Customer Reviews

100 Books for Girls to Grow On

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of this great book. My eight year old daughter and I read Caddie Woodlawn together. We then used Shireen Dodson's very thoughtful discussion questions. The result was a highly satisfying coversation between my daughter and me, and a more memorable reading experience than either of us had imagined possible. This book will inspire mothers and daughters to read books and talk about them, and in the process learn more about themselves and each other. 100 Books for Girls to Grow On is an inspired idea, lovingly executed, and sure to be a hit with mothers and daughters everywhere.

Because of the success of the mother-daughter book club, author Shireen Dodson was prompted to write a book titled "The Mother-Daughter Book Club." But here, she compiled a great number of suggested readings for young girls. And, included are questions to provide discussion, analyze characters motives, actions, etc.

The author feels that good discussion questions broaden reading experience. She believes these discussions with your daughter give her an outlet to listen to mother's opinions, morals and values. This way mother isn't preaching and lecturing rather just discussing things. It keeps lines of communication open tremendously! This approach to your children is valuable!

She also provides an average reading time and the pages. She says the books range for girls ages 9 to 13, some for younger and some for older than 13 years old.

Included is a small blurb about the authors, some author's titles listed a few times. Themes are listed for each book, whether it is cultural, race, freedom, choice, sacrifice, friendship, relationships, identity, self esteem, family, responsibility, etc. After each blurb are suggested activities pertaining to specific books.

And, the author, Dodson, suggests other books that girls might like. For each book listed, she recommends books of similar likeness. The other suggested readings are not necessarily included in her 100 list, which is great because these titles are also referenced in the index. That's what makes this segment wonderful, more books are suggested

This is a wonderful reference as motivation to read!....MzRizz

We started our mother-daughter book discussion group 1 year ago and have found this recent publication to be extremely helpful. We pass the book amoung the members to aid in the next month's selection. The discussion questions are great and the activities help us get a start.

We started a mother-daughter book club last year with 7 4th grade families. We used this book for creative ideas for book meetings, as a springboard for discussion, and as a reference for choosing our books. The moms and the daughters enjoy club every month. The girls especially like having the power to pick what their mother (and other mothers) will be reading too! This book was really helpful and continues to be. The book list has a variety of books for ages 3rd grade through high school. A great resource.

Although this was written with mother/daughter book clubs in mind, it's a great book even if you're not in a book club. The reviews give just enough information without spoiling the story, and it includes books I would have never thought about encouraging my daughter to read until I read about them here, such as books where the protaganist is not displaying the values I like to encourage. Good suggestions on how to talk about not-so-great behavior, etc. I enjoyed this book.

Reading aloud to my daughters is a great joy and highlight of my day. I want to fill my children's minds with images of beauty, goodness, strength, and great character, as well as entertaining story lines and well-crafted literature. I want to inspire them to goodness. I purchased this book to give me ideas for read-alouds, and in that use I think it will be helpful. However, a couple "flags" stood out, and since I haven't read all the books in reviewed in this work, I'm certainly suspicious of the author's choices and critiques.

For example, in questions related to "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," she states that although it appears Aslan saves the children, in the end, the children save Aslan. What kind of twisted analysis could EVER come up with the theory that the children saved Aslan? The story related in "The Lion..." is a clear allegory for the life of Christ and his redeeming work for humankind. The fact that she got this completely backwards makes me question the reliability of "100 Books for Girls to Grow On."

I also found "The Giver" to be a disturbing book, as did my daughter. "The Golden Compass" is one I won't let near my kids. While it is good to question your beliefs, young people are extremely impressionable, and the author muddles the difference between right and wrong, and apparently is intent on swaying children away from a belief in God, and inject numerous dark images. I'd save "The Golden Compass" for adults, not kids. Also, I read every Judy Blume book there was when I was growing up, and gosh, do I regret it. I wish I had read something more wholesome.

How did the best book ever for girls to grow on NOT make it into this volume? "Anne of Green Gables" should be read and loved by every girl, but it isn't mentioned. But maybe that's offset by the inclusion of "Caddie Woodlawn" and "Ballet Shoes."

Well, in the end, I personally wish I hadn't bought the book because I'm a Catholic and have a different world view than the author does. However, I also see the value of reading different types of literature and in the end, this can be a useful volume for giving you ideas of books to read. But I probably won't use her discussion questions. And I'm going to keep looking for books that nourish my girls' spiritual strength and health, and inspire them to be holy and lovers of God.

My daughter and I are part of a mother/daughter book club that meets monthly. We decided to buy the book for some of the ideas on the discussion questions since quite a few of the books we are reading are in this book. It has been excellent, it has also given me the opportunity to get good ideas for other books that we would recommend for reading when our month to host comes up again.