Newt, 2008
An Exclusive Invite
Newt has invited me to join her book-club. Including the two of us, there are two members.
We’re very exclusive.
The loose plan is for her to read something she likes and then pass it on to me. Once I have finished, we will have a discussion. She has grudgingly agreed to allow me to pick a book from time to time.
Our first book is Because of Winn-Dixie
Newt has planned for us to discuss it tomorrow.
She will be leading the discussion.
I am to bring snacks.
When I get a turn to choose, I plan to have her read The Hundred Dresses
If you have any book recommendations for us, please leave them in the comments.
Shhhhh!
If you like me on Facebook, you may have seen my recent status about our summer reading program. After participating every year since she was a toddler, Newt has decided to drop out. She no longer cares about the incentives and feels that tracking her time is getting in the way of actually reading. A few days after she told me she was done, I read this post on Steady Mom. Yes.
That’s not to say that we are abandoning the library. Not at all. We love the library and the wonderful ladies in the children’s department.
However, Newt is feeling a bit cranky about the amount of children filling the library this summer. Being homeschooled, she’s used to going places when most other kids are at school.
Can a ten year old be curmudgeonly?
Last week, when the noise in the children’s department got to be too much for her, I introduced her the my favorite place in the library. This room has lots of work tables, comfy chairs, a great view and a no noise policy.
No talking.
Electronic devices set to silent.
Headphones only.
It’s heavenly.
I have a feeling it is going to become a favorite reading spot. Maybe even when September rolls around.
Amazon Affiliate Links are on. If you purchase either of the books I have linked to, I will make a very small commission. Perhaps enough to pay for the parking meter at my next trip to the library. Thanks!
We are having a few of the same problems. Ian just isn’t into the reading programs this summer. I think it may be beneath him. Also, we really dislike not having the world to ourselves. Summers are awful that way. We look forward to September.
I’m so glad Newt loves to read! I could recommend so many books, but I’ll try to keep the list short. 🙂
– Miracles on Maple Hill, Virginia Sorensen — An older book, but a very fun read. Great for an old fashioned and fun story.
– My Side of the Mountain, Jean Craighead George — A must-read for adolescents if you ask me. We’ve all wanted to run away at some point and this book calls to that side of us. (No, I don’t encourage running away.) I love the out-doorsy aspect of the story as well.
– Cornelia and the Audacious Escapades of the Somerset Sisters, Leslie M. M. Blume — Quite a mouthful of a title, yes. This is a *wonderful* intellectual read for a girl Newt’s age. It was my favorite book at that age. It is full of wonderful stories told by one of the characters. These stories help shape the life of the main character.
– Redwall, Brian Jacques (or anything by Mr. Jacques) — Classic. Must-read.
– Thunder Cave, Roland Smith — An exciting story about the adventures of a young man trying to find his father in Kenya. (I couldn’t put this one down and subsequently stayed up all night reading it).
– Little Women, Louisa May Alcott — Need I say anything about this one? 🙂
– Millicent Min: Girl Genius, Lisa Yee — A sweet and funny coming of age story about an extremely smart and gifted girl.
– The Wild Girls, Pat Murphy — A great story about two girls trying to be writers.
– The City of Ember, Jeanne DuPrau — Very cool. Thought provoking. I’ve never read the sequels. I couldn’t get in to the second one. But the first book is definitely great.
– Holes, Louis Sachar — This book is fun, funny, and a must-read for kids.
– Chasing Vermeer, Blue Balliett — A great puzzling book. Lots of stuff to think over and a fun code to crack. The sequel (The Wright 3) is great too. I have not read the third (Calder’s Game) because I wanted to reread the other two first. I unfortunately can’t find my copy of Chasing Vermeer. 🙁 (I blame it on one of my brothers.)
Happy reading!!
Christina,
That is a great list. I have read many of those books myself, but some are new to both of us. Newt was very excited to get the recommendations. Thanks!
I love that she suggested the book club for you too. She is such a riot! I love her to pieces. I put together a book club as well and I think we would get a long great lol. I wish we lived close…..I would convince her to add me to the club as well!
If you haven’t read Little Britches by Ralph Moody then run out and get it! It is one of my all-time favorite books. 😀 Apparently I don’t have the book description genre of writing down, but in it Ralph tells his own story (as an 8 year-old) of how his family moved from back east to a ranch in Colorado in the early 1900’s. His adventures and the wisdom he gets from his amazing father are entertaining and leave you feeling like you learn something new to apply to life in every chapter. There are actually six or seven in the series of his life, I’ve read the first two and love them.
Jen, we love Little Britches! I finished reading it to Newt about two weeks ago. Her words? “It’s life changing. I learned so much from it. It has become a part of my heart.” Big fans. I just got the second one on CD to listen to in the car. Is it as good as the first?