BOOK CLUB PANIC
Jan. 21st, 2009 09:53 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
penmageI'm suddenly having a panic attack. My teen book club is meeting this weekend, and I haven't picked the next book for us to read, and suddenly I'm riddled with panic. I haven't read enough books. I don't own enough books! What do I pick?
You know and I know I've read a billion books, but suddenly I can't think of anything and everything I think about seems wrong. Getting a second opinion would help, I think.
Here's my criterion: the age group is 11-14, girls. They're all really strong readers. The book we pick should be high level, but free of any content parents might find objectionable, what with me being married to the rabbi and all that. No sex, no major profanity.
Our previous reads have been The Shadow Thieves by Anne Ursu and Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson.
I'd like to read with them something that they probably haven't already read, so I'd prefer a newer title--also because it will be easier for them to find copies of a book that's newer on the market.
PLEASE TO GIVE ME SUGGESTIONS.
You know and I know I've read a billion books, but suddenly I can't think of anything and everything I think about seems wrong. Getting a second opinion would help, I think.
Here's my criterion: the age group is 11-14, girls. They're all really strong readers. The book we pick should be high level, but free of any content parents might find objectionable, what with me being married to the rabbi and all that. No sex, no major profanity.
Our previous reads have been The Shadow Thieves by Anne Ursu and Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson.
I'd like to read with them something that they probably haven't already read, so I'd prefer a newer title--also because it will be easier for them to find copies of a book that's newer on the market.
PLEASE TO GIVE ME SUGGESTIONS.
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A few more thoughts....
Date: 2009-01-21 04:57 pm (UTC)Have you thought about the Libba Bray books?
Ooh! The Last Unicorn?
Is Anne of Green Gables too far off base for what they like?
Just thinking what I loved when I was a tween....
Re: A few more thoughts....
Date: 2009-01-21 05:02 pm (UTC)I actually gave some serious consideration to old Libba, and her books are still in the running (which, thank you for reminding me, because in my BOOK CLUB PANIC MODE I couldn't think of any of the titles I had mentally selected) but I'm concerned that they're too sensual. Then again, all these girls read Twilight.
The Last Unicorn is too mature, I think. Not so much in content--just in thought. I don't think I could run a coherent book discussion about it--I'd be all "Isn't this passage gorgeous? I just! Oh!"
Anne of Green Gables is a little too academic for what I'm looking for. I still love it, but it smells of Classic and School, and those are both things I'm trying to avoid.
Re: A few more thoughts....
Date: 2009-01-21 10:29 pm (UTC)