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Her Next Chapter: How Mother-Daughter Book Clubs Can Help Girls Navigate Malicious Media, Risky Relationships, Girl Gossip, and So Much More
Mother-daughter book clubs are a great way to encourage reading, bonding, and socializing among mothers, daughters, and their friends. But these clubs can do more than that, suggests educational psychologist and parenting coach Lori Day. They can create a safe and empowering haven where girls can freely discuss and navigate issues surrounding girlhood. In Her Next Chapter , Day draws from experiences in her own club and her expertise as an educator to offer a timely and inspiring take on mother-daughter book clubs. She provides overviews of eight of the biggest challenges facing girls today, such as negative body image, bullying, gender stereotypes, media sexualization, unhealthy relationships, and more, while weaving in carefully chosen book, movie, and media recommendations; thoughtful discussion questions; and group activities and outings that extend and enrich conversations and make clubs fun. Her Next Chapter outlines how mothers can use the magic of books to build girls’ confidence and sense of possibility as leaders, allies, and agents of change. A list of further resources and reflections and observations from Day’s now-adult daughter, Charlotte, round out this indispensible resource for anyone who cares about, teaches, or works with girls.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
5 people are currently reading
426 people want to read
About the author
Lori Day
2 books11 followersI live in Newburyport, Massachusetts, a beautiful seaside community north of Boston. My husband Geof lives with me, as do our two cats, Peach and Fog. That’s Fog there on our book cover, stalking the White Rabbit.
I am an educational psychologist and consultant with Lori Day Consulting http://www.loridayconsulting.com and a co-founder of the Brave Girls Alliance http://www.bravegirlswant.com, a global think tank and consulting group of psychologists, educators, authors, small businesses, not-for-profit organizations, activists, artists, parents, and girls who have come together to ask media content creators, corporations and retailers to make a commitment to support girls’ empowerment. I also write and blog at http://www.LoriDayAuthor.com.
Even though I have loved all of my different roles involving working with children and writing over the past twenty-five years, nothing has been as rewarding as raising my own daughter, Charlotte, and watching her grow into an opinionated young woman with a broad and deep understanding of the world around her, and a powerful voice of her own…especially in writing, a passion we share.
I am happy to be able to combine what I have learned during my career and as the mother of a grown daughter with current and timely observations, anecdotes and advice for moms and other female role models working with girls to help them all successfully navigate their lives as females. I help girls and moms understand what is going on in the culture around them so that they may develop self-confidence and wisdom based upon a stronger inner voice that flourishes within the context of, but also apart from, the noise of popular culture. I look forward to sharing what I know about the benefits of joining together with other women to nurture girls in ways that are uplifting and enjoyable.
Our mother-daughter book club was the most transformative experience of my parenting journey and my relationship with my daughter. May it be for you as well!
I am an educational psychologist and consultant with Lori Day Consulting http://www.loridayconsulting.com and a co-founder of the Brave Girls Alliance http://www.bravegirlswant.com, a global think tank and consulting group of psychologists, educators, authors, small businesses, not-for-profit organizations, activists, artists, parents, and girls who have come together to ask media content creators, corporations and retailers to make a commitment to support girls’ empowerment. I also write and blog at http://www.LoriDayAuthor.com.
Even though I have loved all of my different roles involving working with children and writing over the past twenty-five years, nothing has been as rewarding as raising my own daughter, Charlotte, and watching her grow into an opinionated young woman with a broad and deep understanding of the world around her, and a powerful voice of her own…especially in writing, a passion we share.
I am happy to be able to combine what I have learned during my career and as the mother of a grown daughter with current and timely observations, anecdotes and advice for moms and other female role models working with girls to help them all successfully navigate their lives as females. I help girls and moms understand what is going on in the culture around them so that they may develop self-confidence and wisdom based upon a stronger inner voice that flourishes within the context of, but also apart from, the noise of popular culture. I look forward to sharing what I know about the benefits of joining together with other women to nurture girls in ways that are uplifting and enjoyable.
Our mother-daughter book club was the most transformative experience of my parenting journey and my relationship with my daughter. May it be for you as well!
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 14, 2018
Very interesting
May 20, 2014
I loved this book. The concept of a mother-daughter book club was something that was alien to me prior to reading the book, however the introductory chapters explain how it would work, and what the potential benefits are (other than literacy!) As a bookworm myself I love to read books with my daughter but the mother-daughter book club concept means that that connection can last longer and go deeper. As I write this my daughter is 2 years old, but I almost can't wait for her to grow a little bit so I can convince other mothers to form a club with me.
My favourite part of the book were the chapters that looked at topics you may wish to address with your girls, and provided book suggestions complete with discussion topics. Many of them sounded so interesting that I am going to add some of them to my Goodreads list to read myself… after all I'll have a while to wait!
I won this book in a competition, but was not asked to submit a review, I'm just doing it because I really liked it. Thanks Lori and Charlotte for sharing your book club story with us all, I hope to have my own village in the future!
My favourite part of the book were the chapters that looked at topics you may wish to address with your girls, and provided book suggestions complete with discussion topics. Many of them sounded so interesting that I am going to add some of them to my Goodreads list to read myself… after all I'll have a while to wait!
I won this book in a competition, but was not asked to submit a review, I'm just doing it because I really liked it. Thanks Lori and Charlotte for sharing your book club story with us all, I hope to have my own village in the future!
July 5, 2014
Well, you can see how I spent my holiday. What a great resource! I've been sharing books with my children for a while now. It will be interesting to have our own book club and talk a bit more about the books we read.
gave-up-on
July 17, 2022I didn't think being published 8 years ago (2014) would have been too big of a gap for this book to still be meaningful. However, for myself, this book really isn't helpful or inspiring or even relevant. Good points were made but they were frustratingly short-sighted or wrapped in juvenoia.
The vast majority of recommended books are written by white authors [67/79 not including an anthology (16 white authors, 1 black), a co-authored book (1 white author, 1 no info found) and 1 book where no author info was found], not to mention the books that were not Own Voices. I could barely make it 50 pages in and after spending a good chunk of time researching the authors of the recommended books I came to the conclusion that this book fell short and would be a colossal waste of my time.
The vast majority of recommended books are written by white authors [67/79 not including an anthology (16 white authors, 1 black), a co-authored book (1 white author, 1 no info found) and 1 book where no author info was found], not to mention the books that were not Own Voices. I could barely make it 50 pages in and after spending a good chunk of time researching the authors of the recommended books I came to the conclusion that this book fell short and would be a colossal waste of my time.
July 13, 2014
Upon reading Lori Day’s Her Next Chapter: How Mother-Daughter Book Clubs Can Help Girls Navigate Malicious Media, Risky Relationships, Girl Gossip, and So Much More, I am completely floored with possibilities. Her Next Chapter, at first glance, may be meant as an organizational tool for beginning and maintaining effective Mother-Daughter book clubs (which is covered in the Part 1 chapters); but Day’s book additionally discusses current issues and obstacles our young girls are facing, ways of handling those obstacles and teaching our girls about them through conversation and—get this—reading books (covered in the Part 2 chapters).
Being twenty-six years old with my first child (a daughter) on the way, this book was pertinent and timely on a personal level. Upon entering this book, I had never even heard of Mother-Daughter book clubs and loved the prospect of someday starting one with my own daughter, opening new avenues and conversations through the power of reading and discussion. I started making personal lists of all the books I would want to include in my library and was eager to see Day’s suggestions. What I never anticipated about these book clubs was the prospect of collaborating with other mothers, getting to know my daughter’s friends and peers, and how long we might be able to be together as a group. Not to mention the attention to detail in Part 2 on identifying and discussing key issues in our daughters’ lives, via our observations of our daughters, the books we read with them, and the discussions we may have within the book club and other book-club-related activities and events.
All of that being said, however, the timeliness of this text in a larger global setting is much more important—and this is an extremely timely text for our nation. Never before have issues with gender normativity and stereotypes, rape culture and the sexualization of women been of greater focus and importance; and this book largely focuses on these topics, among others, explaining not only the theoretical meaning behind these terms, but how they impact our girls, how our girls may embrace them (or be captured by them), and how we can discuss these topics with our girls to bring greater meaning, authenticity and value to their lives than is offered by hypersexualization.
Perhaps what is the most interesting (and startling) to me is the velocity at which all of these topics have become prevalent, and even accepted and embraced (by some), in our society. When I was a child, there were well-defined toys-for-girls aisles in the stores where my mother shopped, and all of the toys we looked at were offered in pink; but it was still a new enough idea that buying the colorful or gender-neutral option was not considered out-of-bounds by observers. However, issues with sexuality and the new pressures of social media were totally lost on my mother, a Baby Boomer; and we were left with little to get us through the tween and teen years. Though I am in a far better position in this way than my mother, I carry no delusions that I understand every single thing my daughter will have face and the sorts of pressures that will be presented to her that may have not been prevalent when I was her age. However, having Her Next Chapter on hand, as “cheesy” as this might sound, is a great reassurance and what I believe to be a much-needed tool in my future as a mother.
Whether or not we are ever able to generate our own Mother-Daughter Book Club, I still envision myself returning to this book for the purpose of staying current with the topics presented in this book, and for book recommendations for my daughter’s library (which will be present and discussed on our own time in a more leisurely fashion, if a Book Club does not manage to thrive). Lori Day and her daughter, Charlotte Kugler, have compiled an invaluable tool—for expectant mothers, for mothers with young daughters, for mothers with daughters in the throes of teenhood, and (in my opinion) even mothers with older daughters who need a better understanding relationship with their mothers about the goings-on in their lives and the decisions they’ve had to make along the way. Written in an approachable, at times funny, manner, this text functions as a dialogue about societal theory, literature and film, and generating communities, at a time when we could not need them more.
Being twenty-six years old with my first child (a daughter) on the way, this book was pertinent and timely on a personal level. Upon entering this book, I had never even heard of Mother-Daughter book clubs and loved the prospect of someday starting one with my own daughter, opening new avenues and conversations through the power of reading and discussion. I started making personal lists of all the books I would want to include in my library and was eager to see Day’s suggestions. What I never anticipated about these book clubs was the prospect of collaborating with other mothers, getting to know my daughter’s friends and peers, and how long we might be able to be together as a group. Not to mention the attention to detail in Part 2 on identifying and discussing key issues in our daughters’ lives, via our observations of our daughters, the books we read with them, and the discussions we may have within the book club and other book-club-related activities and events.
All of that being said, however, the timeliness of this text in a larger global setting is much more important—and this is an extremely timely text for our nation. Never before have issues with gender normativity and stereotypes, rape culture and the sexualization of women been of greater focus and importance; and this book largely focuses on these topics, among others, explaining not only the theoretical meaning behind these terms, but how they impact our girls, how our girls may embrace them (or be captured by them), and how we can discuss these topics with our girls to bring greater meaning, authenticity and value to their lives than is offered by hypersexualization.
Perhaps what is the most interesting (and startling) to me is the velocity at which all of these topics have become prevalent, and even accepted and embraced (by some), in our society. When I was a child, there were well-defined toys-for-girls aisles in the stores where my mother shopped, and all of the toys we looked at were offered in pink; but it was still a new enough idea that buying the colorful or gender-neutral option was not considered out-of-bounds by observers. However, issues with sexuality and the new pressures of social media were totally lost on my mother, a Baby Boomer; and we were left with little to get us through the tween and teen years. Though I am in a far better position in this way than my mother, I carry no delusions that I understand every single thing my daughter will have face and the sorts of pressures that will be presented to her that may have not been prevalent when I was her age. However, having Her Next Chapter on hand, as “cheesy” as this might sound, is a great reassurance and what I believe to be a much-needed tool in my future as a mother.
Whether or not we are ever able to generate our own Mother-Daughter Book Club, I still envision myself returning to this book for the purpose of staying current with the topics presented in this book, and for book recommendations for my daughter’s library (which will be present and discussed on our own time in a more leisurely fashion, if a Book Club does not manage to thrive). Lori Day and her daughter, Charlotte Kugler, have compiled an invaluable tool—for expectant mothers, for mothers with young daughters, for mothers with daughters in the throes of teenhood, and (in my opinion) even mothers with older daughters who need a better understanding relationship with their mothers about the goings-on in their lives and the decisions they’ve had to make along the way. Written in an approachable, at times funny, manner, this text functions as a dialogue about societal theory, literature and film, and generating communities, at a time when we could not need them more.
February 3, 2020
When I was growing up, I didn’t worry about how I looked. I certainly didn’t worry about being sexy. I didn’t even know what that meant. My wardrobe featured all the colours of the rainbow, including blue. Pink was only a small part of it. I played with Barbies and watched Disney princess movies, but I also played ball or hide-and-seek with the boys.
But a lot has changed since then. Toys that used to be gender-neutral are now found in the boys’ aisle. You’ll know when you’ll reach the girls’ one. You’ll be greeted by an overwhelming sea of pink. Most clothes for girls come in pink too, and more and more often, they are becoming shorter, skimpier, and sporting inappropriate messages such as “Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels” or “Future Trophy Wife”.
Girls are being taught that looks are all that matters, and if they don’t conform, they may be bullied for it. The beauty ideal they’re fed is too unrealistic anyway, so even if they try to conform, they’re still left hating their bodies and going on strict diets and extreme fitness regimes at younger and younger ages. Gender stereotypes can discourage girls from pursuing careers into what are seen as men’s fields, while reduced opportunity for boys and girls to play together can seriously affect their ability, later in life, to develop healthy romantic relationships.
Raising girls has become so much more difficult and many parents may feel disheartened, and believe there’s nothing they can do to help their girls navigate these and many other issues they will face in their lives. But parents have a lot more power, and a lot more influence on their children than they believe. One underestimated, but very powerful tool, mothers can use to fight the negative and dangerous messages society is feeding to their girls is by starting a mother-daughter book club.
Admittedly, I wasn’t familiar with this concept until I read Her Next Chapter: How Mother-Daughter Book Clubs Can Help Girls Navigate Malicious Media, Risky Relationships, Girl Gossip, and So Much More by Lori Day and Charlotte Kugler, but now I can’t wait to have a little girl to start my own (although, I may do something similar if I have a boy too. 🙂 ). These book clubs foster a closer relationship between a mother and her daughter and provide a safe and non-judgemental environment to discuss difficult topics, such as bullying, gender stereotypes, sexualization of little girls, LGBTQ issues, abusive relationships and violence against women, with your little girl.
In the second part of the book, Day provides a list of books, movies and other types of media that address these issues. After reading/watching them, you can use the questions provided by Day (or make up your own) to start the discussion in a way that’s appropriate for her age. Doing this in a group environment can also be very helpful for those mothers who want to address a particular issue with their daughters but are too embarrassed or simply don’t know how to do so. Chances are that, in the group, there will be another mother who feels more at ease with the topic, so your daughter will receive all the information she needs by someone you trust, under your supervision, and in a safe way.
The first part of the book, instead, explains what a mother-daughter book club is and how to set up your own. These chapters also warn you about any potential problems that may come up, such as how to deal with any bullying incidents that may happen, and provide tips on how to choose the members of your club, the issues you want to address, the books and movies you’ll use to do so and what to do when a couple quits.
Day writes in a very engaging way. She never preaches. Instead, you’ll feel like you’re talking to a friend who went through the same problems and can now give you advice on how to solve them. Of course, the book isn’t only for mothers. Stepmothers, grandmothers, teachers, and any other adult who is entrusted with the care of a little girl can also start book clubs to help her learn media literacy skills and deal with the many problems she’ll face in her life. I cannot recommend it enough!
But a lot has changed since then. Toys that used to be gender-neutral are now found in the boys’ aisle. You’ll know when you’ll reach the girls’ one. You’ll be greeted by an overwhelming sea of pink. Most clothes for girls come in pink too, and more and more often, they are becoming shorter, skimpier, and sporting inappropriate messages such as “Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels” or “Future Trophy Wife”.
Girls are being taught that looks are all that matters, and if they don’t conform, they may be bullied for it. The beauty ideal they’re fed is too unrealistic anyway, so even if they try to conform, they’re still left hating their bodies and going on strict diets and extreme fitness regimes at younger and younger ages. Gender stereotypes can discourage girls from pursuing careers into what are seen as men’s fields, while reduced opportunity for boys and girls to play together can seriously affect their ability, later in life, to develop healthy romantic relationships.
Raising girls has become so much more difficult and many parents may feel disheartened, and believe there’s nothing they can do to help their girls navigate these and many other issues they will face in their lives. But parents have a lot more power, and a lot more influence on their children than they believe. One underestimated, but very powerful tool, mothers can use to fight the negative and dangerous messages society is feeding to their girls is by starting a mother-daughter book club.
Admittedly, I wasn’t familiar with this concept until I read Her Next Chapter: How Mother-Daughter Book Clubs Can Help Girls Navigate Malicious Media, Risky Relationships, Girl Gossip, and So Much More by Lori Day and Charlotte Kugler, but now I can’t wait to have a little girl to start my own (although, I may do something similar if I have a boy too. 🙂 ). These book clubs foster a closer relationship between a mother and her daughter and provide a safe and non-judgemental environment to discuss difficult topics, such as bullying, gender stereotypes, sexualization of little girls, LGBTQ issues, abusive relationships and violence against women, with your little girl.
In the second part of the book, Day provides a list of books, movies and other types of media that address these issues. After reading/watching them, you can use the questions provided by Day (or make up your own) to start the discussion in a way that’s appropriate for her age. Doing this in a group environment can also be very helpful for those mothers who want to address a particular issue with their daughters but are too embarrassed or simply don’t know how to do so. Chances are that, in the group, there will be another mother who feels more at ease with the topic, so your daughter will receive all the information she needs by someone you trust, under your supervision, and in a safe way.
The first part of the book, instead, explains what a mother-daughter book club is and how to set up your own. These chapters also warn you about any potential problems that may come up, such as how to deal with any bullying incidents that may happen, and provide tips on how to choose the members of your club, the issues you want to address, the books and movies you’ll use to do so and what to do when a couple quits.
Day writes in a very engaging way. She never preaches. Instead, you’ll feel like you’re talking to a friend who went through the same problems and can now give you advice on how to solve them. Of course, the book isn’t only for mothers. Stepmothers, grandmothers, teachers, and any other adult who is entrusted with the care of a little girl can also start book clubs to help her learn media literacy skills and deal with the many problems she’ll face in her life. I cannot recommend it enough!
September 14, 2015
An excellent book, and not just for women thinking about starting a book club. As a feminist, I've always known that raising my kids--boys or girls--with a firm grasp of feminism was important to me. As the mother of a daughter who is fast approaching puberty, I think now more than ever about how I can educate her, talk to her, and make her aware of the issues that will soon be arising in her life. I've read a fair amount of books on feminism and read many articles, so I have a good grasp of the subject, and I feel this book is an excellent primer for mothers who may be new to feminism and how to discuss it with their children.
If you do want to start a book club, I think this is an invaluable resource that offers some excellent food for thought as to the logistics of setting up and running a club. Day offers a lot of practical advice for getting things kicked off, as well as for how to ensure the book club endures.
The book is chock-full of recommendations of a variety of resources, from books to internet videos to movies that can help mothers (and fathers) frame discussions about various feminist issues. I was also pleased that the book devotes a chapter to LGBTQ issues because I feel it's critical for parents to discuss this issues with their children and to make it clear that they will love and support their child regardless of their sexual preference or gender orientation.
Since many studies have shown that reading fiction is an extremely effective way for people to learn not only how to think critically but how to be more empathetic toward others, I think the inclusion of the LGBTQ chapter and the chapter on educating girls about global issues were fantastic inclusions. It can be difficult to navigate that line between telling children too much and not telling them enough, and this book offers some very real, practical suggestions for how to introduce and discuss such topics.
Along with the recommendations, each chapter includes a set of discussion questions for one of the books mentioned in the chapter, which I think would serve as a great kick-off point for mothers uncertain how to go about guiding literary discussions.
After reading this book, I made a mile-long list of books to read with my daughter and requested several movies from my local library. Since I know it can be strange or uncomfortable or difficult to tackle some subjects with children, I think that using books or movies can be an excellent segue. Whether or not you intend to start a book club, this book is an excellent resource for parents.
If you do want to start a book club, I think this is an invaluable resource that offers some excellent food for thought as to the logistics of setting up and running a club. Day offers a lot of practical advice for getting things kicked off, as well as for how to ensure the book club endures.
The book is chock-full of recommendations of a variety of resources, from books to internet videos to movies that can help mothers (and fathers) frame discussions about various feminist issues. I was also pleased that the book devotes a chapter to LGBTQ issues because I feel it's critical for parents to discuss this issues with their children and to make it clear that they will love and support their child regardless of their sexual preference or gender orientation.
Since many studies have shown that reading fiction is an extremely effective way for people to learn not only how to think critically but how to be more empathetic toward others, I think the inclusion of the LGBTQ chapter and the chapter on educating girls about global issues were fantastic inclusions. It can be difficult to navigate that line between telling children too much and not telling them enough, and this book offers some very real, practical suggestions for how to introduce and discuss such topics.
Along with the recommendations, each chapter includes a set of discussion questions for one of the books mentioned in the chapter, which I think would serve as a great kick-off point for mothers uncertain how to go about guiding literary discussions.
After reading this book, I made a mile-long list of books to read with my daughter and requested several movies from my local library. Since I know it can be strange or uncomfortable or difficult to tackle some subjects with children, I think that using books or movies can be an excellent segue. Whether or not you intend to start a book club, this book is an excellent resource for parents.
September 26, 2019
Excellent book about book clubs and books in general for daughters (also other media). Highly recommended!
August 8, 2014
This is a book I can really get behind. I'm an avid reader (obviously) and I know how important it is for children to read. I had planned, in a few years, for my daughter and I to join a Mother-Daughter book club, so I was already in the choir on this one.
For anyone who is in my position of being sold on Mother-Daughter book clubs, who might be considering, or has never heard of them, this is a great book. Day sets up the book quite well--the first 3 chapters are devoted to the mechanics of the book club. As a member or alumni of several clubs, I appreciated these tips. From the 4th chapter one, she devotes the books to different topics, complete with recommendations for book and movies (with appropriate age suggestions) and activities. Folks, these are some heavy, heavy topics and it had never occurred to me how valuable something like a Mother-Daughter Book Club could be in relation to these issues.
My daughter is still about 3 years away from such a club, but I know that this will be in our future. After reading this book, I do think that I will probably start a club rather than join the one hosted by the library. These clubs are really about relationships--between mothers and daughters, adults and girls, and between the girls themselves--and a drop in sort of arrangement will just not work.
I debated whether or not this was a 4 or 5 star book. I normally reserve 5 star ratings for books that I would recommend to just about anyone and this book doesn't really have that scope. However, I think that the quality and usefulness of this book to its intended audience is great enough that it deserves the 5 stars.
I was given a copy of this book by the author in return for an honest review. I received no other compensation for this post.
For anyone who is in my position of being sold on Mother-Daughter book clubs, who might be considering, or has never heard of them, this is a great book. Day sets up the book quite well--the first 3 chapters are devoted to the mechanics of the book club. As a member or alumni of several clubs, I appreciated these tips. From the 4th chapter one, she devotes the books to different topics, complete with recommendations for book and movies (with appropriate age suggestions) and activities. Folks, these are some heavy, heavy topics and it had never occurred to me how valuable something like a Mother-Daughter Book Club could be in relation to these issues.
My daughter is still about 3 years away from such a club, but I know that this will be in our future. After reading this book, I do think that I will probably start a club rather than join the one hosted by the library. These clubs are really about relationships--between mothers and daughters, adults and girls, and between the girls themselves--and a drop in sort of arrangement will just not work.
I debated whether or not this was a 4 or 5 star book. I normally reserve 5 star ratings for books that I would recommend to just about anyone and this book doesn't really have that scope. However, I think that the quality and usefulness of this book to its intended audience is great enough that it deserves the 5 stars.
I was given a copy of this book by the author in return for an honest review. I received no other compensation for this post.
April 29, 2015
I received this book as a Goodreads Giveaway. (Paperback)
I liked it, and found it useful and insightful. It covered a wide range of topics that would interest or would affect mother-daughter book clubs. Most of the suggestions and information can also be of great use in general, outside of a book club setting, and I found that it could also be applied in other situations.
The book sets out to demonstrate the value of mother-daughter book clubs as a way to empower young girls and provide an environment where girls feel safe and can share and learn from each other and the women who care for them. The book covers how to set up a mother-daughter club, how to handle the most common problems/issues that might come up, and provides suggestions for activities and books/movies for the meetings as well as discussion points to help the process along.
This is a good book to use as a reference point for not only book clubs but also to aid open discussion with girls and know how to best support those in your care/life. My only issue with the book is that at times it felt a bit too 'us versus them' as far as men/boys were concerned. I personally feel that the best way for women/girls to reach a better, more equal, place in society is to work alongside men/boys to bring about lasting changes. I believe that talking about these issues with boys and maybe even including them in the book clubs would be a great benefit to all. That's just my two-cents though.
I would recommend this book across the board, with the suggestion that the advice can be adapted to any guardian/child combo.
I liked it, and found it useful and insightful. It covered a wide range of topics that would interest or would affect mother-daughter book clubs. Most of the suggestions and information can also be of great use in general, outside of a book club setting, and I found that it could also be applied in other situations.
The book sets out to demonstrate the value of mother-daughter book clubs as a way to empower young girls and provide an environment where girls feel safe and can share and learn from each other and the women who care for them. The book covers how to set up a mother-daughter club, how to handle the most common problems/issues that might come up, and provides suggestions for activities and books/movies for the meetings as well as discussion points to help the process along.
This is a good book to use as a reference point for not only book clubs but also to aid open discussion with girls and know how to best support those in your care/life. My only issue with the book is that at times it felt a bit too 'us versus them' as far as men/boys were concerned. I personally feel that the best way for women/girls to reach a better, more equal, place in society is to work alongside men/boys to bring about lasting changes. I believe that talking about these issues with boys and maybe even including them in the book clubs would be a great benefit to all. That's just my two-cents though.
I would recommend this book across the board, with the suggestion that the advice can be adapted to any guardian/child combo.
September 8, 2016
Moms who wish to help their tween and teen girls navigate the challenges of growing up female will love Her Next Chapter. It makes a compelling argument that mother-daughter book clubs are a fun and engaging way to encourage healthy, expansive conversations between groups of moms and girls. Readers will find that author Lori Day makes it easy for them to add media literacy to their parenting toolboxes–a terrific skill set in supporting today’s girls through the many pressures of female adolescence.
April 19, 2014
Her Next Chapter is the inspiring and engaging how-to book you didn’t know you needed! Using literature, movies and internet media as a springboard for connection and dialogue, Lori Day and her daughter, Charlotte, have cracked the code for easing the flow of ideas between moms and their girls. Genius tips on engaging our daughters in deeper conversations are reminiscent of sneaking pureed spinach or julienned zucchini into the brownie mix... a painless and easy way to take something we are already doing and make it intentionally more beneficial to the health and well-being of our children.
April 21, 2014
If you love your daughter, read this book. Lori Day and her own daughter, Charlotte Kugler, do an exquisite job of explaining the myriad benefits of starting a mother daughter book club: self-confidence and reinforcing racial identity are the the top of my list. Even better, they tell you how to do it, replete with with excellent book and movie recommendations and discussion questions to boot! A must read.
September 24, 2015
Inspiring and informative. I love this book.
March 26, 2016
Great resource. Read for June's Parenting by the Book
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews