Eight Keys by Suzanne LaFleur BOOK REVIEW

Eight Keys by Suzanne LaFleur
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I picked this book up at the Book Fair thinking it would be good for my daughter, and of course that means that I need to read it first. I like to know what they are reading so that if they ask me something I can talk with them about it.

This is a coming of age story about a girl, Elsie, who is entering middle school and turning 12, and all the horrors that come with that. My daughter entered the junior high school last year, and this book captures some of that girl drama perfectly, although there is so much more in real life.

It is also about her finding herself, and who she is in a unique way since her parents are not around and she lives with her aunt and uncle. It is a really well written story. I enjoyed it even as an adult. I have passed it on to my daughter and I look forward to discussing it with her. I am hoping that the story will help her to deal with some of the girl drama at school that she has had to deal with this year.

I would recommend it to any girl to read the summer before they move up to the middle school or junior high school. Not to scare them, but to let them know, if this happens, it's ok. This is what you do, not this. I think it is the perfect book to help get parents and girls talking about the troubles and bullying at school and issues of who am I and what is my purpose that this age brings.

Well done!

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Girl Scout Cookie Time

Once again it is that time of the year, Girl Scout Cookie Time.

This year, the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouting, the sale started on January 7th, and since I live in Indiana and the Super Bowl will be held here, there are some extra things going on with the sales. But then again, the Super Bowl is an hour drive north of us, and I have NO plans to take seven 10 year olds up there to set up a cookie booth in the middle of tailgating! I'll leave that to the older Girl Scouts.

The other thing that Cookie Time means is that it pretty much takes over my life.  I spent a couple hours last night entering the Troop information into the Cookie Ordering computer system, then I had to turn around and enter all the girl's information into the Cookie Club computer system. The Cookie Club allows the girls to send emails to family and friends, and they can respond with promises to order cookies. It also send specialized links that those friends and family can share with other people, but it has no identifing information about the Girl Scout, keeping them as safe as possible.

Now I will update the Troop Facebook page with information on the cookies, and work to promote the sale. The reason that we really need to have a good sale is that the proceeds of the cookie sales is the only money that we get to do things. Girl Scouts runs on donations. We get a small amount from each girl's parents as dues, but not enough to go camping or anything, so the proceeds that we get from cookies is what pays for us to go camping. The girls want to go to Holiday World and camp there. That will take some money, so we are working hard to sell enough cookies for that.

I have to admit that for all the work that Cookie Time involves and takes for me, I love Girl Scouts. It is such a great program, and it help girls learn to live and be proud of themselves in this day and age, and I am proud to be part of that, and to be shaping and molding young girls to be leaders and role models of the future.

If you know a Girl Scout, please buy some cookies. The money goes directly to that troop and helps that girl, and it is important!