When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

The Locale: Odessa & Ai Ying's

When You Reach Me

Rebecca Stead 

The Book - Courtesy of the Creamer Literary Corner:

May's Mother-Daughter Book Club book was a short, but somewhat deep novel about friendship and support set in 1970s New York City. While her mother is prepping to be a contestant on The $20,000 Pyramid, Miranda begins receiving a series of mysterious notes. While she doesn't immediately make sense of them, they are clues that her favorite book, A Wrinkle in Time, may not be entirely far-fetched. She meets a series of friends, all the while trying to figure out why one friend has left her. the story comes together in the end, and Stead closes it up with a super happy ending.

That's all I'm giving away! One of Megan's book club selections was A Wrinkle in Time, and without reading it, this book would have been a little obscure. Overall, we really enjoyed it, and I would recommend it to middle schoolers looking for something a little deeper.

The Fun: Odessa leads the discussion, taking charge of all activities, asking who like the book and who got confused with the time travel.  In keeping with the tone of the book, the girls are asked to write letters to their future selves, noting a "Do Not Open Until..." date. 

 Since the book takes place in the 70s and include much reference to a game show in that period...that most of the moms watched as girls, we watch an old episode of $20,000 Pyramid.  Thanks, YouTube!  And then...we get to play.  Odessa really out did herself by creating a game using PowerPoint.  Every mom/daughter team gets to take a shot.  Super fun!

We also said goodbye to good friends, Smith & Elizabeth, who attended their last meeting, moving to Austin, Texas.  So sad to see them go but so excited for the new adventure that awaits them.

The Vote: Kate presents...

• Heidi by Johanna Spyri
• Nancy Drew  - The Clue of the Broken Locket by Carolyn Keene
• Percy Jackson - The Lightening Thief by Rick Riodan     WINNER!!

A date to meet at Kate & Brenda's has not been set. for November 2nd.

Up Next: The Hounds of the Baskervilles By Sir Author Conan Doyle at Megan & Dawn's on Saturday, September 7th, October 5th, 2:00 - 4:00.

Next to Present: Ashley

Then:

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

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

Maximum Ride, The Angel Experiement by James Patterson

The Locale:  Emma & Diana's

Official Maximum Ride Website

James Patterson

The Book:  
From the bestselling author James Patterson comes the stunning, breathtaking start to the blockbuster series! Six unforgettable kids—with no families, no homes—are running for their lives. Max Ride and her best friends have the ability to fly. And that's just the beginning of their amazing powers. But they don't know where they come from, who's hunting them, why they are different from all other humans... and if they're meant to save mankind—or destroy it. (From GoodReads)

The Fun:  
As asked, most of the girls showed up dressed in costume, a character with super powers.  We had to guess what was each girl's super power based on the costume.  We had girls who harnessed the power of fire...and was a Animal Whisperer.

The girls were also directed to pair up and conduct TV Interviews, as if one girl was the TV reporter and the other was a customer in the restaurant were the characters of the book flew about.  However, that was not the end result.  The girls took it step further and created a video, with most girls playing a part.

The Vote:  
Odessa presents-- 

• When You Reach Me By Rebecca Stead Winner! 
• Every Soul A Star By Wendy Mass 
• The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate By Jacqueline Kelly 

 Up Next:  
Boys are Dogs by Leslie Margolis at Cassie & Susan's on Saturday, April 20th
 
Next to Present: Megan

Then:

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

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

The Locale:  Perri & TJ's House

Pride & Prejudice

janeausten.org

The Book:  
In a remote Hertfordshire village, far off the good coach roads of George III's England, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet -- a country squire of no great means and his scatterbrained wife -- must marry off their five vivacious daughters. At the heart of this all-consuming enterprise are the headstrong second daughter Elizabeth and her aristocratic suitor Fitzwilliam Darcy, two lovers in whom pride and prejudice must be overcome before love can bring the novel to its magnificent conclusion.

The Fun:  Super meeting. Most of the girls didn't make it through the book; yet, they seemed to really have a grasp of the novel, its story, and its characters. My fav part was when the girls were given quotes and had to guess 
who said it to whom--and when--and what did it mean--what was character trying to say in today's language. 

It was also very timely, our reading of this novel, as during our reading, the novel celebrated its 200th anniversary. NPR notes the occasion with Cartoon Celebration, a graphic novel summary. Perfect!  Thanks, Diana, for sharing this!

The Vote:  
Cassie presents--

• Boys are Dogs by Leslie Margolis. Winner! 
• Sister Spider Knows All by Adrian Fogelin
• Artemis Fowl. Eoin Colfer

Up Next:  
The Angel Experiment: A Maximum Ride Novel by James Patterson at Emma & Diana's on Sunday, March 24th--note the different day!
 
Next to Present: Odessa

Then:

• Megan


• Kate


• Smith


• Ashley


• Emily


• Olivia


• Perri


• Emma


• Cassie


• Odessa

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

The Locale: Olivia & Susan's Home

Jerry Spinelli

The Book: 
Stargirl is the enchanting story of a free-spirited newcomer to a small Arizona high school. Stargirl is told from the point of view of Leo, director of Hot Seat, the school's talk show. Leo becomes the love interest of Star Girl, but her free-spirited ways, at first accepted by the other students, soon become a source of contention between them. To show her love, Stargirl gives up her free-spirited ways and becomes "normal," but her reputation with the other students is beyond repair. She only has one true friend who likes that she is not like everyone else, and is angry when she changes to please Leo.
Thanks to The Creamer Literary Corner Blog
 
The Fun:
The fun began when the girls arrived, as asked, dressed like Stargirl.  As refreshments were passed out, the girls were asked to invent new names for themselves just as Stargirl, aka Susan, had invented new names for herself when she felt she had outgrown the others.  Some of the creative names included Flower Blossom, Conjugation Unicorn, Mazda, Flufffenhaagen, Penelope Pretty Face.

Refreshments for the meeting included Stargirl Sandwiches; Pocket Mouse's Peace, Love and Pasta; Senior Saguaro Spinach Dip; Hullygully Hooch and Mudpie's Mud Cake.

 
After our book discussion, included quotes about non-conformity, we danced around the house doing the Bunny Hop, just as Stargirl led the group at the high school prom.  The girls then broke into groups and created their own conga line dances.

The Vote:   Emma presented the following books:

• The Musician's Daughter by Susanne Emily Dunlap
• The Angel Experiment: A Maximum Ride Novel by James Patterson
• Flyaway by Lucy Christopher

The Winner was The Angel Experiment: A Maximum Ride Novel by James Patterson

Up Next: Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen @ Perri & TJ's on February 16th Updates: Welcome to our new members, invited by Kate & Brenda. Emily & Kristine Kissell. 


Next to Present: Cassie

Then:  

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