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?”
Tags: books for teenage girls, YA recommendations, Young Adult books, young adult reading website
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I can’t wait to show Emma! Thanks! I can’t keep her in books either. Not only has she gone through the school library, but she’s ripped through the Brentwood library, too. I actually find myself yelling at her to stop reading! Mommy police?
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Hey, we’re so glad you’re participating in the drop. Send us a photo, if you’d like, and we’ll put it on the readergirlz blog when Operation TBD rolls around.
Thank you!
Martha (on behalf of rgz) -
Thank you so much for the kind words! This is exactly what we want to hear about rgz. Spot on! It’s so nice to have Kelsey around. :~)
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This post brought the biggest smile to my face! You sound like my dream customers. I’m a bookseller as well as a voracious reader myself, so I love helping “the person has read everything” find something new! I’m also the readergirlz “webdiva,” and I head up the postergirlz, the teen lit advisory council for readergirlz.
Thank you so much for supporting readergirlz. I hope to see Kelsey participating in this month’s discussions + chat at the readergirlz blog! Ooh, and don’t forget to send in pictures of your family rocking the drop for TBD.
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We will certainly take pictures of the book drop! If nothing else, I’ll have proof that I had moments of being a “cool Mom” because I pulled her from school so she could place books before other students got out so they could find them. Hmm, maybe I’ll take her for ice cream afterward, got to rack up the good Mom points anywhere I can find them.
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That sounds like a high point value day.
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Yay! So glad you’re into readergirlz too. Seriously, I love the discussions. Glad you guys are a part of it!
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Hooray! readergirlz is the best. I discovered them almost 2.5 years ago and have felt truly at home ever since.
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