April Book and Meeting

We have the new books in. Ashes of Roses is a historical novel, based on the true story of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. This was a horrific event which caused the deaths of many of the girls who worked there, and paved the way for the modern labor movement to improve working conditions. We have several books in the library which deal with the fire, in both fiction and non-fiction. So if Ashes of Roses makes you curious, you know where you can come to find out more. :) Rose is an Irish immigrant teenager who is brave enough to stay in America after her family returns to Ireland. I think you're going to like her. :)

Our next meeting is Monday, April 26, right after vacation. Come see me in the library between 10:30-5 for your copy of AOR.

Update

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson is up next on February 22. I have already read it, and "Wow" is all I can say. Searing, emotional stuff.

Our January meeting was well-attended as we discussed A Room on Lorelei Street. We sympathized with the heroine Zoe as she had to deal with her family members and their failings. We welcomed a few new chicks. Remember, we've always got room in the nest.

If you owe me books, PLEASE bring them back. If you are finished with your copy of Wintergirls, return it ASAP as people are waiting to read. See you in the library.

Hey, Chicks. We enjoyed the Cornucopia of Doom's thoughtful questions about Meg Rosoff's How I Live Now. As usual, the conversation was far-ranging, from lockjaw to goats confused with dogs to love. It was generally agreed that HILN was a hit, even if the writing style took some getting used to (no quotation marks, which must make my old English teacher spin in her grave). The cousin thing was also a little tricky/icky, depending.

We meet next on December 14 to discuss Natasha Friend's Perfect. If you have not returned HILN, please do so ASAP. Also, if you finish Perfect early, please get it back to me in the library. We're short copies this month, and I need a copy to read too. Read fast. :) Our December meetings are usually holidayish, so there probably will be a gift or two involved. Have a great Thanksgiving. See you soon!

Coming Up Next

The Chicks will be reading Meg Rosoff's Printz Award-winning How I Live Now for the

November 23 meeting. Mark your calendars! Also, we'll be meeting on December 14 to discuss the next book and have our annual holiday party.

Twenty-two people signed out The Minister's Daughter. I thought this was probably the most challenging book we've read in the four years of Chick Lit. Featuring fairies, piskies, accusations of witchcraft, sexual awakening, political upheaval and religious turmoil, it was not exactly easy reading. But for those who finished it, it provided a lot of issues to think and talk about. Thanks to Kristi's mom for the fabulous pumpkin cookies, and Lani and Hattie for the other delicious treats. The student assistants came up with artistic, thoughtful questions. You girls make every meeting interesting.

We welcomed two new members, senior Brittany Brady and freshman Ruth Leopold. The more the merrier! If you'd like us to invite anyone else to join us, please let Mrs. Deraps or Mrs. Robinson know.

If you've still got The Minister's Daughter, please return it ASAP to the library. If you have any comments about the book or the group, you can post them here. See you soon!

September

We had a nice turn-out. Picked three top books and we'll see what we get. Come see me in the library to pick up it up. Our next meeting is October 26 at 2:15. We encourage you to bring a friend...especially a freshman!

Edited to add---The Minister's Daughter, our number one pick was available! This looks like a really interesting book, a historical set in Civil War England, where magic and mayhem erupt in a small English village.

First Meeting!

Hey, everybody! Hope you had a fabulous summer. Our first meeting for the 2009-2010 school year will be Monday, September 21 at 2:15 in the library. Bring a friend! We'll be picking our first book choices. Snacks and fun. See you then.

Last meeting :(

I want to thank all of you who've spent the year with us talking, eating, laughing and thinking. You Chicklitters are such a special group of girls, and we feel so lucky to share the library with you! Our last meeting for the 2008-2009 school year will be TUESDAY, May 26. We'll be discussing Criss Cross. Good luck with all the end-of-year activities. We hope you'll join us next fall when we start up again!~Mrs. Deraps and Mrs. Robinson.

Last Book of the Year

Newbery Award Winner Criss Cross...where both everything and nothing happens!

Lucky 13!

Finally! We have Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher to read for our April 27 meeting (the first day we're back from vacation). Here's what it says on the book jacket: "Very clever premise, strong voice, perfect suspense. This one will keep you reading. Jay Asher is a fine storyteller."~Chris Crutcher

Please see me in the library after 10:30 AM if you need a copy. And remember we always have more chicks than books, so if you can, read fast so we can share.

We celebrated Mrs. Deraps' birthday and had some excellent questions and discussion (and great pink cupcakes!) about Side Effects at our second March meeting.

A gentle reminder---if you are one of the few who still have copies of any of the Mainely Girls' books that you've forgotten to return, please get them to me ASAP. You know who you are!

March Madness

Our second March meeting is scheduled for March 30! We'll be discussing Side Effects.

Sarah Dessen's Lock and Key was a big hit with the Chicks. It was a little lighter reading than some of the stuff we've read this year. Even though there were plenty of problems, they were nicely spread around.

See you in the library.

No More Snow!

Due to the snow day, our meeting has been postponed for March 9. Please get Lock and Key to me before that if you can so I can send it back. The next book is Side Effects by Amy Goldman Koss. We'll be talking about it for the April meeting. It's short, so you all should speed through it so we can share (we only have 14 books). Here's what one reviewer has to say about it:

Pros: Easy to read. Hard to put down. Real.

The Bottom Line: Cancer sucks - even when it doesn't kill you. This is an emotionally honest book about its devastating effects, and the light at the end of the tunnel.

Any questions or comments? See me in the library or e-mail me at mlrobinson@msad9.org

Update

Sarah Dessen's Lock and Key is our February book. Next meeting is Feb.23.

Even though the late bus was cancelled, we had good attendance (and pink food) for our discussion of Looks. By and large the Chicks liked the book, although some had issues with the present tense and POV. We had a discussion of plagiarism, self-confidence, bullying, and eating disorders. Heavy stuff!

Please return your books ASAP!

Happy Holidays!

Have a great vacation and Happy New Year, Chicklitters! We have the book Looks in the library. Come get one before break.

Our December holiday meeting to discuss Cut went well, even though the subject matter was not exactly holiday material. Please return your copy if you haven't done so already. Lynette Bragg was the lucky winner of the YA short stories.

Our next meeting is January 26. Hope to see you there!

December Meeting

Santa or someone is coming to the December 15 meeting, when we'll be discussing Cut. Please remember to bring your books with you so I can send them back to Mainely Girls before vacation. :)

Thanks to the Junior Assisticants, we had a lemon tree loaded with questions about Make Lemonade. The discussion was lively and we welcomed a few new chicks to the circle. Mrs. Deraps and I continue to be fascinated with everyone's ideas and input. You girls rock!

If you can, read Cut quickly as we have several people waiting for a copy (including me). See you in the library.

Next in November

We had a great October meeting with 20 participants! There wasn't an Ugly to be seen as we discussed Scott Westerfeld's post-apocalyptic world. Seven girls couldn't make the meeting, and one more has since signed up, so Chick Lit is going to need one ginormous henhouse. We'll meet on November 24 to discuss our next book, Make Lemonade by Virginia Euwer Wolff. We got 16 copies from Mainely Girls, so obviously the quicker you can read yours and return it to the library, the sooner more Chicks can read it.

For those of you interested in reading the sequels to Uglies, the middle school library has the series. Mrs. Buckley can get them for you on an inter-library loan. See you in the library!

Reminder!

Don't forget our next meeting is Monday, October 27. PLEASE bring your copy of Uglies with you so I can return it ASAP. AND remember to sign up for the last bus so it won't get cancelled! I'm really looking forward to talking about this book with you and hearing your ideas. Do you know we've had 27 people read it? Wow! A record! Hope to see every one of you there.

What's Next?

We should be getting Uglies next week. 13 Reasons Why was the first choice, but it will be second on our reading list (another school has it). Please come see me between 10:30AM to 5 PM M-Th or 10:30-2 Fridays to pick up your copy. Our next meeting is set for October 27.

First Meeting, 2008-09

Hi, Chicklitters! We're meeting on September 22 at 2:15 in the library for our first meeting of the year. Bring a friend! We'll have snacks and vote on the books we'll be reading.

I'm looking forward to seeing you!

Farewell to Marina and Brittany!

On behalf of Chicklitters everywhere, I want to thank our "senior co-captains" for doing an amazing job ! Both Brittany and Marina had great insight into the books we read, asked pertinent questions, and were a total joy to join us in the group. They will be missed, but are going on to fabulous things on both oceans! XXOO and and thanks to them both!

I also want to thank Mrs. Deraps for being a perfect partner. All the staff and students who belonged are a huge asset to Mt. Blue High School, and I looked forward to every Monday meeting. I hope you all will join us next fall for more reading adventures. Invite a friend.

And so far, I have not decapitated my "star angel." She's presiding over my desk at home. Thanks again for a fabulous year. Have a super summer!

This is the end...

Not really, but our last meeting will be May 19, when we will be discussing Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. This book has been named an American Library Association Top Ten Book for Young Adults. There are a few copies available in the library. Come see me in the library after 10:30 A.M. if you need a book.

We talked about Hanging On To Max, which made quite a few of us cry as we read it. There was discussion how we would rewrite the book if we could. Most everybody wanted Sam to keep Max, and have his dad play a larger role in raising the baby. Conversation turned to the parenting program here at Mt. Blue, where teen dads are encouraged and supported in their efforts to take care of their children. The hardships of parenting, teen and otherwise, was discussed, with a few hair-raising (or head-tipping or naked) baby stories used as examples. The Chicklitters decided they'd like to delay motherhood until the time is right.

On April 29, representatives of MBHS Chick Lit have been invited to meet with the MBMS book club and their mentors to introduce them to the Mainely Girls program. We hope to grab some new chicks for next fall!