Join other girls and their mothers or other caring adults for lively discussions, activities, and fun. Girls ages 8 to 16 are encouraged to join. This program is free. Please come in to the library to pick up a copy of the current book.
Reading Schedule
Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.
Clementine by Sara Pennypacker.
While sorting through difficulties in her friendship with her neighbor Margaret, eight-year-old Clementine gains several unique hairstyles while also helping her father in his efforts to banish pigeons from the front of their apartment building.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.
The King's Equal by Katherine Paterson.
In order to wear the crown of the kingdom, an arrogant young prince must find an equal in his bride. Instead, he finds someone far better than he.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.
Listening for Lions by Gloria Whelan
Left an orphan after the influenza epidemic in British East Africa in 1918, thirteen-year-old Rachel is tricked into assuming a deceased neighbor's identity to travel to England, where her only dream is to return to Africa and rebuild her parents' mission hospital.
Wednesday, April 10, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.
Jennifer Murdley's Toad by Bruce Coville
When an ordinary looking fifth grader purchases a talking toad, she embarks on a series of extraordinary adventures.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.
Heartbeat by Sharon Creech.
Twelve-year-old Annie ponders the many rhythms of life the year that her mother becomes pregnant, her grandfather begins faltering, and her best friend (and running partner) becomes distant.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009, at 7:00 p.m.
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
Summary: Edward Tulane, a cold-hearted and proud toy rabbit, loves only himself until he is separated from the little girl who adores him and travels across the country, acquiring new owners and listening to their hopes, dreams, and histories.
As part of the City-Wide Read, everyone is invited.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009, at 7:00 p.m.
The Secret Order of the Gumm Street Girls by Elise Primavera.
Summary: In order to save the town of Sherbet, four girls with very little in common become involved with some people and events that seem to bear a resemblance to "The Wizard of Oz."
Wednesday, November 11, 2009, at 7:00 p.m.
Running Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Summary: When a diphtheria epidemic hits her 1840 village, thirteen-year-old Jessie discovers it is actually a 1995 tourist site under unseen observation by heartless scientists, and it's up to Jessie to escape the village and save the lives of the dying children.
BookEnders is moving to Wednesdays. Join the group every last Wednesday of the month at 7 pm to discuss the book of the month. Everyone is welcome!
2009-2010 Schedule
January 27, 2010
A Death in the Family by James Agee.
Jay Follet is healthy, robust, and in the prime of life when he sets out from home one hot summer night to tend to his sick father. He leaves behind a wife and two small children, promising to return the next evening if at all possible. From this simple situation, Agee weaves an enthralling story of the complex ways that people deal with life, love, and loss.
February 24, 2010
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.
As London is emerging from the shadow of World War II, writer Juliet Ashton discovers her next subject in a book club on Guernsey—a club born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi after its members are discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island.
March 24, 2010
The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio by Terry Ryan.
This book introduces Evelyn Ryan, an enterprising woman who kept poverty at bay with wit, poetry, and perfect prose during the "contest era" of the 1950s and 1960s.
April 28, 2010
The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister.
Eight students gather in Lillian's Restaurant every Monday night for cooking class. It soon becomes clear, however, that each one seeks a recipe for something beyond the kitchen as Chef Lillian, a woman whose connection with food is both soulful and exacting, helps them to create dishes whose flavor and techniques expand beyond the restaurant and into the secret corners of her students' lives.
May 26, 2010
The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jaimie Ford.
Set in the ethnic neighborhoods of Seattle during World War II and Japanese American internment camps of the era, this debut novel tells the heartwarming story of widower Henry Lee, his father, and his first love Keiko Okabe.
September 23, 2009
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo.
Edward Tulane, a cold-hearted and proud toy rabbit, loves only himself until he is separated from the little girl who adores him and travels across the country, acquiring new owners and listening to their hopes, dreams, and histories.
October 28, 2009
The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas.
In 1930 in Harveyville, Kansas, a highlight of each week is the gathering of the Persian Pickle Club, a group of local ladies dedicated to improving their minds, exchanging gossip, and putting their quilting skills to good use. When a new member of the club stirs up a dark secret, the women must band together to support and protect one another.
November 18, 2009
A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute.
This book tells of a young woman who miraculously survives a Japanese "death march" in World War II, and of an Australian soldier, also a prisoner of war, who offers to help her—even at the cost of his life.
The R.E.A.D. (Reading for Education and Discussion) Book Review Group at the Pleasant Grove City Library is a fun way to get introduced to new books and meet new people. From September to May, the group meets on the second Thursday morning of every month at 10:00 a.m. Come join us. No registration is required.
January 14, 2010: Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang. Reviewed by Judy Allen.
This is a beautifully written family memoir which educates readers about the history of China from 1910 to 1976. It is told through the eyes of three generations of women and tells of how they fared in the political maelstrom of China’s century of turbulence. The story is evocative, unsettling and insistently gripping.
February 11, 2010: The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister. Reviewed by Diane Marsh.
This book follows the lives of 8 students who gather in Lillian’s Restaurant every Monday night for cooking class. It mixes deep personal stories of Lillian and her students, simple but sophisticated foods and lessons that go beyond the kitchen to create a rich flavorful story.
March 11, 2010: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne. Reviewed by Howard Carpenter.
This book is set in Berlin in 1942 and is told through the point of view of Bruno, a 9 year old boy, who is sadly naïve about the situation in his country. When his father, a Nazi commandant, is transferred to Auschwitz he notices a fence which surrounds the camp. He meets a boy his same age on the other side of the fence that wears striped pajamas all day and seems to have many companions. This is tender Young Adult fiction that will stay with you long after you’re done reading it.
April 8, 2010: The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander. Reviewed by Yara Wilson.
This is a lively, sensible manual for turning life’s obstacles into possibilities. The authors draw on their experiences to present a philosophy and strategy from a standpoint of opportunity rather than scarcity and restriction. They share examples from Rosamund’s work as a psychotherapist and painter, as well as from Benjamin’s work as the conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra. This is a fun, creative and very motivational book.
May 13, 2010: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. Reviewed by Eloise Fugal.
This book takes place in England and Guernsey Island during the mid 1940s when the country was recovering from the long war years. A young author, Juliet Ashton, becomes friends with the inhabitants of the island through correspondence and the love of books. It is full of charming characters and tells a delightful love story. Truly a gem!
Past R.E.A.D. BooksSeptember 10, 2009: The Help by Kathryn Stockett. Reviewed by Tammra Salisbury with comments from Cindy Bjerregard and Eleda Graham.
This book is set in the 1960s during the civil rights movement in Jackson, Mississippi when black women were trusted to raise white children but not to polish the household silver. It is a story that is full of heart and history and tells of the social awakening as seen from both sides of the racial divide.
October 8, 2009: The Re-enchantment of Everyday Life by Thomas Moore. Reviewed by reviewed by Jane Robinson.
This is a thought provoking and reenergizing collection of parables and anecdotes about the art of soulful living and the caring for the soul within the details of everyday life. It helps the reader find ways to bring magic into life through considering spiritual things as well as the essentials of art, culture and society.
November 12, 2009: Selections From Mark Twain. Presented by Etta McQuade.
Mark Twain was a highly intelligent and incredibly witty man. His keen observations of the world and the often satirical commentaries he made about our existence are humorous and delightful. Etta will share thoughts about his life and excerpts from his more than 30 published books.
December 10, 2009: Christmastime Favorites. Presented by Joyce Fife.
Joyce will share some of her favorite Christmas stories and also present some fun and special things that can be done with books for the holidays.