Readergirlz – The Website I Recommend to Every Mother of a Teenage Reader Girl

My daughter is a voracious reader.   Feeding her books is a Herculean task – she reads quickly and constantly.  She wiped out her elementary school library and is methodically working her way through the upper and middle school library.  Within two weeks of starting at her new school, I wondered if the librarians knew her better than any of the new girls she met at school.  As for buying books, if I opened up her college account for the purchase of new books, she would wipe it out before summer.

Whenever I visit a bookstore, I’m looking for new and unique books for me and for Kelsey.  For as much as I read, it’s fairly easy to point me towards a book I’ve never heard of.  I feel sorry for the bookseller who is trying to find a book for Kelsey.  It’s usually one suggestion after another followed by me responding,”she’s already read that.”  [The main exception being Jessica at Latitude 33.]

Then came readergirlz.  I first heard of readergirlz when they won the Innovations in Reading Prize sponsored by the National Book Foundation.  I knew then I would love the site and after watching my daughter use it, I was right.  Followers of this blog know that what makes a book truly meaningful to me is what it sparks in my life.  Readergirlz creates a beyond the book experience for each monthly selection.  Most importantly, Kelsey had read only a quarter of the suggestions.  Which is why I love readergirlz.  Here is what is included with every book recommendation:

• Author interview
• Author live chat – Kelsey squealed when E. Lockhart answered her question during last month’s live chat
• Music playlist hand picked by the author – it’s my hope that listening to the music will slow Kelsey down
• Discussion questions
• Party suggestions from food, decorations and attire themed to the book
• Suggested further reading – such a relief that someone else is helping to supply her with book recommendations
• A community service activity themed to the book or current events – this is my favorite part!

In addition to the monthly community service activity, readergirlz is sponsoring a Teen Book Drop on April 15th.  Readergirlz is challenging teens everywhere to drop a YA book in a public place on April 15th.  We’re already planning our drop, we’re considering taking Kelsey out of school early and dropping her choices to the public bus stop that is mobbed with high school kids everyday.

Our house rule is that I will pay for any readergirlz book.  Last weekend, we visited  Village Books and Kelsey compiled long book wish.  When the bookseller asked if she could help, Kelsey showed her the list and said “the ones with stars are from readergirlz.”   The bookseller hadn’t heard of readergirlz.   She was excited to find a new place for recommendations.  Kelsey walked out with seven books.  On the way to the car, she said “this should keep me busy for a week.”  I stopped dead in my tracks, “a week?  Have you considered reading slower?”