Jacky Ha-Ha by James Patterson – Mum and Daughter book club and book review

DD1 had never been into books until lately she discovered the magic in books and how it changes the mood! (I would blame myself for the lack of interest while she was young as I could hardly remember reading a bedtime book for her or having a reading routine! We write a lot but have hardly been reading!).  Her reading habit has massively changed, well, in a good way, that sometimes you would see her walking home reading her library book and I had to shout at her to keep her book down and watch the road!

To encourage her to read more, I am always on the hunt for new books and JACKY HA-HA joined our reading journey. We have been asked by Mumsnet to host our very own mini mother-daughter book club event to encourage children to read more and was sent some lovely goodies as treats for the children. There were some lollipops, colouring pencils and some activity sheets to keep them occupied during the book club.  

We have been rescheduling the play day with her friends due to her 11+ preparations and the busy weekends filled with tournaments, so this was a good chance to break the busy times and have a get together with her friends.  This was quite different from the usual play dates and even I was keen to see how it goes.

About the Book Jacky Ha-Ha:

“With her irresistible urge to tell a joke in every situation – even when she really, really shouldn’t – twelve-year-old Jacky Ha-Ha loves to make people laugh. And cracking wise helps distract her from thinking about not-so-funny things in her life, like her mum serving in a dangerous, faraway war, and a dad who’s hardly ever home.

But no matter how much fun Jacky has, she can’t seem to escape her worries. So one starlit night, she makes a promise to keep her family together… even if she has to give up the one thing that makes her happy. But can she stop being Jacky Ha-Ha, if that’s who she really is?”

Our Mum and Daughter book club:

We have received 6 copies of the book to share it with her friends and I sent it away with her to give it to their friends so they have enough time to finish reading the book and be ready to discuss and the answers for some of the questions during the book club. 

Having said that DD1 is showing interest in reading very lately, She finds it too boring to read a book filled wit texts and quite happily finishes a book in one go if it has some good illustrations and Pictures. 

There were some interactive Q&A so the girls were too excited to find out who could answer most questions. As there had been too many best, right, first answers, I had to get involved to let the party go smooth! and the lollies did help too 🙂

The chapters are not too long which I found is ver important when it comes to children’s book! They often set the mark at a chapter, not pages and this something that definitely attracted DD1 so if she is in a hurry for something, she can quickly read a chapter and go with the satisfaction of finishing it!

I found the book club very useful as it definitely encouraged children to read as a group and  I feel even if a child is not showing any great interest in reading, hosting or taking part in such book club will encourage them to read with others. The children enjoyed it too and they want more of it now! 

As they step into secondary school, I think I would now replace the play dates to Book club parties now 🙂

Have you hosted a book club before!? Do you have any ideas to keep it more interesting, entertaining and focussed? Have you found any others ways to encourage reading habits? Do you think book club is a great way to help children to read more as they read as a group?

I would love to hear your thoughts.

I am a member of the Mumsnet Bloggers Panel, a group of parent bloggers who have volunteered to review products, services, events and brands for Mumsnet. I have not paid for the product. I have editorial control and retain full editorial integrity. I will receive a voucher in return for writing this post. We were provided with the books, the items needed for the activities and some sweets for the book club.