Book Review: The Space Between Trees by Katie Williams

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The Space Between Trees imageEvie spends a lot of her time alone, and for the most part she likes it that way. She’s worlds apart from her mother, who seems obsessed with looking perfect all the time. At lunch in school she sits with a group she calls The Whisperers, because they talk quietly to one another. But at least they accept her presence at their table, and they like to hear stories about Jonah. Jonah combs the woods behind a high-end neighborhood every week to rid it of dead animals while Evie delivers newspapers there. She longs for him to notice her.

Then comes the Sunday that Jonah finds the body of Evie’s one-time friend as he makes his regular rounds. Evie can’t get the murder out of her mind, and she finds herself lying to make her relationship with the dead girl, Elizabeth, closer than it was. She’s drawn into a friendship with Elizabeth’s dad and her real best friend, Hadley.

The girls work to solve the crime together, but actions quickly escalate out of their control.

The Space Between Trees by Katie Williams grabs you and pulls you into the story with the first words and doesn’t turn you loose until the last sentence. It highlights real dangers when teens take risks, and also shows how they can sometimes fall into magical thinking that heightens and exaggerates their fears.

There are many issues for moms and daughters to talk about: making decisions about who to trust, keeping lines of communication open between moms and teen daughters, teens trying out new experiences just to see what they are like, and more. The Space Between Trees is wonderfully creepy, and I recommend reading it in the light of day or you may just find yourself jumping at every little sound in the dark. I highly recommend it for mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged 14 and up.

Book Review: A Taste for Rabbit by Linda Zuckerman

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A Taste for Rabbit imageHarry is a fox who lives in Foxboro during a time of deprivation. Winter has been harsh, and food is scarce. His brother, Isaac, leads the government, and while the two haven’t gotten along since childhood, Isaac is entrusting Harry with the task of finding an old fortress reputedly full of rabbits.

Quentin is a rabbit who lives in the fortress. Strange disappearances have been occurring in his world, and his government is enacting strict laws to enforce security. When he runs into a childhood nemesis who is now his superior on guard duty, Quentin knows he must find a way to escape.

Harry and Quentin are both animals working to solve a mystery and fight for their survival. Each much discover what he believes in and define why he believes himself to be moral.

A Taste for Rabbit by Linda Zuckerman has many moral issues to ponder. What are you willing to do if you’re hungry or need to feed a family? When is it okay to kill other animals for food? How can you determine who to trust? Mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged 14 and up should find a lot to talk about.

Summer Reading Boosts Overall Literacy

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A recent column by David Brooks in the New York Times cites a study where researchers sent books home with disadvantaged students for summer reading.  After doing this for three years, they found that these students had significantly higher reading scores than other students. Brooks goes on to talk about other indicators supporting the tremendous power of books when it comes to literacy, especially as it compares to learning from the Internet.

It’s no surprise that I’m a strong supporter of reading books as a way to open all kinds of doors, both to learning and communication, and Brooks’s article is an interesting analysis of how reading literary works differs from spending time searching for and reading information on the Internet. You may want to read the article, then head to your nearest library and sign up for their summer reading program if you haven’t already done so. Multnomah County library, which is the library that services my area, even has a summer reading program for adults, so everyone in our family can sign up.

Your local library probably also has lots of ideas for what to read as well, and don’t forget to check out the book lists on this site. The title I list and review are good not only for mother-daughter book clubs, but for individual readers as well.

Should You Add New Members to Your Book Club?

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There’s an enormous amount of pressure to say yes when someone asks if she can join your mother-daughter book club. The mom or daughter asking may be part of your social circle. She may be someone you really like and think would be an asset to the group. You may also want to avoid being labeled exclusive and be tempted to offer an invitation on the spot. But should you?

If your group hasn’t already talked about adding new members, you will definitely want to bring this issue up at a meeting.Why? The moms and girls already in your club should have the final say on how big the group will be and who is in it.

Even though you may feel pressured to say yes, there are valid reasons for saying no. Here are a few:

  • You like the size of your club and don’t want it to grow any larger.
  • You have bonded tightly as a group and don’t want to add new personalities to the mix.
  • The new member lives far away, and you want your club members close together so it’s easier for everyone to get to meetings.

Of course, you may also decide that when it comes to book club, the more the merrier. That’s why it’s best to talk about your policy on new members before you’re asked. That way if the answer is yes, you can happily offer an invitation. If it’s no, you can say so right away, and tell the reason why. You may not be able to avoid hurt feelings altogether, but if it’s clear the answer is not personal you’re more likely to make the best of the situation.

The bottom line is, you want to do what’s best to insure the long term success of your group.

Book Review: How I Made It to Eighteen by Tracy White

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How I Made It to Eighteen imageHow I Made It to Eighteen by Tracy White says it’s “mostly a true story” about the experiences of Stacy Black and her journey from a breakdown through therapy and institutionalization and to the other side. It’s a powerful story in a simple presentation.

With words and through graphic images, we meet Stacy’s friends, and we get to read their perspectives on her personality and her actions. We see notes about Stacy from the records at Golden Meadows hospital. And we hear the words of Stacy herself. The different perspectives combine to paint a picture of a girl who wasn’t sure of who she was or how she could escape her problems with depression and bulimia. And we see that many of Stacy’s friends and also suffered from similar problems.

Although the topic is dark, the book is hopeful because you know Stacy makes it in the end. Her journey is an important component in how she eventually emerges from treatment and carries on with her life. I found How I Made It to Eighteen both fascinating and informative, and I believe it could open up interesting conversations between mothers and their daughters aged 14 and up.

Book Review: Noonie’s Masterpiece by Lisa Railsback

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Noonie's Masterpiece imageNoonie is sure that she will someday be a famous artist. She knows many well-known artists go through periods where they focus on color, and she herself has been through a blue period. This came after her mom died while she was in kindergarten and her dad’s job as an archeologist took him to locations around the world while she stayed home with her Aunt Sophie, Uncle Ralph, and her younger cousin Junior.

Now Noonie is in her purple period, and she’s sure her latest efforts will make her famous. Noonie’s Masterpiece by Lisa Railsback with art by Sarajo Frieden is a delightful book about what makes a family. Noonie gets into lots of trouble as she dismisses everything in her life except her art. Her creativity is spent trying to coax her dad back home and trying to avoid math.

Noonie is always looking through her book of masterpieces, and as she talks about famous artists in recent history, the reader learns about them too. Mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged 7 through 12 could have a lot of fun finding photos of the famous pieces of art Noonie talks about and discussing why they may be considered great. Other topics to discuss include how art fits with more traditional school subjects like math and literature, coping with the loss of a parent, and finding what’s special inside each of us. The illustrations are fun to look at, too, and they help make Noonie’s Masterpiece a great book for younger girls looking for a step up from an early reader chapter book. Additional resources, including a discussion guide, a chapter excerpt and a video can be found at http://www.chroniclebooks.com/noonie/.

Book Review: Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

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Will Grayson, Will Grayson imageWill Grayson #1 believes in two rules: 1. Don’t care too much. 2. Shut up. He’s pretty sure if he follows those he can make it through high school. But he’s not always good at following them. The last time he violated his rules was to defend his best friend Tiny Cooper, who is gay, in a signed letter for the school newspaper. Now he doesn’t have any friends but Tiny, who’s trying to set Will up with Jane. But to accept would violate Will’s rule #1.

Will Grayson #2 says he is trying to get through high school without killing himself or everyone around him. He takes medication for depression, and he hangs out with a girl named Maura, mostly because he doesn’t have other friends. He’s gay, but he hasn’t told anyone yet but his online friend, Isaac.

When Will Grayson meets Will Grayson one unlikely night in Chicago, both their worlds begin to change in unexpected ways.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson is written by John Green and David Levithan, two young adult authors known for edgy teen literature. Their joint work is told in alternating chapters, with each Will Grayson penned by a different writer. In less skilled hands the result could be disjointed, but Green and Levithan each create a Will Grayson that is complex and conflicted. In his own way, each Will is isolated and lonely, unsure of his own sexuality and what he’s willing to risk to be friends with someone. In his own way, each keeps his head down until something moves him out of his comfort zone and makes him unhappy with the status quo he has established.

There are big questions for teens involved, and mother-daughter book clubs who take on this book must know what they’re getting into: questions of sexuality, sexual identify, friendship and self-acceptance. There’s plenty of profanity to go around. But it’s refreshing to see an honest look at what it means for a teen to be gay and the challenges a friend of a gay teen faces while supporting his friend. Will Grayson, Will Grayson is also funny, and it will be hard for readers not to fall in love with Tiny Cooper. In fact, at one point Will Grayson #1 says he’s tired of playing a bit part in Tiny Cooper’s life. In some ways, both Wills are playing a bit part in Tiny Cooper’s book. Mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged 15 and up should find this book opens up a conversation about lots of issues that may otherwise not come up on their own. I highly recommend it.

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Book Review: Rickshaw Girl by Mitali Perkins

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Rickshaw Girl imageEveryone knows that Naima draws the most beautiful alpana patterns in her Bangladeshi village. But she wonders what good can come from her talent if she can’t help her father drive a rickshaw because she’s a girl. Money is tight for the family, and Naima worries that her mother’s heirloom bracelets will need to be pawned to pay for rickshaw repairs. She’s determined to help, even if she has to take a risk to do it.

Rickshaw Girl by Mitali Perkins is the touching story of a girl who longs to put her talents to use. Naima’s father is careful to let her and her sister know that he is happy to have daughters, but Naima realizes her society values girls only for cooking, cleaning and carrying water. Education for girls is limited, especially since parents are expected to pay for it. When Naima discovers a woman who has broken the mold to support herself, she can finally see a path to help her own family out of its poverty.

Rickshaw Girl is very accessible for younger readers, and it gives them a glimpse of constraints that can be placed on girls in some societies even today. The charcoal illustrations by Jamie Hogan beautifully capture Naima and her village life. A glossary in the back is a good introduction to terms used in Bangladesh, and the author’s note is about micro financing and how it is helping women and girls around the world raise themselves out of the cycle of poverty. I highly recommend it for mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged 7 to 10. You can find a helpful discussion guide at Perkins’s website.

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