This month we read 'Bigfoot, Tobin and Me' by Melissa Savage.
The book is set in 1970's (pre-mobile pone!) California and most of the group enjoyed it-I think the adults liked it better than the children! Lemonade Liberty Witt has lost her mother, she's been forced to move away from her home to live with the grandfather she barely knows, and can't wait to be able to get away, move back home. This isn't her home and it never will be.
Her grandfather does not argue with her, in fact, he seems to spend more time with Tobin, a boy who runs his own Bigfoot Detective Agency, as they live in an area with many sightings. Lemonade unwillingly finds herself entangled in his business when she comes across evidence of Bigfoot's existence in the woods.
Lemonade is determined not to put down roots, not to make friends, not to enjoy living with her grandfather, but gradually she may find herself living up to her namesake of 'making lemonade from lemons', despite her grief.
Lemonade and Tobin are endearing, characters.The author is a grief counsellor and shows how a child might deal with the death of a parent and come to terms with a new life, and the book came with it's own set of 'book-club' questions.
This month we welcomed new member Nohva.
We made a list and drew pictures of the ten things we would pack in a suitcase which would represent what is important to us and who we are. We played a Bigfoot version of 'Beetle Drive' and designed monsters by playing 'Heads,Bodies and Legs'.
