Holiday Cookie Exchange

Hungry for Cookies!

The Locale: Smith & Elizabeth's

The Fun: 
For the 3rd time, Smith & Elizabeth graciously hosted a Cookie Exchange for our girls. Everyone brought 2 1/2 dozen cookies--a 1/2 dozen to munch on at the exchange and 2 dozen to share. While Moms chatted and munched on all the goodies provided by our hosts, the Girls hung out--outside by the fire.  Roasting Marshmallows.  Giggling.  Having fun. Girls & moms left with a variety of yummy delights to munch on over the winter break. Afterward, several of us went to the movies to see The Rise of the Guardians.  

The cookie exchange is such fun!! Thanks again, Smith & Elizabeth! 


Up Next: 

• Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli @ Olivia & Susan's house on January 26th.
• Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen @ Perri & TJ's on February 16th

Next to Present: Emma


Updates: Welcome to our new members, invited by Kate & Brenda. Emily & Kristine Kissell. I believe they will be joining us at our January meeting for Stargirl.

Fairest by Gail Carson Levine

 
The Locale: Ashley & Jian's

Book’s Website
 
Author’s Website
 
The Book: 
From the author of Ella Enchanted, Fairest is the reworking of the classic tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves by the Borthers Grimm (one of my favorite fairy tales). In the story, Aza is a large orphan girl taken in by innkeepers in the Kingdom of Ayortha, neighbor kingdom to Frell. Aza embarks on a journey that brings her to the castle where she meets the new queen and Prince Ijori. A story of love, self awareness and choosing between right and wrong, Fairest is full of references to the original story. Megan really enjoyed the book, and it is perfect for the tween crowd, especially if they love fantasy/fairy tales. I think the moms in the book club thought it a little too silly. What we do for our daughters! (Thanks, Creamer Literary Blog!)

The Fun: 
Our first visit to Ashley & Jian's. Yummy food and discussion questions are part of the fun. For the discussion questions, moms pair up with daughters...but not their own! All moms agree that it was fun getting to work with another girl. A nice change of pace.

Kate is so strong!

The Whole Gang!

Ashley & Susan

Emma & Dawn

Ai Ying & Perri

Odessa & Jian

Susan & Megan

Elizabeth & Kate

Cassie & Brenda

Olivia & Diana

Smith & TJ

The Vote: 
Perri presented the following books:

• The Maze Runner by James Dasher
• Voices of Dragons by Carrie Vaughn
• Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen - THE WINNER!

Up Next: 
Smith & Elizabeth's Annual Holiday Cookie Exchange on December 16th @ 3:30. Then...

• Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli @ Olivia & Susan's house on January 26th.
• Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen @ Perri & TJ's on February 16th

Next to Present: Emma

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

The Locale: Smith & Elizabeth's

Book’s Website

Author’s Website

The Book: 
It is 1943, and to Annemarie Johansen, life in Copenhagen is a complicated mix of ordinary home and school life, food shortages, and the constant presence of Nazi soldiers. Bravery seems a vague virtue, one possessed by dragon-slaying knights in the bedtime stories she tells her younger sister, Kirsti. Too soon, she herself is called upon for courage.

As the German troops begin their campaign to "relocate" all the Jews of Denmark, the Johansens take in Annemarie's best friend, Ellen Rosen, and pretend she is part of the family. Ellen and Annemarie must think quickly when three Nazi officers arrive late one night and question why Ellen is not blond, like her sisters.


Through Annemarie's eyes, we see the Danish Resistance as they manage to smuggle almost the entire Jewish population, nearly 7000 people, across the sea to Sweden. In this tale of an entire nation's heroism, Lois Lowry reminds us that there is pride and human decency in the world even during a time of terror and war. (Taken from the Author's Website)

The Fun: Yummy Food! Including Noodle Apple Kugel (a Jewish Dish) and Dream Cupcakes...cupcakes with pink icing that Kirsti craves.


Like Annemarie and Ellen, the girls had to dress alike and convince us that there were sisters. Perri & Cassie win. Kate & Odessa in 2nd.


The girls then hold a lengthy discussion of the book includes bullying, WWII, persecution of different races, religions, and gender. 

The Vote:

• Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli 
• The Kingdom Keepers by Ridley Pearson 
• The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman 

Well for the first time, we had a 3 way tie, and the moms had to vote to break the tie. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli Wins!

Up Next: 

Fairest by Gail Carson Levine @ Ashley & Jian's home on December 1st

Next to Present: Perri will present next at our next book club meeting.

Updates:

• Smith & Elizabeth will host another holiday cookie exchange on December 15th.
• Olivia & Susan will host Stargirl tentatively on January 12th. Susan may have a work conflict which may wither cause her to either change meeting times or to another date. Stay tuned.

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg

The Locale: Kate & Brenda's

Book’s Website:  None Available

Author’s Website:  None Available

The Book:  When suburban Claudia Kincaid decides to run away, she knows she doesn't just want to run from somewhere she wants to run to somewhere--to a place that is comfortable, beautiful, and preferably elegant. She chooses the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Knowing that her younger brother, Jamie, has money and thus can help her with the serious cash flow problem she invites him along. Once settled into the museum, Claudia and Jamie, find themselves caught up in the mystery of an angel statue that the museum purchased at an auction for a bargain price of $250. The statue is possibly an early work of the Renaissance master Michelangelo, and therefore worth millions. Is it? Or isn't it? Claudia is determined to find out. This quest leads Claudia to Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, the remarkable old woman who sold the statue and to some equally remarkable discoveries about herself. (From Google Books)

The Fun:  Yummy! Nouilles et fromage en casserole (Mac n cheese) purchased at the Met Cafe.  The girls take a quiz and discuss the book. 

The Vote:  Our newest member, Ashley, presented the following books:

• Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart (4 votes)
• Fairest by Gail Carson Levine (5 votes)
• Artemis Fowl: the opal deception by Eoin Colfer (0 votes)
  

Up Next:  The next meeting, on October 13th, will be at Smith & Elizabeth's home to discuss Number the Starts by Lois Lowry. 
Next to Present: Olivia

Updates: Katie & Brenda B. left the group.  Felt it was no longer a good fit for them.  Next up to invite new members in Megan & Dawn.

The Name of this Book is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch

The Name of this Book is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch

The Locale: Megan and Dawn's

The Book's Website

The Author's Website

The Book: Due to the tell-all title and author's warning, this book was obviously not meant to be read.  Yet, our mother-daughter book club courageously endeavored to read this dangerous book that includes two characters named Cass and Max-Ernest.  Naturally, these are not their real names, in case the reader was to ever look to find them.  The novel covers many important and serious topics, such as synesthesia, eternal life, and paunchy, rude real-estate agents.  A somewhat depressing yet quick and interesting read that has certain similarities to The Bad Beginning (August 2010), this book was great (although quite hazardous).

The Fun: The girls and moms had a broad discussion of various topics, such as the benefits of being a good liar, banned books, and the dangers of books.

The Vote: Smith's choices were:

• Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat by Lynn Jonell
• Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
• Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery

During the voting, there was a tie between Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat and Number the Stars.  Much to Emmy-lovers' dismay, it was decided that, by tradition, the mothers would vote.  Therefore, just as the girls had predicted, Number the Stars won an almost unanimous Mom's vote (Susan S. voted for Emmy). 

Up Next: This was the last meeting before the book club broke for summer.  The next meeting, on August 25th September 8th, will be at Kate P. and Brenda P.'s to discuss From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg.

Next to Present: Katie B.   Ashley

Update:  As requested, I spoke with Brenda & Katie B.  Mom said they no longer felt Mother Daughter was a good fit for them and are dropping out.  I was certainly sad to hear it, as I did enjoy getting to know them, but I appreciated her honesty and understand that circumstances change.   Because of this change, it would be our newest members, Ashley & Jian, to present books at our next meeting.  And...it would be Dawn & Megan's turn to invite a new mom/daughter team.