I’m hosting a Mother and Daughters’ Book Club in Balbriggan Library this evening. Ten mums and their daughters will gather to discuss Amy Green, Teen Agony Queen (by yours truly) and Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret (by Judy Blume).
There was a piece on the club in the Irish Times this week – here’s the link.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/health/2009/0217/1224241278397.html
And here’s a booklist of books for teens and age 10+ that I love. Enjoy!
Some of My Favourite Books
Driftwood by Cathy Cassidy
This is my favourite Cathy Cassidy book. I was so engrossed in it that I once sailed past my train station and didn’t even notice! It’s about two best friends, Hannah and Joey. Joey has a new foster brother, Paul, who is being bullied in school.
The Cat Mummy by Jacqueline Wilson
I love this book. It’s short and skinny, so won’t take you long to read. But it’s sooo good. Verity has an old tabby cat called Mabel but it dies. So she mummifies the cat – so she can keep her forever. I know it all sounds a bit morbid, but it has a happy ending, honestly! Other Jackie Wilson books I love are: The Suitcase Kid, The Illustrated Mum and of course, the Tracy Beaker books.
Alice Next Door by Judi Curtin
Alice and Megan are best friends. But when Alice’s parents separate and she has to move away, the girls are very upset. But they have a plan! Don’t miss this series – you may have to order it on Amazon, but it really is fabber than fab!
Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
I met Judy when I was working as a children’s bookseller in Waterstone’s. She’s amazing and I adore this book. It’s about a girl called Margaret Simon who has just moved house and is going through lots of changes. It’s funny and very realistic.
Other books I really like:
The Artemis Fowl Series by Eoin Colfer – Fantasy adventure at its best.
Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh
Harriet spies on all her friends and keeps notes in her special spy notebook. But one day her friends read her notebook and don’t like what’s in its pages. This is a great book for anyone who’s ever had to rebuild a friendship. I love it!
The Alex Rider Books by Anthony Horowitz – I also love action adventure books, and these are some of the best.
The Skulduggery Pleasant Books by Derek Landy – Another lovely man and a great writer. These rock – funny, fast and a bit spooky – what’s not to like?!
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Patterson
Brilliant – but very, very sad. About a girl who dies and how her best friend copes. Well worth reading, but it made me cry, a lot!
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne
I used to work with John in Waterstone’s. He’s one of the nicest people around and he deserves every bit of his success with this book. It’s another sad and moving one, but so worth reading. I adored it.
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
‘Don’t judge a man until you’ve walked two moons in his moccasins.’ Part teenage road trip, part family novel, a great read.
Coraline by Neil Gaiman - A bit spooky, but brilliant.
Wilderness by Roddy Doyle
One of my favourite books, ever! Two boys go on a husky safari with their mum and end up saving her life. Meanwhile their older sister is back at home, meeting the birth mum who abandoned her. Funny, sad, exciting – a brilliant book.
My Book