Book Review: The Improper Life of Bezellia Grove by Susan Gregg Gilmore

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The Improper Life of Bezellia Grove imageFor more than a hundred years the Groves have been one of the first families of Nashville. Bezellia Grove, named for a famous ancestor, feels the pressure to live up to her mother’s expectations that she speak French fluently, learn to ballroom dance and behave like a proper lady.

But even prominent families have secrets, and the Groves do their best to hide Bezellia’s mother’s alcoholism and her father’s near estrangement. The family nanny, Maizelle, and the handyman, Nathaniel, do more to raise Bezellia and her sister than her parents do. As Bezellia grows up, she has to decide the kind of person she wants to become.

Set against the backdrop of Nashville during the Civil Rights movement and the Vietnam War, The Improper Life of Bezellia Grove by Susan Gregg Gilmore touches on issues of race, class, alcoholism, religion and love. Bezellia’s life, even though she has physical luxuries, is far from easy. And in making difficult choices through the years, she defines the kind of person she is and sets herself apart from her parents.

While this book is aimed at adults, girls aged 16 and up would enjoy reading it as well.

Book Review: The Queen’s Daughter by Susan Coventry

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The Queen's Daughter imagePrincess Joan is often overshadowed by her larger-than-life family members. Her mother, Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, and her father, King Henry II, often seem to be set against each other. And her brothers are all too happy to fight with their father and with each other. Even though Joan tries to remain loyal to both her parents, it’s inevitable that they use her to further their schemes.

When Joan is betrothed to the King of Sicily, she travels away from her family and the court that she knows for a whole new world where she has to learn new rules of survival.

From castles in France and England to the Sicilian countryside to the fields of the Holy Land, The Queen’s Daughter by Susan Coventry takes the reader on an adventure during the Middle Ages. Through Joan’s eyes we get a fresh perspective on the ongoing power struggle between Queen Eleanor and King Henry. It’s an uncommon view also of future kings of England Richard and John, and the times they grew up in.

Coventry captures the extravagances of court and the games of strategy played by all the kings of the time in their bid for control of land and people. I recommend The Queen’s Daughter for mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged 14 and up.

Book Review: Pies and Prejudice by Heather Vogel Frederick

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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

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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?

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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

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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

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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

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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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