Some books are so wonderfully timeless every generation can enjoy them. This is certainly the case with the Betsy~Tacy books written by Maud Hart Lovelace. The series is focused around it's central character Betsy Ray who loves to write stories and make believe with her friends Tacy and Tib. The series is based on the author's memories of growing up in Minnisota in the early 1900s. She said she wrote the books because " I lived the happiest childhood a child could possibly know" and this joy comes through in her writing. The book club will follow Betsy through her elementary years up until her first days in high school. The books provide a wealth of historical knowledge but the relationships the characters have as they grow and change are what endears readers. This book club will explore how friendships make our lives more rich. We will read and discuss the books and the themes of friendship and being true to yourself. We will also cover character traits and growth over the course of the series. The class is taught in book club format with questions for discussion.
Week 1 Read and discuss Betsy~Tacy
Week 2 Read and discuss Betsy, Tacy and Tib
Week 3 Read and discuss Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill
Week 4 Read and discuss Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown
Week 5 Read and Discuss Heavens to Betsy (chapters assigned)
Week 6 Continue Heavens to Betsy (chapters assigned)
Week 7 Continue Heavens to Betsy (chapters assigned)
Week 8 Read and discuss Betsy In Spite of Herself (Chapters assigned)
Week 9 Read and discuss Betsy In Spite of Herself (Chapters assigned)
Week 10 Read and discuss Betsy In Spite of Herself (Chapters assigned)