BOOK CLUB PANIC

[penmage]

I'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.

Comments

[penmage.livejournal.com]

I WISH I could give them Dreamhunter. But I think it's a little too mature, thought-wise for them. It's a very thoughtful book, and even though my girls are clever and wise and wonderful, I don't think they're quite ready for it yet.

[janni.livejournal.com]

And I think it needs more time for the reading, too--it's not a book that wants to be rushed.

With an older group, there could be some interesting discussions about the golem ...

[penmage.livejournal.com]

Yes yes and yes. I want to lend it to some of my older teens--not the book group girls, just some girls in the neighborhood.

I'm pretty pleased with my book lending efforts in general. I convinced a self-proclaimed nonreading teen to borrow The Hunger Games. He came over to me a week later and told me, proudly, that he was 50 pages in. His mom says he's still reading and takes it with him everywhere.

Seriously, nothing could make me happier.

[janni.livejournal.com]

I convinced a self-proclaimed nonreading teen to borrow The Hunger Games. He came over to me a week later and told me, proudly, that he was 50 pages in. His mom says he's still reading and takes it with him everywhere.

That is seriously awesome.