Michelle O. in MO Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 Hello, I'd like to start a mystery book club for my 9yod. She loves Nancy Drew mysteries, American Girl mysteries and Trixie Beldon too. Does anyone have ideas/suggestions as to how to approach this? Do you have suggestions as to what to avoid as far as starting a book club? I have absolutely no experience in this type of thing, so any insight and guidance would be very much appreciated. Thank you! Michelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 The book clubs I've seen all read the same book at the same time and then discuss it. Is this the kind of thing you are thinking of? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle O. in MO Posted February 10, 2008 Author Share Posted February 10, 2008 Yes, absolutely. I'd like to approach it that way at least. Everyone reading the same book, then discussing it. But I think the discussion has to be challenging and insightful enough to keep the kids interested (and this is what I'm a little uncertain about). Should I bother with crafts or mystery games of some sort? We've been involved with book clubs for younger ages (5-7yo) and crafts were a big part of it, but I'm not sure that's the answer for a 8-10yr age group that's focusing on mysteries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 The problem with these books is that (and I read every one that the library owned at that age) they aren't really deep, if you know what I mean. Here are some ideas: have a scavenger hunt based on the mystery they are reading. Send notes to each other in code (we did coded invitations - solution key provided - for a mystery party we had one year). If there is an exotic locale you could make snacks from that place and find out some facts about the setting. If the girls have read a number of books by one author, play "20 questions" to figure out the specific title of a book you have in mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle O. in MO Posted February 11, 2008 Author Share Posted February 11, 2008 I wholeheartedly agree: the books I mentioned are not "deep" by any means. My daughter is crazy/happy over Nancy Drew. She had 7 inches of her beautiful blonde hair cut off so she could have a Nancy Drew "do". Right now, I'm trying to balance her reading with the free reading list from Yr3 of Ambleside. She enjoys those books too, but her heart (and interests) are in the N.D. Thank you so much for the ideas. They're very helpful and give me a starting point. Michelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrairieAir Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 doing the type of book discussion you might do for other books using Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Trixie Beldon, and likely American Girl mysteries. They are all formula books. The plot changes slightly, but they just aren't very deep. I went back and read a few of the Nancy Drew books recently to plan for dd's Nancy Drew birthday party. I loved those books so much as a kid and I couldn't believe how little there was to them. (I did read some of the early editions and would say the same about them.) They are great fun for that age, though, and I am encouraging dd to keep reading them because she has never been very much of a reader:(and finally reading is fun for her. For book club meetings, I would put most of the focus on fun activities. You can teach them about different types of codes at each meeting and have them decipher a message that leads to the snack or the next activity. You can teach them some of the real science that is used in solving mysteries like fingerprinting, using DNA evidence, etc. Think Nancy Drew meets a toned down version of CSI--nothing too scary for the kids in your group but maybe a little meatier than the clues in some of the Nancy Drew books. I would end the year with one big mystery for them to solve. This really does sound like a fantastic idea. I just wouldn't approach it in quite the same way as a regular book club. I know my dd would love to do something similar if she had the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle O. in MO Posted February 11, 2008 Author Share Posted February 11, 2008 PrairieAir, Thanks so much for the insight and suggestions! Maybe I should throw her one big mystery party and drop the book club idea until she's older. I'd like the club to be interesting and educational for the girls, but that might require more time, planning and energy than I can muster. :( Wouldn't it be great if there was a how-to manual on this stuff? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Atl Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 A friend of mine did a bk club with our girls at this age. It was a big hit. She used the Carole Marsh mysteries. They might be a bit easier and are perfect for group discussion. You might even use one for the party idea. hth's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle O. in MO Posted February 11, 2008 Author Share Posted February 11, 2008 Well, I didn't know about Carole Marsh! Maybe this is the way to go.:) Thanks so much!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathy in MD Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 they're humerous takeoffs on old adult mysteries, movies or plays. You could do a comparison of the original and the take off. A few titles include Omlet, Prince of Denver, The Malted Falcon, Farewell my Lunchbag, and The Hamster of the Baskervilles :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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