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

[thumbelinablues.livejournal.com]

None of these are new titles (I am SO BEHIND) but Goddess of Yesterday, by Caroline B. Cooney if you want to keep with the Greek theme; Nobody's Princess by Esther Friesner, ditto; The Shakespeare Stealer by Gary Blackwood; Hurt Go Happy by Ginny Rorby; and, if you don't mind waiting a week for it to come out, Janni Lee Simner's Bones of Faerie. Good luck!

[penmage.livejournal.com]

Hmm, Nobody's Princess is an interesting thought. I read Nobody's Prize for the Cybils and really liked it, but I haven't read Princess yet.

Prize had a little bit of sex in it--did Princess? I may have to do some quick reading. I also want to give them a choice, so I want to bring a few books and vote.

I am incredibly psyched for janni's Bones of Faerie, but I want to wait and pre-read anything I put out there to make sure it's clean enough for the parents in the community. Not that I think Bones isn't--I just need to preread so I don't get myself in a sticky situation. I also want to make sure that I hae enough for a real discussion with any title I bring in.

Bones is definitly a contender, but not for this month.

[thumbelinablues.livejournal.com]

How was Prize? I haven't gotten around to it yet. Flipping through Princess, I see some marriage-arranging, but no sex - she even cleaned up Aphrodite's origin story. :-P If you want to borrow my copy, or my ARC of Bones, let me know!

[penmage.livejournal.com]

I really liked Prize. It was pretty clean--but there were a couple references to sex, and I'm being extra careful here.

I'd love to borrow your copies of both! Can I meet you after work today? If I'm going to read Princess before the weekend, I need to get moving!

Or--are you coming to the KGB reading tonight? I could meet you there if you are.

[goddessinsepia.livejournal.com]

How about The Book Thief by Markus Zusak?

[penmage.livejournal.com]

I thought about that, but I don't think it's quite right for this venue. It's one of the best books I'll ever read, but it's very heavy--and while I don't specifically need to keep the tone light (we did read Chains) I don't want to drag it down that far.

They also read a lot of Holocaust books in school, and I want to make the book club as un-academic as possible.

This reminds me though that I want to read Zusak's other book. He is just so good.

[thumbelinablues.livejournal.com]

Reminds me that I really must read The Book Thief...but mostly I want to say just how much I love your icon. So much. Can't stop staring....

[ashfae.livejournal.com]

Belle Prater's Boy, which is just plain one of the best YA books ever, for all that it's an older one.

For new ones, alas, I'm way behind the times. =( And in the wrong country to boot, different books out here.

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

If this isn't disgusting, my Posse of Princesses? I've had a couple of people say they've taught it to sixth graders--it has plenty of romance, but no objectionable content.

If that's repulsive (and I apologize) Saffy's Angel by Hilary McKay? Durst's Out of the Wild? (As I recall, there wasn't anything older teen in it.)

[eyelid.livejournal.com]

Ellen Raskin ;)

not new. but light/funny/interesting and no sex.

[esc-key.livejournal.com]

I dunno. Maybe read something silly or light? Switch it up?

[lnbw.livejournal.com]

Second the Ellen Raskin rec! The Westing Game is brilliant.

I think I suggested this last time, but A Wrinkle in Time? Also Howl's Moving Castle for more specficcy goodness?

It's actually ancient, but I find that very few people have read Cheaper by the Dozen, especially after the horrendous movies, but it's a really fun memoirish thing, free of objectionable content.

[shadesong.livejournal.com]

"The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins for heavy content, and "How to Ditch Your Fairy" by Justine Larbalestier for lighter.

[penmage.livejournal.com]

It's not disgusting :). I quite enjoyed Posse--I was thrilled to get a review copy for the Cybils, and I've since moved it downstairs into my lending library. I think my girls would really like it.

My only concern with it, unfortunately, is availability. I've been kind of hinting to some of the moms that it wouldn't be a terrible idea for them to lay down the cash and buy the books, but so far they only seem to be hitting up the library, which doesn't have a hugely massive selection.

I actually had some problems with the first book we read--some of the girls had trouble getting copies, and so they didn't read it in time. I'm kind of peeved that this has to be taken into consideration, but it does.

Into the Wild is a very interesting thought, though--that book might be perfect for the age group, and I know our library has several copies.

[penmage.livejournal.com]

Sigh. The problem with the position I'm in is that I have to censor myself because any books I pick comes from THE RABBI'S WIFE.

I'm concerned that some parents might find Hunger Games too violent. And How to Ditch Your Fairy has a very boyfriends-centric plot, which I'm afraid may not go over well.

Both good books and good choices. Unfortunately I think I need to rely on them more as books I lend to them from my lending library and less books that are our official Book Club read.

[penmage.livejournal.com]

I loved Cheaper By the Dozen! Interesting thought. Do you think there's enough for a meaty discussion, though?

[grammargirl.livejournal.com]

Hmm, someone else already beat me to suggesting The Book Thief...

What about Mysterious Benedict Society or The Name of This Book is Secret? They're both puzzle-y and fun, and completely clean as far as I can remember (though TNOTBIS has a couple characters who are gay in a totally background, non-sexual way).

[gimmelgirl.livejournal.com]

It's not new - old - but I loved Anne McCaffrey's Harper Hall Trilogy, starting with Dragonsong, when I was that age.

A few more thoughts....

[gimmelgirl.livejournal.com]

Also, Inkspell is phenomenal, especially if you love books themselves.
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....

[penmage.livejournal.com]

Oh, good thought! I was thinking vaguely about MBS a little while ago, but I forgot about it. Hmm. I need to dig up my copy. I'm not actually sure where it is at the moment...

I have a confession to make: I've never actually read TNOTBIS. It's in my pile of books I really want to read, but you know how it goes. I'm not sure I'll have time to read it before this meetup, but maybe for next time. I was actually just looking at my shelf and wondering if it would be an appropriate read.

[penmage.livejournal.com]

I vaguely remember there being some sex in the Harper Hall books. Am I wrong? Am I just remembering the other Pern books?

[janni.livejournal.com]

I just read and loved Neil Shusterman's Antsy Does Time--very funny, and not usually my sort of thing at all, but a good read. (I think it's okay content wise, but probably worth pre-reading as well--the main character does have quite a bit of attitude, though of course that's much of the fun. :-))

Are they too young for the Dreamhunter books? (Which are lovely but also not quick reads?)

Or there are Anne McCaffrey's Harper Hall books, if you want to start working on making sure they know girls can do anything. :-)

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Excellent--and thanks for the kind words!

[janni.livejournal.com]

Ah--someone beat me to it.

There's sex in the Dragonrider books, but not in the Harper Hall books. (The first two, at least--been just long enough since I reread the third that I'm not sure.)

[janni.livejournal.com]

What about Robin McKinley's The Blue Sword? A less dogmatic girls can do anything book. :-) (I don't think there's sex in it, though there may or may not be in Hero and the Crown.)