The Secret Book Club

Main Street #5

by Ann M. Martin

Flora, Ruby, Olivia, and Nikki start their own summer book club when well-loved books start appearing on their doorsteps in the fifth of Ann Martin's wonderful Main Street books.

Flora and Ruby are about to start their second summer in Camden Falls. An element of mystery is instantly added when someone -- the girls don't know who -- leaves copies of a very special book on their doorstop, with instructions to read and discuss it. Olivia and Nikki also get books, and soon the girls are starting their own book club -- with some very interesting ties between the books they're reading and the things they're facing over the summer. But who's their literary benefactor? The girls don't need to read Nancy Drew to track down the answer....

Genres: Middle Grade, Fiction, Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Adventure, Contemporary, Friendship

212 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Ann Matthews Martin was born on August 12, 1955. She grew up in Princeton, New Jersey, with her parents and her younger sister, Jane. After graduating from Smith College, Ann became a teacher and then an editor of children's books. She's now a full-time writer.

Ann gets the ideas for her books from many different places. Some are based on personal experiences, while others are based on childhood memories and feelings. Many are written about contemporary problems or events. All of Ann's characters, even the members of the Baby-sitters Club, are made up. But many of her characters are based on real people. Sometimes Ann names her characters after people she knows, and other times she simply chooses names that she likes.

Ann has always enjoyed writing. Even before she was old enough to write, she would dictate stories to her mother to write down for her. Some of her favorite authors at that time were Lewis Carroll, P. L. Travers, Hugh Lofting, Astrid Lindgren, and Roald Dahl. They inspired her to become a writer herself.

Since ending the BSC series in 2000, Ann’s writing has concentrated on single novels, many of which are set in the 1960s.

After living in New York City for many years, Ann moved to the Hudson Valley in upstate New York where she now lives with her dog, Sadie, and her cats, Gussie, Willy and Woody. Her hobbies are reading, sewing, and needlework. Her favorite thing to do is to make clothes for children.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/annmma...

Reviews

[Sarah Hadd · Rating 2 out of 5]

Listened to on audio with my daughter. What a disappointment! I used to love Ann Martin when I was a kid. This was brutal to listen to, though. First off, the kids ages 12 and up talked in ways so unrealistic - not just for their age, but for ANYONE. And anyone under the age of 12 talked like they were 4. Don't even get me started on the insult of the voice given to the character who had Down Syndrome. Oh my gosh. I was cringing hard core. And the story was BORING. My daughter tuned out after the first CD I'm pretty sure. There was nothing that would hold anyone's interest. Ugh. Disappointing, but glad that's over!

[Marisa Edmondson · Rating 5 out of 5]

If a book about 4th & 6th graders (and written for that age group) can address the American legacy of racism, slavery and Jim crow Florida schools can. Fuck Desantis.
Anyway yes, I am re-reading my childhood chapter books. Yes, this series is actually kinda woke. I'm also 90% sure Olivia is autisitc (I just didn't pick up on it) but when I read these when I was younger I think I related to her the most...hmmm. Also love the cute blooming old friends to romantic interest for Min and Mr. Pennington

[Gabby · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book could have been more impactful if the author removed some chapters about the secondary characters and focused on the book club part of the plot.

I found some of the chapters to be confusing, but that may be my fault because I read a book that is 4-5th in the series without reading any of the other books.

[jellybean · Rating 4 out of 5]

i distinctly remember this one being my favorite when i first read the books and so far its still the one i like the most!! i loved the secret book club aspect and all the saturday adventures the girls had.

[Kiran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to it on audiobook. It was good and inspired me to read the Saturdays.

[Mallory · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was hard trying to find out who was sending the books and it shocked me when I found out

[Violet Bleger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Main Street triumph with an amazing underlying message of connection with friends and learning each other’s interests. I can’t wait to read book 6!😁😁

[Jo Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Ann M Martin.

I like these even more than the BSC. I do believe they’d all end up as friends if they ever meet.

[Ca1t!Y# · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really good. I enjoyed who the secret book club organizer was because it drew Ruby and Flora closer to them. Anyway, good book.

[Sophia s · Rating 5 out of 5]

poor olivia :(((

[Reagan Lurix]

This is about four friends, and someone creates a book club for them dropping off new books every week with questions. I will use this to show rising action and climate.

[Jeanelle Coleman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Best book

[Leia Skywalker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the multiple povs . Fun story . I want to read the books they talked about. Oliva is definitely Autistic . I am now shipping MIn and Mr Pennington.

[Marina K · Rating 5 out of 5]

À totally heart warming summer read, even if you were not reading it in summer.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was searching for another book of the same title! Couldn’t find that ob! So I read this instead! I do love Scholastic Books!

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Marta Morrison for TeensReadToo.com

How exciting it would be to have someone secretly send you and three other friends the same book, and then have an activity to do after each of you read it. That is what happens to Flora, Ruby, Olivia, and Nikki.

Someone is leaving books on the doorstep of Needle and Thread addressed to them for them to read over the summer. They read a lot of my favorite books, such as THE SECRET OF NIHM, THE SUMMER OF THE SWANS, and UNDERSTOOD BETSY.

The girls loved the idea, even Ruby, who doesn't like reading. They end up doing a lot of fun activities. The theme of the summer is bravery, and each girl does something which they wouldn't have normally done.

I really enjoy the MAIN STREET series. The books show life as an exciting adventure but in a very sweet way. It is like going back to my childhood where life was slow but a lot of fun. I like the main characters, who have a lot of depth and act like real kids. Maybe because these stories are told from the perspective of small town America they seem to be sweeter than most, and I would definitely want my children to have these experiences. These are worth the time so check them out.

[babyhippoface · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four envelopes mysteriously appear on the doorstep of Needle & Thread, one for Flora, Ruby, Nikki, & Olivia. Inside each are two books, The Saturdays and Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, along with a letter explaining that the girls have been chosen to participate in a summer Secret Book Club. More titles keep coming, and the girls enjoy a Saturday Adventure tied to each book.

I liked this one a lot. Their Saturday Adventure tied to Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry was my favorite--they visited a home that had been a stop on the Underground Railroad, something Ruby had never heard of until the Book Club. Personally, I think that would be very interesting to see, but there are probably not just a whole lot of those here in Oklahoma. (Are there?)

This made me wish I could start a Secret Book club for my daughter and her friends. Oh wait, I'm a librarian...I could probably do that, huh?

[Rachel Inbar · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was written strangely. As if the author wanted to go back in time and write about things that happened in a small town several decades ago, but decided to do so in the present. I kept checking the copyright date, since it really didn't seem like a 2008 book. My 6-1/2 year old HATED the book and refused to listen to it. My 7-1/2 year old enjoyed it. I found it difficult to read at times, although the story itself was mostly interesting. I think I would have really enjoyed the book had it been written in a more modern style, without pretentious language. It could also have done with a few fewer characters so it would be easy to follow. I find it difficult to imagine a 10-11-12 year old enjoying this book.

[Melissa Eisenmeier]

Besides her Main Street series, Ann Martin wrote another series, which I adored maybe ten years ago: The Babysitters Club.
The Secret Book Club has some good characters: the main characters are three-dimensional so far, with their own flaws, weaknesses, and interests.
However, there is one kind of big flaw I noticed. The transitions from one scene to another don't seem as smooth as I remember them being in The Babysitters Club books. They seem a little choppy. Martin had past tense for the first couple pages of the books, then it switched to present tense for a couple pages, then back for the rest of the book I've read so far.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book main street: the secret book club was very mysterious. When i first looked at the title of the book i thought they did a book club together, but when i started reading the book it made sense now because someone was giving them books to read and doing saturday adventures.

When Nikki, Flora, Ruby, and Olivia were done with all the books they were going to find out who give them books and it was Flora and Ruby' s Aunt Allie who was an author. I was thinking that she was sending them books so they can enjoy them!!

[Jessica (JT) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun series for young girls. There are a lot of characters with interesting backgrounds and stories that are constantly evolving.
Ann M. Martin is wonderful at writing books that match seasons. These books are great at making the reader get the feeling of the season that the book is taking place in. She weaves in descriptions of change that make you long for that time of year.
I started to loose interst with this series here. It may have been that I got too old to fully appreciate it or that the characters did not interest me anymore.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book from the Main Street series for upper elementary students. It features four girl friends that live in a small town, Camden Falls, Massachusetts. In this story they have a secret person who creates a book club for them and delivers a new book each week with a list of questions and a Saturday activity. At the end of four weeks, they find out who the secret book club creator is. It is really a slice of life story and the lives of the four girls families are intertwined.

[Jules · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this as an audiobook, as I have with the rest of the series. I absolutely love the voice of Ariadne Myers, the lady who reads the story. I could listen to it all day long. Actually, I pretty much do. She reads with WONDERFUL expression, much unlike many audiobook readers. She even has a different voice for all of the characters! I can't wait for the next book in the series to come out on audiobook!

[Hanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Main Street series by Ann M. Martin is a series I would recomend to anyone! It is one of my most favorite series that I have ever read! It is a story of 2 girls journey as they begin to live with their Grandma in Camden Falls. They meet new friends, work at their grandmas store and help others in need as they go to their first year of school in Camden Falls and fun summers!!! I give this book, author, and series 5 stars!

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the book, but really feel like Martin shouldn't have had Olivia's friends go to the pool party without her. Instead, it would have been awesome if they should have stood in solidarity with her instead of only thinking about themselves. I thought that was pretty messed up of Martin to write, but maybe it's more true to life (what can I say, I'm an idealist).

Still, that was pretty much the only part of the book that lowered my star rating.

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like to hear book discussion, but I am not good at talking. The 4 girls have different reading levels can read the same book and they have Sat adventures as follow up after their reading. It is fun and pretty good idea, especially in summer time. I hope I can read more books and read them faster.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a fun book and a good one for me to read to get back into enjoying this series. The book club was something a caring adult set up for the girls, yet it made their summer something very special. A good lesson for me as an adult. Oh, and I love that they read Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry. great choice!

[Jillian · Rating 2 out of 5]

All I remember from this book is that the girls have a book club, and I was jealous because I wanted to have a book club with my friends. Otherwise, I couldn't tell you one more detail. Based on the cover and my spotty memory, I would say this is an adequate read for your middle schooler.

[Willa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friendship really counts!

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

As enjoyable as the rest of the series. I loved the idea of the secret book club and think it would be fun to either be part of one or organize one myself!