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Write a review of a book you've read with your mother-daughter book club and click here to send it in. Not in a book club? We like to hear from reader's everywhere. Just tell us how many stars from 1 - 5 you rank it, tell us your first name and last initial, city and state, and identify whether you're a mom, a daughter, a reader, a librarian, etc.
***** A Mother's Review With one foot in the modern world and one foot in a world of fantasy, Claire Dean's Girlwood takes us into the life of Polly Greene, who can see the colors that surround people, revealing their true selves. Polly's older sister, Bree, disappears into the woods one night, and Polly is the only one who believes she has not run far, that she's hiding nearby to heal her out-of-control life. When Polly finds a magical clearing hidden among the trees, she's certain that her sister is close, and she determines to leave her food and clothing and healing plants to help Bree survive until she's ready to return. Girlwood explores many themes as Polly enlists the help of friends and family in her mission:
The themes are woven into a story that is as enchanting as the magical clearing, Girlwood, itself. And by the end, you may even find yourself searching for your own Girlwood. -- Cindy H., Portland, Oregon To buy Girlwood click here. Write a review and click here to send it in.
**** A Daughter's Review Going Solo is a memoir that picks up where Boy left off. It follows Roald Dahl's adventures in Africa and around the Mediterranean just before and during World War II. From encounters with deadly snakes, lions, and German fighter pilots, this book is filled with adventure and history, and it's one of my favorite books that our group has read. - Madeleine H., Portland, Oregon To buy Going Solo click here. Other books by this author. Write a review and click here to send it in.
I Am the Messenger - Markus Zusak ***** A Mother's Review Ed Kennedy is only nineteen years old, but already he feels his life is going nowhere. He drives a cab, shares a run-down apartment with his coffee-drinking dog, the Doorman, and his social life consists of playing cards with friends who are on the same track he is. He's also in love with his best friend, Audrey, but he can't tell her, so he watches as she dates other men who are bad for her. Then Ed happens to foil a bank robbery, and someone takes notice. His life begins to change when the ace of diamonds arrives in his mailbox along with a cryptic message. As Ed work his ways through a series of cards and tasks that continue to arrive on his doorstep, he's taken deeper into the mystery of who is sending the cards and why. Zusak's straight-forward storytelling takes the reader right into the gritty realities of Ed's life and the lives of the people he comes into contact with through the playing cards. Along the way he ponders not just what he wants to do with his life, but more importantly, what kind of person he wants to be. To buy I Am the Messenger click here. Other books by this author. Write a review and click here to send it in.
I Capture the Castle - Dodie Smith ***** A Mother's Review I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith is an interesting book with multiple layers that can be appreciated by readers aged 13 an up. The book takes place in the 1930s, and it tells the story of a family living in a crumbling castle in England. The dad is a well-known author who hasn’t written since his first book was released to critical acclaim in both England and the U.S. The narrator is Cassandra, the 17-year-old daughter. Rose, 21, Thomas, 15 and stepmother Topaz, complete the family. With no income coming in, the family has gradually sold off all its furniture and other valuables until they are on the brink of crisis. When two young men from America inherit the castle next door, it’s no surprise that the family sees the men as their salvation in more ways than one. The characters are all very complex, and as Cassandra writes in her journal, the reader watches them grow in many different ways. We see Cassandra grow from childhood to adulthood and take on more responsibilities. Some of the many things that can be discussed in a book club after reading this book: the changing role of women in society, love and marriage, the role of religion in our lives, money, children and their parents I served tea sandwiches and scones for dinner to my mother-daughter book club, and everyone seemed to think it was a fun tie-in to the book. We talked about our favorite scenes in the book, and all twelve of us had a different one. I think that’s amazing depth for one book. As we talked about what we liked about the characters, I also felt like I learned a lot more about each one. The only criticism is that the book was a little wordy, and some people had a hard time getting into it. It also uses fairly sophisticated, complex language. With that in mind, I still highly recommend it. To buy I Capture the Castle click here. Other books by this author. Write a review and click here to send it in.
If I'd Known Then, Women in Their 20s and 30s Write Letters to Their Younger Selves - Edited by Ellyn Spragins **** A Mother's Review Have you ever wished you could write a letter to yourself when you were younger to give yourself hope or encouragement to get through a difficult time? That's what the 35 women did who appear in If I'd Know Then, Women in Their 20s and 30s Write Letters to Their Younger Selves. Readers will recognize many of the writers as well as receive introductions to remarkable women they may not have heard of before. The letters are all heartfelt, with the authors talking directly to the young girls they once were. It's a wonderful reminder that no matter how famous or wealthy or popular someone is, we all share many of the same insecurities, doubts, fears and self-imposed limitations. This book is part of the What I Know Now series, and I think it's a great addition for younger readers. I was particularly struck by the story of Mindy Lam, who was labeled an unlucky child when she was born in China and treated harshly during her childhood. She overcame incredible hurdles to come this country, learn to speak English and find a way to support herself before stumbling upon an idea for creating jewelry that has made her successful beyond her imagining. All the stories are inspiring. Moms in a mother-daughter book club can write letters to their younger selves as a meeting activity to inspire discussion. And girls could also think about issues they're dealing with now that they may see differently in a few years. I believe girls in 8th grade and up would enjoy reading If I'd Known Then. - Cindy H., Portland, Oregon To buy If I'd Known Then click here. Write a review and click here to send it in.
In the Time of the Butterflies - Julia Alvarez **** A Daughter's Review In The Time of Butterflies follows the lives of four sisters and the decisions they make to join, or keep away from, the revolution in their country. The story tells about the hardships and difficulties they had to face in everyday life as well as revolutionaries. This book was well written and interesting. - Liz M., Portland, Oregon To buy In the Time of the Butterflies click here. Other books by this author. Write a review and click here to send it in.
Lymeria and Falcon's Prey - Kristina Coia ***** A Mother's Review I would like to tell you about Kristina Coia's books, Lymeria and Falcon's Prey. They are simply wonderful. The stories take you on fascinating journeys into other worlds. From the first chapter the books grip you and do not let go. At the end of Falcon's Prey, I found myself in tears, it was that moving. It is unbelievable that a 15 year old could write a story that is so gripping. The only bad part about her books was that they were not long enough, they were so good that I wanted more. I can not wait until she comes up with another adventure. I would take off into one of her worlds any day. These books are safe for 9 years and up to read. I can feel good about recommending these books to my children and my family. - Lauren P., Blairsville, Georgia *****A Daughter's Review Falcon’s Prey - I very much enjoyed this book because it included many adventures. I love fast-moving books and this was my favorite. It is very interesting. It was exciting as I read it and I couldn’t stop when I started. I told myself that I would put down the book at the next chapter, but the ending of the chapter I was reading, I just needed to know the result of it. It was a very exciting and it was great as a fantasy book for teens. This was a great book to read. - Alexandria B., 12 years old *****A Daughter's Review Lymeria - I enjoyed this book as well as Falcon’s Prey because it was again a fast-moving book. It was another great fantasy book because it related to other teens’ lives. It included magic, which interests readers very much. It included a little bit of romance as well as Falcon’s Prey that readers’ like. This book was very interesting. It was very exciting to read this book because it kept me interested in what the characters were doing. - Alexandria B., 12 years old A Mother's Review Lymeria and Falcon’s Prey are two great books, which my thirteen-year-old daughter and myself thoroughly enjoyed. In today’s fast pace and real world these books give you time to sit back and enjoy a mystical and fantasy world allowing us to use our imagination. My daughter was disappointed at the end of the weekend when I did not have a third book for her to read. These books will certainly grab your interest and keep it from the first page to the last. We cannot wait for the next book to be released. - Sharon L. To buy Lymeria click here. To buy Falcon's Prey click here. Write a review and click here to send it in.
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