Christy was not a reader. Neither was Karen, her mother. So they weren’t excited about the idea of a Homeschool Mother-Daughter Book Club—until they tried it. The dry run, which took place at their home, was so successful that the two decided to take part in several other club meetings!
The elements included in their reading club included four or five girls of similar ages, their mothers (age is not an issue here!), a book that they all agreed on, and a pair of hostesses with adventuresome spirits. Once the members had committed to reading a specific book by the day of the club meeting, the mother-daughter teams made their own reading schedules.
What Mother Daughter Book Club Looked Like
Karen and Christy chose to set aside reading times through the week. Most days they tried to read on their own. But when Christy got bogged down, Karen would read to her. As the club meeting time drew closer, Christy often read aloud while Mom did the ironing. The other reading teams plugged along too, some making better progress than others, but everyone still keeping her eye on the goal—reading the whole book by the meeting time.
Activities to do at the club meeting evolved as Christy and her mom talked about the novel. They decided to start the meeting with a quiz to see who could match the characters with quotations from the book. Christy also searched for foods mentioned in the novel and then typed out the sections, including page numbers, where she found each one. She and Mom had to use some imagination, but those sections from the book determined what they served for refreshments at the meeting. Typed in a special font and printed on colored paper, the quotations made classy looking labels for the different foods. They brainstormed for other ideas and came up with a funny song from the novel’s time period and a game that families of that era used to play.
Excitement was high on the evening of that first Homeschool Mother-Daughter Book Club meeting. Even the few who hadn’t quite finished the book liked getting together, talking about the characters, and comparing favorite parts of the book. Of course, the snacks were a hit too. The meeting ended with another mother-daughter team claiming hostess duty for the next event.
If you’d like to start your own Homeschool Mother-Daughter Book Club, here’s a list of suggested titles to get you started.
Suggested Titles by Grade Level
Grades 2–3
- Carolina’s Courage by Elizabeth Yates
Find adventure as Carolina Putnam’s family moves by covered wagon to the plains of Nebraska.
- Jenny Wren by Dawn L. Watkins
Jenny, an orphan, learns to trust God and people who love her.
- Roses on Baker Street by Eileen Berry
When Danae’s family goes on furlough, she has a difficult time “finding roses” in America.
- Very Like a Star by Dawn Watkins
Rigel, the smallest bee in the hive, works to be dependable.
Grades 4–6
- Captive Treasure by Milly Howard
Captured by a Cheyenne raiding party, Carrie learns to depend on God.
- Feather by Susan Page Davis
Feather is terrified when vicious raiders kidnap her and take her far from her village.
- Mary Slessor: Missionary Mother by Terri B. Kelly
A biography of Mary Slessor a missionary to Africa
- The Secret of the Golden Cowrie by Gloria Repp
Connie better understands her family as she solves the mystery of the golden cowrie shell.
- Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher
Elizabeth Ann’s life is turned upside-down when she goes for an extended visit to the Putneys.
Grades 7–12
- Ellanor’s Exchange by Linda Hayner
Miss Ellanor Fitzhugh finds herself in the middle of a dangerous political game as she enters society.
- Over the Divide by Catherine Farnes
As a wilderness tour guide, Jacy can get along with almost anyone until she meets two new hikers.
- A Sparrow Alone by Alicia Petersen
An orphaned Jewish teenager, Mala meets Jesus of Nazareth, who changes her life.
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Written by Gail Y.
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