2014 Holiday Cookie Exchange

Fun!  Our annual Holiday Cookie Exchange! Hosted, this year, by Emily & Kristine.  Thanks, guy!  Lots of fun.  And lots of yummy treats!

Up Next: We'll met on January 10th @ Emily & Kristine's to discuss Mrs. Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs.

Following:  We'll met @ Rylee & Lisa's to discuss Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt, date TBD.

Next to Present: Olivia

Then:

• Perri 
• Cassie 
• Odessa 
• Kate 
• Ashley 
• Emily 
• Rylee 

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

The Locale: Ashley & Jian's home

Uglies 

Scott Westerfeld

The Book:  Uglies is set in a world in which everyone has an operation when they turn sixteen, making them supermodel beautiful. Big eyes, full lips, no one fat or skinny. You might think this is a good thing, but it’s not. Especially if you’re one of the Smokies, a bunch of radical teens who’ve decided they want to keep their own faces. (How anti-social of them.) http://scottwesterfeld.com/books/uglies/ 

The Meeting:  Had a small group, which is our norm these days. The girls had a nice discussion and played Contact, aword game.

The Vote: We had two votes. A re-vote on Emily's books and then a vote on Rylee's books.

Emily presented:

• Eve and Adam by Katherine Applegate and Michael Grant 
• Mrs. Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. WINS!!
• Origin by Jessica Khoury

We'll met @ Emily & Kristine's on December 6th for our annual holiday cookie exchange and then on January 10th for our book discussion on Mrs. Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. 

Rylee presented:

• Enigma by ALyssa Odonnell
• Cleopatra's Moon by Vicki Shecter 
• Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt WINS!!

We'll met @ Rylee & Lisa's to discuss Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt, date TBD. 

Up Next: We'll met on January 10th @ Emily & Kristine's.

Next to Present: Olivia

Then:

• Perri
• Cassie
• Odessa
• Kate
• Ashley
• Emily
• Rylee

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

The Locale: Kate & Brenda's home

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

John Boyne

The Book: Nine year-old Bruno knows nothing of the Final Solution or the Holocaust. He is oblivious to the appalling cruelties being inflicted on the people of Europe by his country.

All he knows is that he has been moved from a comfortable home in Berlin to a house in a desolate area where there is nothing to do and no one to play with. Until he meets Shmuel, a boy who lives a strange parallel existence on the other side of the adjoining wire fence and who, like the other people there, wears a uniform of striped pyjamas.
Bruno’s friendship with Shmuel will take him from innocence to revelation. And in exploring what he is unwittingly a part of, he will inevitably become subsumed by the terrible process.
http://www.johnboyne.com/fiction/younger-readers/the-boy-in-the-striped-pyjamas/

The Meeting: Again, we had a small group. Olivia and I were unable to attend, but we do hope it was a good meeting. Knowing Kate & Brenda, it was. A viewing of the movie was offered after the meeting, but as I understand it, no one was able to stay.

The Vote: Again, we are behind. Not enough there to make the final decision. Email votes were needed. We will find out the results at our next meeting.

Emily presented:

• Eve and Adam by Katherine Applegate and Michael Grant 
• Mr. Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs 
• Origin by Jessical Khoury

We'll met @ Emily & Kristine's TBD.

Up Next: We'll met on November 15th @ Ashley & Jian's.

Next to Present: Rylee

Updates:  We still have room for two mom/daughter pairs to join us.

Then:

• Olivia
• Perri
• Cassie
• Odessa
• Kate
• Ashley
• Emily

Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie by David Lubar

The Locale: Odessa & Ai Ying's home

Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie

David Lubar

The Book: Welcome to high school. Forget about getting any sleep or a decent lunch for the next four years. Brace yourself for too much homework, too much attention from dangerous seniors, and no idea at all what your Spanish teacher is talking about. Or your math teacher, for that matter. Join freshman Scott Hudson for a very funny look at a serious time of life.
http://www.davidlubar.com/bpsfnl.html


The Meeting: Not much to report other than discussion. We had a small group.

The Vote: We are a little behind in our voting, so we voted on two at this meeting.

Kate presented:

• The Girl in the Green Sweater by Krystyna Chiger with Daniel Paisner
• Summer of the Stars by Leslee Horner
• The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne WINS!

We met on October 11th @ Kate & Brenda's.

Ashley presented:

• House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer
• Unwind by Neal Shusterman
• Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

We'll met on November 15th @ Ashley & Jian's.

Next to present: Emily

Then:

• Rylee
• Olivia
• Perri
• Cassie
• Odessa
• Kate
• Ashley

Looking for Alaska by John Green

The Locale: Cassie & Susan's

Looking for Alaska

John Green

The Book: Miles Halter is fascinated by famous last words–and tired of his safe life at home. He leaves for boarding school to seek what the dying poet Francois Rabelais called the “Great Perhaps.” Much awaits Miles at Culver Creek, including Alaska Young. Clever, funny, screwed-up, and dead sexy, Alaska will pull Miles into her labyrinth and catapult him into the Great Perhaps. (http://johngreenbooks.com/looking-for-alaska/)

The Meeting:  Much fun. Missing Ashley & Kate. Food based on the book. Bufriedos. Yum. And Baked Alaska for dessert. 

The girls overall liked the book. Definitely more grown up stuff occurring in this novel. Smoking. Drinking. Sex. Drunk Driving. Teens doing it. Led to some interesting conversation. Novel is based on John Green's experience at a boarding school on the 80-90s. 

The Vote:   Kate was due to present but did not attend the meeting. She will present her books at the next meeting, along with Ashley, who is up to present.

Up Next: 

We will meet at Odessa & Ai Ying's home on September 20th to discuss Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie by David Lubar.  

Updates:  We are down to 8 mom/daughter members.  We typically like to have 10, which means we have space to invite two new pairs.  Olivia and I know of some interested parties.  Does anyone else have any moms/daughters in mind?

Next to present:  Kate & Ashley. 

Then:

• Emily
• Rylee 
• Olivia
• Perri
• Cassie
• Kate
• Ashley

The Selection by Kiera Cass

The Locale: Emma & Diana's

The Selection

Kiera Cass

The Book: For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.  http://www.kieracass.com/books/  

The Meeting:  Our last meeting with Emma & Diana, hosted by them in their home, with packed boxes all around.  A bittersweet meeting.  Excited for them and their new adventure, moving to Wake Forest.  So sad to see them leave.  It was a fun meeting though.  Reading the novel, reminded mothers of the old TV show, The Dating Game, so we had a mock dating game with the girls.  Someone playing the prince, and three girls playing one of the girls in The Selection, one of which, of course, was Natalie.  It was a somewhat impromptu, somewhat planned activity, but it was a hoot.

The Vote:Odessa presented...

• Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt 
• OK for Now by Gary D. Schmidt
• Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie by David Lubar  WINS!!!

We will meet at Odessa & Ai Ying's home on September 20th to discuss Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie by David Lubar.  

Up Next: 

We will be meeting @ Cassie & Susan's on on August 23rd to discuss Looking for Alaska by John Green.   

Updates:  We are down to 8 mom/daughter members.  We typically like to have 10, which means we have space to invite two new pairs.  Olivia and I know of some interested parties.  Does anyone else have any moms/daughters in mind?

Next to present:  Kate

Then:

• Ashley
• Emily
• Rylee 
• Olivia
• Perri
• Emma
• Cassie
• Kate

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

The Locale: Perri & TJ's

Flowers for Algernon

Daniel Keyes

The Book: Until he was thirty-two, Charlie Gordon --gentle, amiable, oddly engaging-- had lived in a kind of mental twilight. He knew knowledge was important and had learned to read and write after a fashion, but he also knew he wasn't nearly as bright as most of the people around him. There was even a white mouse named Algernon who outpaced Charlie in some ways. But a remarkable operation had been performed on Algernon, and now he was a genius among mice. Suppose Charlie underwent a similar operation...http://www.danielkeyesauthor.com/algernon.html 

The Meeting:  LOVED the memorial to Algernon--photo in memoriam, a locket, and flowers, a bouquet created by individual flowers which the girls were asked to bring. 

Discussion began with the girls having the opportunity to do a maze, part of Algernon & Charly's regime. The group then participates in providing interpretations of an ink blot from a Rorschach test, again something which the main character, Charly, is subjected. Perspectives ranged from demon bats to Big Foot riding a Harley motorcycle. 

Next--the horse head. An unusual stein shaped and decorated like a circus pony's head. Each of the girls takes a turn drawing a book discussion question from the head, reading the question aloud, providing a response, which leads to further discussion. 

After the discussion, we have the opportunity to watch a movie version and play a Rorschach game. 

Munchies included delightful Algernon  cupcakes. 

The Vote:
Cassie presented...

• Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher  
• Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans
• Looking for Alaska by John Green  WINS!!!

We don't have a winner yet--as we had a TIE b/w:

• Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans
• Looking for Alaska by John Green  WINS!!!

We need votes from girls who didn't attend.  DONE

We will meet at Cassie & Susan's home on August 23rd.  

Up Next: 

We will be meeting @ Emma & Diana's on May 31st to discuss The Selection by Kiera Cass.   

Next to present:  Odessa

Then:

• Kate
• Ashley
• Emily
• Rylee 
• Olivia
• Perri
• Emma
• Cassie

The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak

The Locale: Olivia & Susan's

The Book Thief

Marcus Zusak

Marcus Zusak's Blog

The Book Thief Novel @ Shmoop

The Book: It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still.

Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living outside of Munich, who scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement.

In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, award-winning author Markus Zusak, author of I Am the Messenger, has given us one of the most enduring stories of our time.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19063.The_Book_Thief

The Meeting:  Munchies included Papa's Warm & Comfy Baked Potato Soup, Rosa's Sweet & Spicy Saukerals, The Book Thief's Stolen Apples, and of course, German Chocolate Cake.  

The meeting began with the girls filling out an individual questionnaire.  No Names.  Then a snow ball fight began--the questionnaires wadded up into balls and thrown around the room.  When fight concluded, each girl picked up a snowball, read aloud the answers, and guessed who was the author.  The girls were ask to draw a quote from a hat, Death's thoughts, and guess which part of the novel the quote originated.  We also watched a YouTube Video, an interview with the author, Marcus Zusak.  After our meeting ended, we watched the recent movie.

The Vote:
Emma presented...

• The Selection by Kiera Cass  WINS!!
• Your Friend in Fashion, Abby Shapiro  by Amy Axelrod
• Between Shades of Grey by Ruta Sepetys  

We will meet at Emma & Diana's home on May 31st.  

Up Next: 

We will be meeting @ Perri & TJ's on April 26th to discuss Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes.   

Next to present:  Cassie

Then:

• Odessa
• Kate
• Emily
• Rylee 
• Olivia
• Perri
• Cassie

Divergent by Veronica Roth

The Locale: Emily & Kristine's

Divergent

Veronica Roth

The Book: In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves… or it might destroy her.(http://veronicarothbooks.blogspot.com/p/books.html)

The Meeting:  Girls were asked to dress as the faction which they felt best suited their personalities. Most girls dressed as Dauntless, a couple girls dressed as a mix of factions or created their own.  The girls took a book quiz, winning prizes for most right answers.  And best of all, there was lots of yummy food, including some to represent the factions--Hamburgers, Escargot, and Chocolate Cake for Dauntless; Sunflower Seeds, to make the mind clearer, for Erudite; Apples for Amity, nature and growing; Bread and butter, plain, for Abnegation; and finally Oreos for Candor because they see everything as black and white.

The Vote:
Perri presented...

• The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
• Unwind by Neil Schusterman
• Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes  WINS!

We will meet at Perri & TJ's home on April 26th.  

Up Next: 

We will be meeting @ Olivia & Susan's on March 29th to discuss The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak. If the movie, The Book Thief, is out on DVD, Olivia and Susan would like to plan a movie event, hopefully outdoor if the weather is nice.  

Next to present:  Emma

Then:

• Cassie
• Odessa
• Kate
• Emily
• Rylee 
• Olivia
• Perri

The Billionaire's Curse by Richard Newsome

The Locale: Ashley & Jian's

The Billionaire's Curse

Richard Newsome

The Book: Gerald Wilkins never considered himself a particularly exceptional thirteen-year-old. But that was before he inherited twenty billion pounds, a Caribbean island, a yacht, and three estates from a great-aunt he never knew. With this fortune, however, comes a letter. One from his great-aunt Geraldine. One that tells Gerald that she was murdered, and that it's up to him to find out why. (from GoodReads). 

The Meeting:  Lots of catching up. Hearing about everyone's holiday.  Had a little discussion about how the girls are getting older and more mature and their book choices will reflect that.  Moms be warned.  After a little book discussion, including the colorful similes in the novel, the girls broke off into the groups to come up with similes of their own.

The Vote:
Olivia presented...

• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak  WINS!
• Everlost by Neil Shusterman
• Extremely Loud and Incredible Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

We will meet at Olivia & Susan's home on March 29th.  If the movie, The Book Thief, is out on DVD, Olivia and I would like to plan a movie event, hopefully outdoor if the weather is nice.  

Updates:  Megan and Dawn decided that book club was no longer a good fit for them, leaving a spot open for another mom & daughter team. Cassie & Susan have someone in mind to invite. 

Up Next: 

We will be meeting @ Kristine & Emily's on February 15th March 1st to discuss Divergent by Veronica Roth. 

Next to present:  Perri

Then:

• Emma
• Cassie
• Odessa
• Megan 
• Kate
• Emily
• Rylee 
• Olivia

Holiday Cookie Exchange.

Hungry for Cookies...

Yay!  We have cookies!

The Locale: Cassie & Susan's

The Fun: 
Our 4th annual Cookie Exchange. Everyone brings 2 1/2 dozen cookies--a 1/2 dozen to munch on at the exchange and 2 dozen to share. So glad see favs back for another year - The Goldstein's Oreo Balls & The Powell's Peanut Butter Fudge Candy. This time I try my hand at Grinch Sugar Cookies. Lots of fun & yummy treats! Thanks, Cassie & Susan!

Up Next: 

We will to discuss The Billionaire's Curse by Richard Newsome @ Jian & Ashley's on January 11th. 

We will be meeting @ Kristine & Emily's on February 15th. 

Next to Present: Olivia

Then:

• Perri
• Emma
• Cassie
• Odessa
• Megan 
• Kate
• Emily
• Rylee 

Updates: Welcome to our new members, invited by Susan & Olivia. Rylee & Lisa Bacot.