Daisy daughter and her friends enjoyed this book much more than I did. I found the depth of the story lacking, and had a really difficult time maintaining interest. The four society members had some really interesting tests to accomplish in the beginning that were VERY clever. After that, it meandered, and introduced a "whispering machine" that I still don't quite understand. I didn’t finish it until 3 days after our discussion. That being said, Daisy daughter is already on book #2 of the series. I think I am done.

Although the book was a bust for me – I can tell you that I am thrilled that after 4 years, we are still meeting. As the girls mature, their comments are more thought provoking and in-depth. And the moms get a chance to talk about our developing pre-teens. It’s a joy!

 

Our October selection:

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Part fairy godmother, part outcast, part dream-come-true, the star of Spinelli's novel shares many of the mythical qualities as the protagonist of his Maniac Magee. Spinelli poses searching questions about loyalty to one's friends and oneself and leaves readers to form their own answers.

View all my reviews

May Mother Daughter Book Club’s Big Surprise!

For May – we read, Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine.  I read this book in March and adored it (5 stars!!!).  You can read my review here.

For our last book club meeting of the year – we wanted to do something special for the girls, so prior to our meeting I emailed Ms. Levine to ask if she would be willing to “skype” into our meeting and be a part of our discussion – and guess what – she agreed!

Last night, for about 30 minutes, the girls were able to visit, discuss, ask questions and just be silly with Ms. Levine.  Ms. Levine was a dream – she delighted the girls with stories about the genesis of the book, about her mother, her visits to Little Rock – and ultimately, what kind of “drink” she would be (a theme she uses throughout the book – she answered, “something fizzy that would eventually go flat!”  And the ultimate compliment was that she interrupted her own children’s bedtime routine to talk to us!  That is a huge sacrifice!  Oh -- and both moms and daughters LOVED the book too!!!  One said, "this was the all time favorite of all the books we've read." High praise.

Our book club now ventures into uncharted waters:  all of our girls are off to middle school next year – some of them will be separated for the first time since Pre-K.  We are determined to keep this going, but it was with a sense of bittersweet that as I looked at this group, that there is a possibility that that was our last meeting.  With schedules, homework, an after school activities – it’s going to be that much more difficult to keep our “band of daughters” together.  But we are committed to the task. 

Wish us luck.

Over the summer, we normally don’t meet, but have committed to read The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart.  Mr. Stewart is a resident of Little Rock – we are already working angles to see if he will meet with our group in person!!  Got any connections?!

April Mother Daughter Book Group -- Mackenzie Blue Friends Forever?

Friends Forever? by Tina Wells
Mother/Daughter book club enjoyment rating: 4 of 5 stars
(I did not finish this book)
Book source:  Public library
Genre:  Juvenile fiction


Summary:
Mackenzie Blue is hitting the trails
It's time for Brookdale Academy's camping field trip, but Zee has much more to deal with than a lesson about nature. . . .
Pros:
1. My BFF, Ally, is visiting all the way from Paris Ooh la la
2. My friends and I are so going to win the environmental scavenger hunt
Cons:
1. We have to stay in teeny-tiny log cabins. How will we all fit?
2. The legendary (and terrifying) Mountain Man . . .

This was a delightful choice for our April mother daughter book club. The girls really enjoyed discussing the relationships between all the friends – and especially – the existence of the mythical Mountain Man! They all had various plots/ploys for how they would retaliate against the boys – they are a clever bunch!

I did not finish this book due to time.  Based on the first 95 pages that I finished, it was fairly formulaic for a ‘tween read:  Angst over girlfriends and boyfriends, and gasp – starting your period!  And it bugged me that her nickname was "Zee" -- even though the last three letters of her name are spelled "zie."  Just a personal quirk.  But, I can’t give it a fair review due to it being incomplete.

But based on the girls reaction – it was a high 4 stars!

May book choice (and last choice of the year!):

The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine




View all my reviews

March Mother Daughter Book Club -- All the Lovely Bad Ones

All the Lovely Bad Ones by Mary Downing Hahn

My enjoyment rating: 3 of 5 stars

Daisy Daughter rating:  4 of 5 stars

Book source:  Public library

Genre:  Juvenile fiction

Corey and her brother, Travis, are spending the summer at their Grandmother’s Inn in Vermont. With a history of ghost sightings, Corey and Travis are determined to do their part in adding to the Inn’s spooky reputation by staging their own ghostly apparitions. What they don’t realize is their antics will awaken a vast community of dormant spirits and unleash the very evil, Miss Ada.

All the Lovely Bad Ones by Mary Downing Hahn, was our Mother/Daughter book club selection for March.

This was surprisingly eerie! I started it one night, after the kids were in bed, and my husband out of town, only to realize, that I was a bit uncomfortable reading about a haunted Inn. I was even more surprised that my daughter FINISHED it and liked it, in spite of its supernatural setting.

The tale of the Inn being a former “work farm” for orphans, operated by two ruthless caretakers, was clever and authentic. And that the orphans died at the hands of their tormentors was equally sad.

Then ending was quite chilling as well.

For a juvenile work of fiction – it gave me the shivers!

All the girls loved it. It was a great discussion about ghosts, whether they’d ever seen one, whether they believed in them or not, would they stay in a haunted house or not – all very interesting questions and answers.

Next book selection:

April: Mackenzie Blue: Friends Forever? by Tina Wells

May: Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine (I read this a month ago and LOVED it!)

View all my reviews

January Mother Daughter Book Group -- Theater Shoes

Theater Shoes by Noel Streatfeild

My enjoyment rating: 2 of 5 stars

Book source:  Public library

Genre:  Juvenile fiction

Life’s a bummer – Sorrel, Mark, and Holly’s mother is dead (although we never learn when or how), their father is missing in action during WWII, they are living with their paternal grandfather, who also dies, then they are shipped to London to live with their maternal grandmother (whom they have never met) only to learn they are a part of a theatrical dynasty (think Barrymore or Fonda) and are required to follow in their familial footsteps.

Theater Shoes, by Noel Streatfeild (1895-1986) was a fussy, confusing, mess. I’m usually endeared by tales of orphaned children and their tales of survival – which are usually quaint and surrounded by nannies and other caregivers. However, I found nothing likeable in the book. I had to re-read passages over and over again, just to get the gist of what was going on. In fact (insert confession here), I didn’t finish the last 6 chapters, because, well, I. Couldn’t. Read. Another. Word.

But regardless of how I felt – the girls loved it. Daisy Daughter (I mean Rosie Girl) was like her mother and fought thru this book (and this was her book choice!), but the other girls loved reading about Sorrel, Mark, and Holly’s theater classes, their experiences on stage, their relationship with their grandmother, and their life during the war.

Which is why it’s about the daughters, not about the moms. In fact, if it had been left up to me, I would have given the book 1 star – but after our discussion I’m giving it 2, because the discussion made up for what the book lacked. And Daisy Daughter came up with some really good discussion question, of which I am proud.

Haven’t decided on our February choice yet…will post soon!

View all my reviews

September Mother Daughter Book Group -- The Books of Elsewhere: The Shadows

The Shadows by Jacqueline West

My enjoyment rating: 3 of 5 stars

Daisy Daughter rating:  3.5 out of 5 stars

Genre:  Juvenile Fiction

Mother/Daughter book club is back!

Our first 5th grade meeting was last night. The girls were thrilled to be back in action – and – for the first time, I could tell their maturity level is finally measuring up to being a part of book club. Will it last all year? Not sure – but there was a different vibe last night that hasn’t been apparent before.

We discussed The Books of Elsewhere: The Shadows by Jacqueline West.

Olive Dunwoody and her parents have moved to an old, mysterious, house after years of living in an urban apartment. To Olive, something is noticeably different about their new home – the artwork on the walls, left by the previous owner, is animated! The scenes shift and move, from the people in them to the activities that take place. Once Olive learns their secrets (and there are many!) she is transformed into a creepy world that is inhabited by talking cats and long lost children.

 

 

Daisy Daughter was VERY reluctant to read this book. “Paranormal” fantasy is not her favorite. And a few times I had to threaten (threaten – do you threaten a child over reading? Absolutely!) that if she didn’t at least give it a try (my 50 page rule) we wouldn’t be going to book club. It was enough to get her started and she finished. There were a few, “it’s CREEPY and SCARY” – but she really liked it in the end, and is ready for the second volume (Spellbound). Her friend Bea led the discussion and prepared some very thought provoking questions – to the point that the girls were debating certain scenes in the book and whether the paintings were “alive” or not! Way to go Bea!

On a personal level, this was only “OK” for me. There were too many “copycat” uses from other novels – moving artwork, boats on lakes, magical lockets – but I suppose nothing is original in literature anymore. I did enjoy Olive – she had spunk and courage! And the house was super mysterious and spooky!  This would have made a great October/Halloween choice!

But since we let the ghosts out early, our next book is:

The Secret Life of Amanda K. Woods by Ann Cameron

From Goodreads:
Amanda Woods is discovering that there are some things in life that you just can't change, like who your parents are or how your older sister treats you, but she is determined to change what she can. To begin with, she's not going to be just plain Amanda Woods (the girl her mother seems to think is just average). She's going to be Amanda K. Woods - someone who is proud and strong and sure of herself, someone who can have a French pen pal and a best friend of her own choosing, someone who finds four-leaf clovers and can get perfect scores on her math homework. There is more to Amanda than anyone else can see, things about her that Amanda herself doesn't even know yet, but she's finding out. In her first novel for older children, Ann Cameron presents a heroine who is philosophical and honest as only a twelve-year-old can be.

View all my reviews

Mother Daughter Book Group version 5th grade!

We go back to school on Monday (where on earth did the summer go?), but more importantly, we are starting our 3rd year of Mother Daughter Book Group!

I emailed our collective pairs and got confirmations from all but two. 

 

Our first discussion will be in September and our selection is:

The Shadows (Books of Elsewhere Series #1) by Jacqueline West , Poly Bernatene (Illustrator)

Summary from B&N:

Old Ms. McMartin is definitely dead. Now her crumbling Victorian mansion lies vacant. When eleven-year-old Olive and her dippy mathematician parents move in, she knows there's something odd about the place - not least the walls covered in strange antique paintings. But when Olive finds a pair of old spectacles in a dusty drawer, she discovers the most peculiar thing yet: She can travel inside these paintings to a world that's strangely quiet . . . and eerily like her own Yet Elsewhere harbors dark secrets - and Morton, an undersized boy with an outsize temper.

As she and Morton form an uneasy alliance, Olive finds herself ensnared in a plan darker and more dangerous than she could have imagined, confronting a power that wants to be rid of her by any means necessary. It's up to Olive to save the house from the dark shadows, before the lights go out for good.

I can't wait to get started!

May Mother Daughter Book Club -- The Birthday Ball



 The Birthday Ball by Lois Lowry
My Enjoyment Rating:  4 out of 5 stars

Daisy Daughter rating:  B+

Group rating:  B+

Book Source:  Public library

Princess Patricia Priscilla is bored with her pampered life, so she switches places with her housemaid, Tess. After swapping her finery for a drab brown dress and kicking off her shoes, “Pat” embarks on a day as a village school girl. “Pat” also is avoiding her dreaded “Birthday Ball” where she must choose a suitor between three ghastly prospects. Luckily, this fairy tale doesn’t turn out in the predictable manner, thanks to an orphan, a handsome school master, and a plucky princess.

This was our final Mother/Daughter book club selection for the school year. Even though we only had 3 pairs of mothers/daughters (I think everyone is in “summer” mode already) – it was one of our better discussions. The girls shrieked over the descriptions of the nasty intendeds – an ogre who had never seen his face in a mirror, a gigolo with a bad case of dandruff, and a pair of potty-talking conjoined twins. We had an interesting discussion about what is “beautiful” and appearances can be deceptive. We also compared this book to The Willougbys – the other Lois Lowry book we read this year and loved. The girls could definitely see the similarities with the other book, but liked The Willougbys better. As a mom, I LOVED Ms. Lowry’s use of vocabulary – she is brilliant in weaving words like haberdashery, adroitly, galoomph -- into her narrative and making them seem accessible to an emerging reader. Her use of satire and humor is also particularly appealing to both adult and tween, alike.

Last year we TRIED to meet over the summer months, and everyone’s schedules were so hectic, it never happened. So we all agreed that we would take a hiatus over the summer.

But I am proud to say…that we have completed our second full year as a mother/daughter book club!

5th grade – here we come!

View all my reviews

April Mother Daughter Book Club

My Life in Pink and Green by Lisa Greenwald

My enjoyment rating: 1 of 5 stars

Daisy Daughter rating: B-/C+

Overall Book Club rating:  A-

Book Source:  Library copy

Lucy Desberg is determined to help her mother and grandmother save their family pharmacy from bankruptcy. Burdened with bills they cannot pay, Lucy’s grandmother is convinced they will to sell all they have to make ends meet. But Lucy comes up with a plan to “diversify” business – add a day spa, incorporate “green” business practices, and apply for a city grant, in hopes of saving their livelihood.

By far, this was the WORST book club selection I’ve read. I hated this book from page one. So much so, I can’t even manage to rehash all that I thought that was wrong with this book, but for a brief outline here is what I had issues with:

• Completely unrealistic characters

• Poorly developed plot

• Age inappropriate relationships (12 year olds dating)

• Age inappropriate activities (and not morally inappropriate, but maturity level inappropriate)

• The use of the name of deity, over and over again.

However, the girls were extremely prepared for our discussion! This was a complete 180° from last month where they totally spaced it. They had some very thoughtful questions, like, “what would you do to help save a family business?” to “Would you be jealous if you best friend started dating sibling?” Of course, there were the throw away questions like, “what is your favorite lip gloss?” But we spent far more time discussing the book than last month. And I was the ONLY mom to finish this book…to confirm the poor quality of our reading choice (at least for the adults!).

I am excited for our May selection (and last for the school year!) – Lois Lowry’s The Birthday Ball. Our favorite book this year, as a whole, was The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry, so I look forward to reading more of her works.

View all my reviews

March Mother Daughter Book Group

Disaster.  Tonight's meeting was an absolute disaster.  The girls were uninterested, ill-mannered, and totally unfocused.  I'm not sure if it was the book or the moon -- but if I could call "do-overs" this would be the night.

We read The Candy Bomber -- a book that both Daisy daughter and I loved -- but wasn't particularliy a winner with the group.  It was our first venture with a non-fiction selection, so maybe that had something to do with it.  Regardless, they spent more time discussing what book to read NEXT month, than they did about Col. Halverson's heroic efforts during the Berlin airlift.

Oh well, maybe next month will be better.

After much deliberation, they selected:

My Life in Pink and Green by Lisa Greenwald  

Summary: Twelve-year-old Lucy Desberg is a natural problem-solver. At her family’s struggling pharmacy, she has a line of makeover customers for every school dance and bat mitzvah. But all the makeup tips in the world won’t help save the business. If only she could find a way to make it the center of town again—a place where people want to spend time, like in the old days. Lucy dreams up a solution that could resuscitate the family business and help the environment, too. But will Lucy’s family stop fighting long enough to listen to a seventh-grader?

Book Review -- Bud, Not Buddy

Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

My enjoyment rating: 4 of 5 stars

Book source:  Public library

Reason I read it:  Black history month -- mother/daughter book club 2nd runner up!

Awards:  Newbery Medal Winner 2000

Bud, Not Buddy has a collection of clues: A handful of flyers and a bag full of rocks, that his mother left him. Without any knowledge of why these items are import, Bud, Not Buddy, is determined to discover their meaning – and his intuition tells him they will lead him to his father!

Bud, Not Buddy (Newbery Medal winner 2000), from author, Christopher Paul Curtis, is the emotional story of Bud (named so after a flower – and informed by his mother that he should never let anyone call him Buddy!), who after his mother’s death, is put in an orphanage and subsequent foster care. After being locked in a barn by his foster parents, Bud escapes to begin his quest for his father. What he finds will surprise him, but it’s the family he is searching for, nonetheless.

I adored this story. Bud is a kid you want to wrap your arms around and bundle him up to care for at home. His search to find his father is full of accounts that no child should endure, but somehow, he finds a way. Your heart aches at the trials and difficulties he faces, but it is a testament that it truly takes a village.

This was the losing selection for our February mother/daughter book club – I’m so glad I decided to read it anyway. Understandably an award winner!

For more from the author -- please check out the related video:

View all my reviews

February Mother/Daughter Book Club -- Washington City is Burning




Book: Washington City is Burning by Harriette Gillem Robinet


My rating: 2 out of 5 stars


Daisy Daughter rating: 4 out of 5 stars

I suggested this book as something we could read for Black History month -- from the dust jacked it seemed to have a nice blend of historical facts surrounding the British invasion of Washington DC during the war of 1812, the role slaves played in maintaining the White House and a fictional story involving a 12 year old slave, Virginia of Madison, who is brought from President Madison's plantation, Montpelier, to serve her master, and his wife, Dolley.

I cringed the entire time I read this...I thought is was overly repetivite (how many times was the author going to mention "Washington City"),  and that it really sugar-coated the plight of slaves.  This was one of my LEAST favorite books we've read as a group, and I was ready for the girls to complain vocally at how much they hated it.

Once again, I totally misjudged them -- they loved it!  And I have to mention that one of our girls, probably the most advanced reader in our group, and who is VERY particular about her literature, LOVED it too.  They really empathized with Virginia and her bondage.  One of the most memorable scenes, and one the girls mentioned over and over during the discussion, was when Virginia sits on a hot cooking pot, to keep her overseerers from realizing they are cooking a stew, something they were forbidden to do.  She is burned so severly by this act, that she suffers terrible scarring on the backs of her legs. 

This was also one of the most "serious" discussions.  The girls can get rather silly during our meetings, but this one stayed on focus and topic.  I was very proud of them.

So, another successful book group night.

For March, we are reading:

The Candy Bomber:  The Story of the Berlin Airlift's "Chocolate Pilot"

by Michael O. Tunnell



This will be our first non-fiction book.  We've gone from the War of 1812 to World War II.  Both Daisy daughter and I read it early this year and loved it.    Hoping the other girls do too.

January Mother Daughter Book Club -- The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry

Our first mother daughter book club of 2011 was eventful as always. However, after having two months off, I was expecting the girls to be bouncing off the walls -- their calm demeanor surprised me.  I think it must have something to do with the cold weather!

We discussed The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry, a satirical homage to vintage children's literature -- filled with abandoned babies in baskets, nannies, orphans, long-lost children and neglectful parents.  Ms. Lowry does a masterful job of creating these characters and a story with enough adult humor to keep parents in a tickle, all the while entertaining young reader.  Additionally, the vocabulary she uses is fantastic!  She includes a dictionary in the back of the book (thankfully!) with her very own witty descriptions of each word.  In fact, I liked that as  much as the book itself!

I'm always curious as to what "theme" the girls will focus on during their discussion -- because I'm usually wrong!  I thought for sure they would discuss the neglect and "meanness" of the parents -- leaving them alone with a nannie and in a house they have put up for sale.  No, they were far more concerned about "Baby Ruth" the infant left left on the doorstep.  Given the same circumstance, none of them wanted a baby  left on THEIR doorstep, but were thankful that someone took care of this baby.

This was a book that both moms and daughters enjoyed. 

Up for February:

We decided to chose a book for Black History Month -- and had two choices:

Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

And

Washington City is Burning by Harriette Gillem Robinet

We chose the later, but after some research (that I should have done in advance) we realized that very few copies exist in the library, and the book is out of print.

So, I'm not sure what we are reading next month -- anyone have suggestions for a good juvenile book to read for Black History Month? 

Juvenile Book Review -- Candy Bomber

Candy Bomber: The Story of the Berlin Airlift's "Chocolate Pilot" by Michael O. Tunnell

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Book Source:  Public Library

Mother/Daughter Book Club recommendation

With 2 sticks of chewing gum, Gail Halvorsen, an air force pilot, changed the course of thousands of lives of German children following the end of WWII. He started what would be called "Operation Little Vittles" an air drop of candy and chocolate from US bombers onto the city of Berlin.

Our Mother/Daughter book club is trying to incorporate more non-fiction into our reading repertoire, and this will be our recommendation on Tuesday night.

This was a perfect early/juvenile reader for an introduction to the history and aftermath of World War II.  And a testament to how one person can make a difference.

For more on the Berlin Airlift and the Candy Bomber, in his own words, please check out the related video:



View all my reviews

November Mother Daughter Book Club -- When You Reach Me





I am starting this post with a retraction.  When I reviewed this book earlier this summer I said, "...who was the audience for this book? Once again, all of the 5 star reviews are primarily from adult, white women -- are the 9-12 year olds (for whom this book is intended), liking it as much at the adult audience? I can’t answer that – because I don’t think they have Goodreads accounts. I do know this book would be over the head of my 9 year old and the majority of our Mother/Daughter book group participants. And when I read juv fiction – that’s who I’m trying to “channel.”

So, here is the truth:  The girls LOVED this book.  Moms too.  And I mean LOVED it.  To the point where they cried over certain scenes.  I am the only one who was on the fence.  I'm beginning to question my ability to accurately judge/review a book!  All of the nuances that I thought would be "over their head" they ate up.  They loved the mysterious notes and their friendship escapades.  Ultimately they loved the "laughing man" and Marcus.  And I'll leave it at that.  Our discussion focused mostly on that issue.  Some were still confused about the relationship, but it was fun to talk it through.

I re-read most of it in preparation for tonight...and knowing my daughter was reading it too, helped me look at it with a different perspective, so, I liked it more than the first go around...but it didn't elicit any emotional tears!  I guess I just wasn't meant to read juvenile fiction!

The whole group was also interested in Ms. Stead's first book, First Light -- has anyone read it?

Because of the holidays, we take a break in December, so our next meeting is in January -- and the girls picked:

The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry

  

Summary from B&N:

Abandoned by their ill-humored parents to the care of an odious nanny, Tim, the twins, Barnaby A and Barnaby B, and their sister, Jane, attempt to fulfill their roles as good old-fashioned children. Following the models set in lauded tales from "A Christmas Carol" to "Mary Poppins", the four Willoughbys hope to attain their proscribed happy ending too, or at least a satisfyingly maudlin one. However, it is an unquestionably ruthless act that sets in motion the transformations that lead to their salvation and to happy endings for not only the four children, but their nanny, an abandoned baby, a candy magnate, and his long-lost son too. This hilarious and decidedly old-fashioned parody pays playful homage to classic works of children's literature.