March Book Club

Last night we gathered around Margo Lanagan's Tender Morsels in our chapter book room and had a rich and lively discussion. We covered everything from what makes a book YA instead of grown-up, what makes a book feminist or not, and we hit themes of motherhood, growing up, bears, cookies and magic. It was a fantastic time and we're pumped to get together next month to discuss the 2011 Newbery winner Moon Over Manifest. This one promises to provoke just as much discussion. Here's the description:

The movement of the train rocked me like a lullaby. I closed my eyes to the dusty countryside and imagined the sign I’d seen only in Gideon’s stories: Manifest—A Town with a rich past and a bright future.

Abilene Tucker feels abandoned. Her father has put her on a train, sending her off to live with an old friend for the summer while he works a railroad job. Armed only with a few possessions and her list of universals, Abilene jumps off the train in Manifest, Kansas, aiming to learn about the boy her father once was. Having heard stories about Manifest, Abilene is disappointed to find that it’s just a dried-up, worn-out old town. But her disappointment quickly turns to excitement when she discovers a hidden cigar box full of mementos, including some old letters that mention a spy known as the Rattler. These mysterious letters send Abilene and her new friends, Lettie and Ruthanne, on an honest-to-goodness spy hunt, even though they are warned to “Leave Well Enough Alone.” Abilene throws all caution aside when she heads down the mysterious Path to Perdition to pay a debt to the reclusive Miss Sadie, a diviner who only tells stories from the past. It seems that Manifest’s history is full of colorful and shadowy characters—and long-held secrets. The more Abilene hears, the more determined she is to learn just what role her father played in that history. And as Manifest’s secrets are laid bare one by one, Abilene begins to weave her own story into the fabric of the town.

Powerful in its simplicity and rich in historical detail, Clare Vanderpool’s debut is a gripping story of loss and redemption.

So stop by the store and get your copy at 20% off, and join us for snacks and discussion on March 10th at 5 PM. The book is recommended for ages 12 and up, so all ages from there on up are encouraged to attend.