The Storied LIfe of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

The Locale: Cassie's and Susan's

The Book: On the faded Island Books sign hanging over the porch of the Victorian cottage is the motto “No Man Is an Island; Every Book Is a World.” A. J. Fikry, the irascible owner, is about to discover just what that truly means.

A. J. Fikry’s life is not at all what he expected it to be. His wife has died, his bookstore is experiencing the worst sales in its history, and now his prized possession, a rare collection of Poe poems, has been stolen. Slowly but surely, he is isolating himself from all the people of Alice Island—from Lambiase, the well-intentioned police officer who’s always felt kindly toward Fikry; from Ismay, his sister-in-law who is hell-bent on saving him from his dreary self; from Amelia, the lovely and idealistic (if eccentric) Knightley Press sales rep who keeps on taking the ferry over to Alice Island, refusing to be deterred by A.J.’s bad attitude. Even the books in his store have stopped holding pleasure for him. These days, A.J. can only see them as a sign of a world that is changing too rapidly.

And then a mysterious package appears at the bookstore. It’s a small package, but large in weight. It’s that unexpected arrival that gives A. J. Fikry the opportunity to make his life over, the ability to see everything anew. It doesn’t take long for the locals to notice the change overcoming A.J.; or for that determined sales rep, Amelia, to see her curmudgeonly client in a new light; or for the wisdom of all those books to become again the lifeblood of A.J.’s world; or for everything to twist again into a version of his life that he didn’t see coming. As surprising as it is moving, The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry is an unforgettable tale of transformation and second chances, an irresistible affirmation of why we read, and why we love.
(https://gabriellezevin.com/adults/a-j-fikry/)

The Author: Gabrielle Zevin

The Meeting: Cassie, Perri, & Olivia attended. And the two Susans. Everyone really loved the book. A sweet funny story.

The Vote: Kate presented...

• Murder on the Orient Express By Agatha Cristie WINS!!
• The Da Vinci Code By Dan Brown
• The Firm By John Grisham 

Meeting date @ Kate's and Brenda's TBD.

Next to present: Emily

Then:

• Olivia
• Perri
• Cassie

We Were Liars by E.Lockhart

The Locale: @ Cassie's & Susan's

We Were Liars

E. Lockhart

The Book: A beautiful and distinguished family. A private island. A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy. A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive. A revolution. An accident. A secret. Lies upon lies. True love. The truth. 
 http://wewereliarsbook.tumblr.com/ 

The Meeting: Small group. : (
Hopefully, we'll be able to get a larger group next time. Mixed reviews. Some of us saw the ending coming; some did not. We discussed the reason why "they" were liars. We discussed the behavior of the moms, the dad, and how bad decisions can have a lifelong impact. 

The Vote: Odessa presented...

• Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin
• Distant Waves by Suzanne Weyn
• Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews  WINS!!

Meeting date @ Odessa's and AiYing's TBD. Plan for some time in September.

Up Next: We will meet at Perri's and TJ's on August 8th for a back to school swim party and to discuss Death Note (Volume 1) by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata. The April 18th meeting was postponed due to lack of those who could attend.

Next to present: Kate

Then:

• Ashley
• Emily
• Rylee 
• Olivia
• Perri
• Cassie
• Odessa

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

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. 

Boys are Dogs by Leslie Margolis

The Locale:  Cassie & Susan's

Boys are Dogs

Leslie Margolis

The Book:  
Middle-school boys act like wild animals.

That’s what Annabelle discovers on her first day in her brand-new life. Birchwood Middle School is totally different from her old all-girls elementary. In fact, lots of things in Annabelle’s life are totally different now that she’s back from summer camp. There’s mom’s new boyfriend, a new house, new friends—even a new puppy that likes to chew on Annabelle’s clothes. Well, at least the puppy comes with a leash and a training manual! If only she could say the same for the boys . . . (From GoodReads)

The Fun:  
A yummy hot dog bar...get it?  Hot Dog?  Boys are Dogs?  Cute...

After hanging out and visiting, the girls and moms had an interesting conversation discussing experiences with Alpha Male--what we've experienced and how to handle.

The Vote:  
Megan presents-- 

• The Princess Bride By William Goldman 
• The Hounds of the Baskervilles By Sir Author Conan Doyle  Winner!
• White Fang By Jack London

 Up Next:  
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead at Odessa & Ai Ying's  - Date TBD

Updates & Sad News:  Smith & Elizabeth are leaving us, moving to Austin, Tx.  We are so sad and sorry to see the leave but certainly wish the all the very best in their new city and adventure.
 
Next to Present: Kate

Then:

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

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares

The Locale: Cassie and Susan's

The Book's Website

The Author's Website

The Book:  Carmen, Lena, Bridget and Tibby are very close friends who spend all their time with each other.  But this summer, Carmen's visiting her father in South Carolina, Lena's visiting her grandparents in Greece, Bridget's going to a summer camp on Baja California, and Tibby's working at the Wallman's back home.  So when they find a pair of pants that magically fits all four girls right before they depart, it must be fate...right?  Will the faded denim of the Pants be strong enough to keep the Sisterhood together?

The Fun: First, Susan S. explained the new blog features to the members of the book club.  Then, the girls discussed their thoughts about the book.  Later, the girls performed a relay,  They kicked a soccer ball up a hill to represent Bridget, played tennis with Cassie to represent Carmen, and buried a Mimi to represent Tibby.  Afterwards, the movie adaptation of the novel was shown.

The Vote: It was Megan's turn to bring up books.  Although she and Dawn were unable to make it to the meeting, they emailed in Megan's choices.  The choices were:

• The Sisters Grimm by Michael Buckley
• The Name of this Book is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch
• Liesl and Po by Lauren Oliver

The winner was The Name of this Book is Secret.

Who Presents Next: Kate and Brenda

Up Next: The Mother-Daughter Book Club by Heather Vogel Frederick at Odessa and AiYing's on April 28th

The School of Fear by Gitty Daneshvari

The Location:  Cassie & Susan's

The Book's Website

The Author's Website

The Book:  Cute is the best word I can think of to describe this book. Full of pop language, and definitely geared toward the middle school/late elementary school crowd,School of Fear is an easy read for the adults, but still interesting. It includes factual tidbits about different phobias, a plot that keeps the reader interested, and some really awesome character development. It also gives some good life advice, albeit in a funny and unconventional storyline.  Makes me want to be a children's book editor when I grow up! (Thanks, Creamer Chronicle Literary Corner)

The Fun:  The children participated in a treasure hunt where the items relating to fear were hidden around Susan & Cassie's estate.  The kids and moms then participated in a phobia-related School of Fear crossword puzzle.  

Changes/Updates: Looking to add a new member.  Susan & Olivia will explore options.

Up Next: Notes from a Liar & Her Dog by Gennifer Choldenko at Odessa & AiYing's house.

Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard & Florence Atwater

The Locale: Cassie & Susan’s Home

The Book: More than 60 years have not dated this wonderfully absurd tale--it still makes kids (and parents) laugh out loud. Poor Mr. Popper isn't exactly unhappy; he just wishes he had seen something of the world before meeting Mrs. Popper and settling down. Most of all, he wishes he had seen the Poles, and spends his spare time between house-painting jobs reading all about polar explorations. Admiral Drake, in response to Mr. Popper's fan letter, sends him a penguin; life at 432 Proudfoot Avenue is never the same again. From one penguin living in the icebox, the Popper family grows to include 12 penguins, all of whom must be fed. Thus is born "Popper's Performing Penguins, First Time on Any Stage, Direct from the South Pole

The Fun: The girls made penguin charm pins and bracelets. Learning the meaning of new vocabulary, words pulled from the book and looked. Then Cassie shared a related picture book, 365 Penguins, by Jean-Luc Fromental and Joelle Jolivet, which all the girls took turns reading.

The Food: Shrimp and Gold Fish--just like what the penguins loved to eat, but of course our shrimp was in a cocktail and the gold fish were crackers. Desert was an ice cream cake shaped like an a ice berg. Yummy!

The Vote: Megan’s three books were The Magic Thief by Sarah Prineas, The Monster Ring by Bruce Covelle, and The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi. Charlotte Doyle won. Runner up was The Monster Ring.

Up Next: Ida B by Katherine Hannigan, hosted at Odessa & AiYing’s house on February 6th.