Book Review: Pies and Prejudice by Heather Vogel Frederick

Pies and Prejudice imageFans of Heather Vogel Frederick’s Mother-Daughter Book Club series (I’m one!) are sure to be happy with her latest book, Pies and Prejudice. This year the book club girls are adjusting to high school and reading Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice with their moms. And just as Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy discover that you can’t always judge someone by first impressions, the book club girls are finding out how true that can be in real life as well.

Some of those first impressions are made when Emma and her family move to England for a year, trading places with another family that moves into their home. As Emma makes new friends, and enemies, the other girls are sizing up the Berkeley boys in Emma’s house.

The girls have definitely matured as they have moved on to high school, and each of them gets involved in activities and causes that help them pursue their passions. Cassidy, Megan, and Emma all seem to have a good idea of what’s important to them, and it’s interesting to read about Jess’s journey of self-discovery as she seeks to find what matters to her.  Girls especially, who are often asked at this age what they want to do with their lives, may find Jess’s discoveries enlightening.

One of the things I really love about this series is how Frederick ties in facts about the authors her book club is reading. You’ll learn a lot about Jane Austen as well as Pride and Prejudice, and that adds to the topics your own book club can discuss. In addition to talking about making judgments from first impressions, you can also discuss limitations put on women in Austen’s time, friends moving away, cyber bullying, and finding your passions in life. There’s a great list of discussion questions in the back, as well. All the talk about pies will probably also have you ready to bake up one or two or three to share at your book club meeting.

I highly recommend Pies and Prejudice for mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged 11 to 14.

Book Review: The Magnificent 12—The Call by Michael Grant

David MacAvoy—Mack for short—is an unlikely hero. He’s 12, picked on by bullies, and he has a phobia of nearly everything. Unexpectedly he finds himself under the protection of the school’s biggest bully and getting messages from strange old men who can stop time. Then he learns that he’s one of a group of 12 kids who are the only ones who can save the world from an evil queen who’s been imprisoned for thousands of years. It’s too much for Mack to believe, until many unbelievable things start to happen around him.

The Magnificent 12: The Call is the first in a new series for young readers by Michael Grant. Mack is an ordinary kid—just the sort of hero to appeal to both boys and girls aged 9 to 12. The book is funny, and it takes lots of jabs at modern society. For instance, Mack’s middle school (Richard Gere) offers advanced placement yoga and noncompetitive bowling among its electives. Bullies in his school are assigned to specific populations, so there are bullies for nerds, jocks, fashionistas and other clique groups.

An ancient language, a bit of magic and a touch of world travel all come into play as Mack goes about finding the next member of The Magnificent Twelve. I expect his journey will be fun to follow as it unfolds.

Losing Book Club Members: How to Respond?

If your book club meets long enough, you are likely to lose members. My mother-daughter book club recently faced this situation when we lost four of our 10 members in quick succession. Two moved away, and two decided to commit their time to other activities.

After seven years of sharing great books and even better discussions, the six of us left knew we had to readjust. These are the choices we looked at:

  • Disband the group
  • Add new members
  • Continue on with a smaller club

Fortunately, no one wanted to disband the group. Our daughters will graduate from high school in almost two years, and for the moms, it’s more important than ever to be able to discuss issues that may be on our daughters’ minds. Plus, all of us really like scheduling regular time to see each other during our busy lives.

We opted against adding new members, as well. With two years to go until the girls head off for college, we want to spend more time getting to know each other better as opposed to expanding our social circle.

Our choice then, was to continue on as we were, but with a few changes. With a smaller group, our meeting place is more flexible. We’ve decided to meet for dessert at a local ice cream store instead of over dinner in each other’s homes. We’ve also vowed to throw in a few more fun events, like going to movies and catching a play at a local theater. With fewer members we expect coordinating our schedules will get easier.

Our choice wouldn’t be the best for everyone. I know of another group with daughters the same age as ours that decided to add several new members when their ranks pared down. The influx of new moms and new daughters livened up their discussions and is keeping them energized.

The key to surviving and thriving when you lose members is to find what works best for the book clubbers who remain. Ask yourselves: What’s most important for us when we meet? Do we want more social time? Do we have enough people to generate a lively discussion?  Can our conversations go more in-depth when we have fewer people?

And while I never like to see reading groups go away, you may find that your club has honestly run its course. The decision may not be easy, but ultimately, it’s yours to make.

Mother-daughter book club cupcake photo

Our mother-daughter book club celebrated the last time we were all together with a trip to a local cupcake shop.

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Book Review: Baby, Baby, Baby by Marilyn Janovitz

Baby, baby, baby cover imageBaby, Baby, Baby!, a  board book by Marilyn Janovitz, may be just the thing for younger siblings of mother-daughter book club girls. Sturdy pages are easy for little hands to grip as they go through the story of a baby’s day. There’s lots of alliteration and repetition and there are also opportunities for actions, like clapping, splashing water, bouncing, tickling and more.

Parents, grandparents and pets all interact with baby as the day goes on until a very tired baby goes to sleep. This is just the kind of book I loved to read with my daughters on my lap when they were very young. It’s also one you won’t get tired of reading over and over and over again, perfect for bedtime or even just a reading break during the day.

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Book Review: The Other Side of Blue by Valerie O. Patterson

The Other Side of Blue imageSince her father drowned while sailing a year ago, Cyan and her mother hardly speak to each other. There are too many things Cyan can’t ask her—why didn’t her mother go out with her father that day, how did she meet someone else and fall in love again so quickly—for them to bridge the gap. Now they’re back on the Curacao, where they’ve come every summer for years. Cyan’s soon-to-be stepsister, Kammi, is also with them, and Cyan wonders if Kammi’s presence will drive her further apart from her mother or help her find a way back.

The Other Side of Blue by Valerie O. Patterson explores how things left unsaid in families can hurt just as much as things said. It looks at how teens can work to find what’s truly important to them and gain confidence in their own abilities instead of comparing themselves to the success of their parents. Set in a Caribbean paradise, The Other Side of Blue will have mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged 14 and up talking about the nature of friendship, parental love and responsibility, communicating hurt, and moving beyond tragedy. I highly recommend it.

Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook All About the Gross Stuff

The Worst-Case Scenario imageLots of kids love gross stuff. They may learn to be polite and hide their fascination with body fluids, creepy bugs and germ-ridden places, but that doesn’t mean they’re less drawn to reading about them. Which is why lots of kids will also love the latest addition to The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook series—Gross Junior Edition.

Before I even picked this book up to read my daughter was already quoting tidbits she had gleaned from its pages, like the types of burps listed in the Burp Classification System and advice on removing a tick.

The gross scenarios to survive are divided into four chapters that cover situations with the human body, at home, at school and in the wild kingdom. Parents may even want to refer to this handy little guide when they have to deal with gross things like getting rid of lice and dealing with an infestation of flies.

Fast facts like this one are scattered throughout: “While most bacteria and viruses need moisture to survive, some germs can live in a piece of ABC gum for up to a year.” With recipes at the back for fake blood, vomit, poop and snot, this handbook may even inspire kids to head to the kitchen for a little experimental cooking.

Profiles of authors David Borgenicht, Nathaniel Marunas, and Robin Epstein, and illustrator Chuck Gonzales are listed in the back alongside bios of the scientists and experts consulted to compile the material. This book is a sure-fire winner with any kid or adult fascinated by the gross stuff all around—that means most of us.

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Book Review: Hurricane Mia by Donna Marie Seim

Hurricane Mia imageThe last thing Mia wants to do is spend the summer with her grandparents in their home on the Caribbean island of Bambarra. She was supposed to be at a camp with her best friend, but instead she’s stuck with her little brother, no cell phone, no TV and a grandma who is strict. Mia is also worried about being away from her mom, who was recently diagnosed with leukemia.

When Mia discovers that a traditional healer may have a special tea to help her mom get better, she’ll break any rule to get some and take it home long before summer ends.

Hurricane Mia written by Donna Marie Seim and illustrated by Susan Spellman shows what can happen when adults and children don’t communicate about important events that affect everyone. Mia’s grandparents and her mother mean well, but they don’t talk to Mia about why they make the rules they set down so she thinks they are unfair and is inclined to break them when she can. Mia deems all the rules unreasonable and has a hard time seeing beyond getting what she wants. But then she learns that breaking the rules can have very real consequences beyond getting punished.

I’m not sure how much Mia learned from her mistakes, and I wasn’t convinced that Mia, her brother, and their friend would be so competent when they ran into trouble on the water, but overall I think Hurricane Mia brings up good issues to discuss about friendship, making judgments about people, and communicating with family members.

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Book Review: The Secret Society of the Pink Crystal Ball by Risa Green

The Pink Crystal Ball imageErin has one thing on her mind: writing the perfect essay that will earn her one of the spots in an all-expenses paid trip to Italy to study art. She’s got the highest GPA in her 10th grade class, but she also lives a rather normal, boring life. There’s nothing she can write about herself that will make her stand out. That is, until her aunt dies and leaves her a pink crystal ball. Erin and her friends believe it’s nothing more than a toy, until the things she asks it for start to come true

Risa Green’s new series for young adults, The Secret Society of the Pink Crystal Ball, presents a lot for teens and their moms to think about: What would you do if you thought you could control your future? Are there some things that you shouldn’t try to control? What should you do if things turn out differently than you expect? Why is it important for you to take responsibility for your actions and make things happen for yourself?

Erin and her friends, Lindsay and Samantha, want what many teens want: a dating relationship, harmony at home, and success at school. It’s fun to read about their adventures as they try to achieve success in each of these areas. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series, and I recommend The Secret Society of the Pink Crystal Ball for mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged 14 and up.

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