Girls' Literature Reading Group
Founded by Dr. Ashley N. Reese and Dr. Dawn Sardella-Ayres
Facilitation is a shared responsibility, open to active members.
The CSGL Reading Group focuses on Children’s Literature featuring girls/issues of girlhood in a variety of texts and engages with critical definitions of Girls’ Literature as a unique and distinct genre (see Sardella-Ayres and Reese). Originally founded as the Hollins’ Girls’ Literature Reading Group, this group maintains its commitment to lively, engaged discussion around selected texts.
Our virtual meetings occur every other month, on the third Saturday. Many of the selections have historically dated from pre-World War II, though we have also looked at novels from later and are open to more recent title suggestions. Discussion topics include girlhood, gender and ideology, nationhood, landscape and ecocriticism, and women in publishing.
While academically focused, this group is open to all, and we encourage participation from graduate students, faculty, librarians, and current and retired scholars.
March 2026
All-of-a-Kind Family
by Sydney Taylor
(1951)
January 2026
Aunt Jane’s Nieces
by Edith Van Dyne (aka, L. Frank Baum)
(1906)
November 2025
Anastasia Krupnik
by Lois Lowry
(1979)
September 2025
Understood Betsy
by Dorothy Canfield Fisher
(1917)
July 2025
The Penderwicks
by Jeanne Birdsall
(2005)
May 2025
A Little Princess
by Frances Hodgson Burnett
(1905)
March 2025
The Whole, Wide World
by Susan Warner
(1850)
January 2025
Jean and Johnny
by Beverly Cleary
(1959)
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The Girl’s Literature Reading Group is regularly open to new members. If you are interested in being a part of our community and receiving information about upcoming titles and dates for our next discussions, fill out the contact form.
Or email us directly at reading@girlsliterature.org