We have a mother-daughter book club, and just yesterday, had our meeting to discuss Understood Betsy. Our girls range in age from 8 to 12, and I'm ever amazed at the wisdom and deep thought these girls put into their reading. Yesterday's meeting didn't disappoint.

Despite being an avid reader as a child (my biggest battle with our librarian was the six-book limit she enforced), I had never read Understood Betsy until last week. I spent one glorious afternoon on my bed reading and wiping away tears. My eight year old, who had already read it twice, wandered in and read me a chapter.

I fell in love with, and identified with, a number of the characters. Cousin Anne, the dour and capable one, who motivated Betsy to be resourceful and sensible. Poor Aunt Frances, shivery and frightened of life, yet longing to give Elizabeth Anne (later Betsy) the best that she could. And Betsy herself, so inept and weak at the outset, transformed to a strong, capable, humourous girl by the end. I cried as I cheered her on in her discovery of just how much she could accomplish, when surrounded by people who believed that she could. I loved the discussion that Betsy and Aunt Frances had towards the end of the book, when they each, simultaneously and gradually, break through the thicket of careful words to stand in the clearing and speak the truth.

At Club, we discussed the power of the spoken word, the danger of stereotypes, the pros and cons of being the older "helper" child vs. the younger "learning" child, what type of "personality" we had, and how we'd like to incorporate new strengths into our character. This book was a fantastic diving board into so many topics of discussion and learning.

We all recommend it highly.