This is the giveaway that I’ve been most excited to present. I hope that some of you will take my suggestion to heart and make that tween/early teen girl on your list very happy with The Mother-Daughter Bookclub series by Heather Vogel Frederick.
Each book features this group of diverse can-do girls as they read, discuss, and experience a classic novel, which dovetails nicely with the regular tween drama in their own lives.
The Mother Daughter Bookclub — (read mine and Amanda’s thoughts HERE) — introduces us to the girls and their moms. One reason that I like this series so much is that the mothers and the daughters are both fully characterized. Obviously reading literature featuring tweens can help you understand your own tween, but I think it can work in reverse too. There aren’t many books that feature parents in a realistic way, but this one does. In this first book, the girls delve into Little Women.
In the second book, Much Ado About Anne, the girls are now 12, dealing with a queen bee arch enemy, money troubles, and more. Check out my full review for my 5-Star impressions, and more details on the book and the series.
The third book Dear Pen Pal (linked to my full review) centers around the works of Jean Webster. Amanda and I each read Daddy Long Legs, and it was delightful. In this installment, the plot of the bookclub book is actually less prominent, and the story focuses on the girls, who are now quickly-maturing 8th-graders.
The classics read in the bookclub can pique a young girl’s interest in some of these books that she might not normally want to read. If you really want to round out the gift, try including the three classics that the fictional bookclub reads.
Carrie, our resident Anne fanatic, reviewed the Anne of Green Gables Treasury earlier this year, and it sounds like a perfect companion to this book, and Anne of Green Gables. She recommends it as a must-have for any Anne fan: “In this book you can learn how to prepare an Anne tea party (recipes included), orchestrate your garden with flowers that Anne likely (or did have) in hers, make-and-do crafts as Anne would have. The authors have done such a great job not trying to add to Montgomery’s work but rather to compliment it that I could not be more thrilled with it.
One of the things that so delights me about this book is that it is a work of love from mothers to their daughters to help them understand what life was life in the time that Anne lived.” Read her full review for more information about this terrific book.
While it’s fun to follow the story arc from beginning to end, each book stands on its own as well. And by the way, I hear that in the 4th book, the girls read Pride and Prejudice, and I can take a guess at the fun Lizzie/Darcy relationship that will be happening.
Jennifer gives these books her hearty endorsement, especially as a way to connect with that tween girl in your life. She writes about trying to do just that at her blog Snapshot.
One of you will receive the Anne of Green Gables Treasury, along with all three books in the series: The Mother Daughter Bookclub, Much Ado About Anne, and Dear Pen Pal.
Entries will be closed on December 8, and we will announce the winners on December 9. Please watch your email and check the site for your name, so that we can collect your shipping information and you can get your gift by Christmas.
This giveaway is now CLOSED.
Be sure you’ve entered all the giveaways in our 2009 Gift Guide and Giveaway event.
Deanna/ibeeeg says
This is a spectacular giveaway!
How fun to share with my girls.
Please enter me. Thanks.
Deb K says
I’d love to share these books with my darling nieces.
Erma says
My kids would love this.
Diane Westerbeek says
11 and 13 year old granddaughters- perfect for them
Mozi Esmes Mommy says
Love Anne of Green Gables! I think I’d save these for my own daughter!
janemaritz at yahoo dot com
Annette W says
I asked for the Anne of GG Treasury for Christmas, but don’t expect to get it. This is a wonderful giveaway!! I’d love to win it!
Rita says
I would love to enter for a chance to win these books for my daughter. She read the whole Anne series this summer (loved it) and I think she’d love Heather’s books as well. What do I do to enter?
shawna says
I loved Anne when I was growing up would love for my daughter to read it as well!
Sue says
I love Anne! Thanks for sharing these.
Ed Nemmers says
For my niece Hannah!
Adele says
I loved Anne as a child. Now I have 4 granddaughters who would enjoy these books. They’ll just have to take turns. Thanks for this offer.
christopher h says
youngest would just love these
Sherri B. says
I have a tween niece who I would love to gift this great set to! Thanks for the chance!
sherri419 at gmail dot com
Katina S. says
My 14 year old would love the books in this contest.
Heather B says
yet another great giveaway! thank you
Paula H says
I love Anne of Green Gables.
Crystal Augustine says
Absolute Classics!
Ruth Madewell says
My daughter and I curl up on the couch each night and I read a book to her. We would so enjoy these books 🙂
Maja Meza says
i love it.
renita says
I have a 12 yodd, a 10yodd, an 8yo dd, and a 4yodd!! These books would be amazing!! Thanks
Jessica McKelvie says
I remember these from when I was a child
Cristi says
I watched Anne as a little girl and all I wanted when I grew up was to have a little girl with red hair just like Anne. I did have my little girl and she does have red hair and she has a little of “Anne” in her. Stubborn and never gives up!
Kellie Conklin says
I love reading books with the girls I babysit that appeal to me as muc as they appeal to them and this seems like a series that would be right on that! I’m always looking for new books to read with them, thanks for the awesome giveaway!
Geoff K says
Oh wow, I love “Anne of Green Gables” and I’m eager to introduce my niece to her. She’s just turned four, and I’m planning to give her the “Anne” miniseries on DVD this Christmas as an introduction to this wonderful character, and these books would make an amazing bonus as she continues to learn to read. Thanks!
Jessica says
I love Anne of Green Gables. Thanks
Some Lucky Dog says
I love Anne of Green Gables. Somehow I missed knowing her until I was an adult! I would love to gift these to my sister and niece!
Kerri R says
As a mother of 3 girls these books would be awesome
Janice says
These would be great to have for my kids.
Linda K. says
I would like to win these for my granddaughter.
Pamela S says
I’d never heard of the Mother-Daughter bookclub series of books, but my daughter & I have attended some mother-daughter book discussions at our library. We love classic books so these would be great. Thanks so much!
Chrysa says
I loved Anne of Green Gables as a girl!
dawn says
This is such a wonderful giveaway. Would love these for my daughter.
mightynaynay(at)cs.com
Gianna says
Please enter me 🙂
Kerrie Mayans says
I had forgot how much I loved Anne of Green Gables when I was a tween.
Carol Lawrence says
My tween grandaughter Becca would appreciate these books. [email protected]
Darcy B says
Yes please, thanks for the chance to win some lovely books.
Gloria says
What a great gift for my niece.
Steve M. says
Thank you!
Janet says
AWESOME giveaway!
thank-you very much 4 the entry!
carol ~ says
This does look tremendous! To win this for my kids would be so perfect and a wonderful gift they would surely love! Thanks for the fantastic reviews!
Veronica Garrett says
I would love to win these books for my granddaughter.
kathy pease says
Thank you for the AWESOME GIVEAWAY.. Please count me in 🙂
CASSANDRA says
Awesome giveaway once again! I would love to win these books
Leslie S. says
My two girls are wanting to read these.We just finished the Little House on the Prairie series. Thanks!
Susan Smith says
great books
Syed Ahsun Zafar says
This is soo great.. I like.
Sharon says
I love Anne of Green Gables. My daughter loves book night at our house so this would be great.
Carol M says
I have seven grandchildren and I love to give them books. My granddaughters would love these.
Karen Gonyea says
This would be wonderful 🙂
Angie Seymour says
I have 2 daughters they would love to read Anne of Green Gables.