Beyond Sugar & Spice: Tomboys!

"…every time she passed Susan’s desk, she grew more angry. Susan was a copy-cat and a cheater. Ramona longed to seize one of those curls, stretch it out as far as she could, and then let it go. Boing, she thought, but she kept her hands to herself, which was not easy even though she was in the first grade."

~ Ramona the Brave, by Beverly Cleary

There’s just something about a girl who knows who she is and makes no apologies for it. Reading about girls who swanned about in pinafores and wrote poetry is just lovely, but for many of us, it’s when we read about the girl who isn’t afraid to scrape up her knees and stands up for herself that we really see ourselves.

For this swap, you will write your partner a letter describing your favorite tomboy. It does not have to be a long letter, as long as it’s chatty, substantial, and talks about why you like your girl so much. Both handwritten or type-written are fine, and feel free to be creative about the way you present it.

You will also include a small trinket that is symbolic of your heroine’s books. Perhaps you'll whip up Trixie Belden bookmarks, or send a fresh Pink Pet eraser or gummy bears for Ramona. You could also just send a copy of the book itself to share with your partner, just something small for him/her to enjoy.

Whether you love Jo March’s fierce independence or have learned from Geneva Porter’s mistakes or secretly thought George Fayne was actually the cool one, this should be a super easy and super fun swap! And perhaps you'll find a new book you'll enjoy reading, too.

This swap is open to all group members in good standing. Please be sure to rate your partner promptly upon receipt--it's the nice thing to do. :)