Summary: Annabelle Doll is eight years old -- she has been for over a hundred years. Not a lot has happened to her, cooped up in the dollhouse, with the same doll people, day after day, year after year . . . until the Funcrafts move in! Now Annabelle has a friend. Sure, she’s made entirely of plastic and she‘s living in the scariest room in the house, but she’s an adventurer, and after a hundred years of boredom, that’s just what Annabelle needs. When a secret diary surfaces, these two unlikely friends venture into the exciting and dangerous world outside the dollhouse to unravel an age-old mystery. This masterfully plotted adventure by Ann M. Martin and Laura Godwin is illustrated throughout with remarkable black-and-white drawings by Brian Selznick. -- Hyperion Books for ChildrenFor our March meeting, our Mother Daughter book club read THE DOLL PEOPLE by Ann M. Martin and Laura Godwin, and illustrated by Brian Selznick. The vast majority of the girls absolutely loved the book, but I have to be honest in saying that it wasn't my favorite. I guess it wasn't written with me in mind, but it did seem to strike a chord with the nine year old girl crowd. This month, we were able to find "real" discussion questions which definitely helped the girls focus their talk on the book. In addition, a few of the girls brought their own questions which were a great addition to the conversation.
I couldn't believe how long the girls discussed this book because I thought it was more entertaining than thought provoking. I was definitely wrong -- I guess that's why it's a good idea that the mothers let the girls pick the books. My favorite part of their discussion was when they talked about which doll family they would prefer to live with -- the antique china set or the newer plastic set. For the most part, they agreed that they liked the older doll set better because there lives seemed more stable. I was sure that at least one or two girls would want to be part of the chaotic, but fun, plastic family.
Next month, we will be reading THE LIGHTNING THIEF by Rick Riordan. It's the first book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. It's by far the biggest book that we've ever read for our Mother Daughter book club, but I'm hoping that it won't be a problem because it's supposed to be terrific. We've given the girls an extra week or two to read it so hopefully they won't feel too much pressure.Summary: Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can’t seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse -- Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. When Percy’s mom finds out, she knows it’s time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he’ll be safe. She sends Percy to Camp Half-Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon, a mystery unfolds and together with his friends -- one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena -- Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods. -- Hyperion Books for Children
Wow, these look like interesting reads. I am always keeping my eyes open for titles to add to the list for my neices. They are still young but their love of books is already developing strong! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI've been wanting to read The Lightning Thief. I hope you enjoy it. My brother is in a parent-daughter book club and he and my niece really enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter just loved the Dollhouse book. She read it in elementary school and when we did the "I'm in high school now and its time to purge" thing, that was one of the books that stayed on her shelf....Sadly her big brother's Hank the Cowdog series had to go. ;O)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. I have a couple of nieces, so I'll put the Doll People on my list for them. Can't wait to hear what your group thinks of the Lightning Thief.
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting that they chose the older doll family and not the new-fangled plastic one. My son (10) and even my daughter (5) are currently more attracted to the new, shinier version of ANYTHING.
ReplyDeleteThose book club meetings sound like so much fun. Do you and your daughter read the books together?
ReplyDeleteGuess what, Julie? My son, aged 10today, and I read The Doll People and The Meanest Doll in the World together. We loved them both. I was pleasantly surprised when he chose those books off the shelf at our local book store as ones he wanted to read. Even for little boys, they are a great read. Now, we are moving on to the next one this weekend (I cannot remember the title). Thanks for the great post.
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