Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver

The Locale: Emily's & Kristine's

The Book: Dara and Nick used to be inseparable, but that was before – before Dara kissed Parker, before Nick lost him as her best friend, before the accident that left Dara’s beautiful face scarred.

Now the two sisters, who used to be so close, aren’t speaking. In an instant, Nick lost everything and is determined to use the summer to get it all back.

But Dara has other plans. When she vanishes on her birthday, Nick thinks Dara is just playing around. But another girl has vanished, too—nine-year-old Elizabeth Snow—and as Nick pursues her sister, she becomes increasingly convinced that the two disappearances may be linked.

In this edgy and compelling novel, New York Times bestselling author Lauren Oliver creates a world of intrigue, loss, and suspicion as two sisters search to find themselves, and each other.
(http://www.laurenoliverbooks.com/vanishing_girls.php)

Lauren Oliver

The Vote: Olivia presented...

• The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
• 1984 by George Orwell
• Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro  WINS!!

Meeting date @ Olivia's and Susan's scheduled for March 26th.

Next to present: Perri

Then:

• Cassie
• Kate
• Emily
• Perri 

Mrs. Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

The Locale: Emily's & Kristine's

Mrs. Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

Ransom Riggs

The Book: A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. And a strange collection of very curious photographs. It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children who once lived here—one of whom was his own grandfather—were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a desolate island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.

A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.
(http://www.ransomriggs.com/miss_peregrine.php)

The Meeting: A yummy meal prepared by Emily and her dad, including a delicious turtle cheesecake. Most of the club attends. Yay! Mixed reviews on the book. But LOVED the videos Emily shared! Mini documentaries of the author on his quest to find the perfect old mansion to represent Mrs. Peregrine's Home for a video book trailer. His travels and homes were fascinating. Old deserted mansions, taking over by nature. Personal belongings left untouched since abandoned. Very mysterious and deserving of exploring.

The Vote: Olivia presents three graphic novels.

• Maus: A Survivor's Tail by Art Spiegelman
• Persepolis, Volume 1 by Marjane Satrapi
• Scott Pilgrim, Vol. 1: Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life by Bryan Lee O'Malley 

There is a tie between Persepolis and Scott Pilgrim. It is decided that since all the novels are so short, the girls should choose the one that they prefer and read that...or both of the two winners...or all three.

We will meet at Susan's and Olivia's on March 28th.

Up Next: Rylee & Lisa's to discuss Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt on February 14th.

Next to present: Perri

Then:

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

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 

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