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The Mother-Daughter Book Club (by Heather Vogel Frederick)

common sense media says

Just the read to jump-start your own book club.

parents & educators say
See all 18 reviews | Review it

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that there's not much to object to in this book. There are some examples of mean-girl attitudes and actions, but they lead to discussion and resolution of the feelings behind the aggression.

Positive messages: While there is a lot of mean-girl behavior, there are great examples of friendship, forgiveness, and open dialog between parents and their children.
Violence: Loud arguments between friends and a hockey player is injured.
Sex: Nothing risque here; just middle school crushes and first-dance magic.
Language: Mild name calling like "goat girl" and "heifer."
Consumerism: The novel is set in Concord, Mass. so there are references to famous authors who have lived there and town lore.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on The Mother-Daughter Book Club

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about ways to spend more time together. Besides starting a book club, what hobbies or activities can families do together to help build better relationships? How did the book club help with the girls' relationships with their parents? How did it help with their relationships with each other?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Megan, Emma, Jess, and Cassidy can think of a million other things they'd rather do than be in a book club with their mothers, or with one another for that matter. But then a funny thing happens. As they explore the four girls of Little Women they learn more about themselves, their families, and one another. Will it be enough to counter all the other crazy things going on in their lives including crushes, secret dreams, real-life family drama, and all the drama of middle school?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
THE MOTHER-DAUGHTER BOOK CLUB is a stand-out novel because author Heather Frederick gives an authentic voice to her young characters. The four main girls -- Megan, Cassidy, Emma, and Jess -- with similarities to the March sisters in Little Women (the book they're reading), really develop as characters throughout the book. Megan especially. A classic mean girl, she torments several of the other girls and plays cruel pranks on them. When one prank goes too far she is forced to face the girls, their mothers, and the reasons behind her actions. The result is a very moving scene that gives great insight into why mean girls behave the way they do.

The active role that parents play in this novel is wonderful. They are engaged in and aware of what is going on in their kids' lives. This is a refreshing change to the more common narrative of absent or oblivious parents. Parents and kids should read this book together, not because of any questionable material, but because it has something for everyone. This is the type of book that can change the dialog in a mother-daughter relationship.

Book themes & details

Book Details
Author: Heather Vogel Frederick
Publisher: Aladdin
Publication date: April 27, 2007
Number of pages: 256
Hardcover price: $16.99
This review was written by Terreece Clarke
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

mmecca
teen, 15 years old
7
 
Super cute, perfect book for any age!
Such a cute book! I read it when I was 10 and my sister read it when she was 9. Super cute and conveys positive messages about staying true to yourself, and opening your mind to new friends.
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kipper123
kid, 11 years old
9
 
A fantastic book!!
Such a good book!! I've read it lots of times!! Emma, Cassidy, Megan, and Jess are fantastic role models!! I think girls 9+ would love this book!!! It has positive messages about all the characters. Even Megan one of the girls who turned super bratty. Some of the parts are sad. When it tells about Jess' mother leaving the family to go to New York City for a T.V. show she wanted to be on. It is a very nice book! I love reading it!!!!
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helped me decide (5) | had useful details (5) | read my mind (5)
booklover107
teen, 15 years old
6
 
Loved the book
Awsome book anyone should read it!
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olympian2000
kid, 11 years old
9
 
Great Series
This is one of the best books i have ever read!
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mngirl
teen, 14 years old
8
 
Great Books!
This is the first of the books. I've read all four of the books and they're all great! I don't know which one is my favorite!? My favorite is probably there eighth grade year, the third book, Dear Penpal. But they're all great and I hope she keeps coming out with more! There's four characters and I think we you can relate to each in some way or another
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olivialucky51
teen, 13 years old
10
 
I loved it!
It was the best book ever! I told every one about it and they loved it to. Now we are having a book club and using this book. We love it!
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helped me decide (3) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (5)
Laurencecb
kid, 12 years old
10
 
Great learning about old books!
Great book, really nice for girls.
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Natalky
teen, 14 years old
8
 
LOVE IT!!!
I am reccomending it to ALL of my friends! YOu should DEFINITELY read it!!
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MillyMolly
teen, 15 years old
9
 
Super sweet and fun read
We bought the book for my younger sis, but I enjoyed it myself. Great for tween and even some teens. Sweet read on how 4 girls come together, now I'm going to read little women. Hopefully getting the other books of this cute series.
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Nanuk
kid, 12 years old
10
 
A Pretty Good Book
This is a relitively good book. I really like how there are characters that you can relate to, for me, it would be either Jess or Cassidy. It has tomboys, girly girls, but this book is NOT a boys book. I was even on the brink, since I'm a tomboy. It wasn't a book where when I finished it, I couldn't stop talking for an hour, but it was still a very good book. I liked how all of the girls had very different backgrounds, and how one book club brought them all together.
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oniongirl
teen, 14 years old
8
 
great book!
this is a super sweet, fun book for tween girls! there is no sex, language, or suggestive content, and the story is very fun! 5 stars!
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mockingbird72
parent of and 4 , 9 , 11 year old
9
 
Modern Age Little Women
Terrific! Wonderful book about 4 very different grils (and their moms) trying to navigate their way thru middle school. Some mean girl behavior, but book shows characters working through their problems and facing consequences. Some talk about liking boys, but all very innocent and age appropriate. A little bit of a fairy tale ending (not realistic), but the rest of the book was great.
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CASEYPARKER
kid, 11 years old
8
 
Good for Tomboy's and Girls, But Way to Girly for Boys
If you knew me well, you'd know that I'm a tomboy. So you'd be asking, "why did you read that book? It looks girly-ish." Well, I can relate to Cassidy. She's in a world full of girly-girls. But throughout the book, she makes friends with girls. In my case, I was a girly-girl, then changed to being a tomboy, and made friends with a lot of boys. And I still have friends that are girls. So even though this book isn't the usual kind of stuff I read, I enjoyed it.
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DevRose97
teen, 14 years old
7
 
A Must Read Book For All girls and mothers looking to bond!
One of the best books i have ever read such a talented author! this book can be for bonding experences or just curling up next to the fire! all will fall in love with Jess, and Emma!
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theoverthink3r
kid, 12 years old
8
 
Not as girly as it seems
This book was given to me a few years ago. The cover (all pink) and the title put me off. Then again, never judge a book by its cover, or title. It's definitely not as girly as it seems, and it's funny and interesting. The whole series is a must read.
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hollistergurl5678
kid, 13 years old
11
 
Better for a little older kids
Great book. LOVED IT
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piano101
kid, 13 years old
9
 
great book for tweens!
I think the book has a lot of good role models. It has good charactars and plot. You should read it! The second one is just as great.
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soccer4eva333
kid, 12 years old
8
 
Best Book EVA!
This is my favorite book series. I love how different the girls are, and how they become friends, I also recommened the rest of the seires, it goes all the way into when the girls are sophmores in high school! Still, though, there are no swears, violence(except for a few very aggressive athletes) drinking, and they all have boyfriends, but they don't do bad stuff, the worst thing they talk about is "PMS". Also, it has a positive message, when your kid reads this they might want to start a book club., which means more books, and it has 4 different girls that orginally hate each other becoming best friends.
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