Author Janet Benton Joins Lower School Book Club for Adults

Janet Benton the author of Lilli de Jong joined the Lower School Book Club for Adults during its first meeting of the school year on Friday, October 13th. Her book resonated with all of the members of the group. It is a story of a young woman in the colonial time period in Philadelphia who finds herself in the perilous position of having a baby as a single mother. Lilli is part of a middle class Quaker family living in Germantown and is teaching, along with her mother, in the Quaker Meeting and school. Her father is a furniture maker and her brother is learning this craft along with another young man. Circumstances change and Lilli is faced with the challenge of surviving with her baby and without family support.

Janet meticulously researched the historical time period and this is brought to life in her book. She shared that the idea for this book was inspired when she gave birth and nursed her baby. It took a number of years for this book to be finished. The book has been published and reviewers and readers alike are moved by Janet's novel. It was so exciting for those participating in this discussion to have the opportunity to understand how Janet crafted this book and also to share their own connections to the issues in this story!

This dates and the list of books selected for the rest of the school year can be reached on the Lower School website parent page through this link.http://www.abingtonfriends.net/current-parents/division/lower-school/ . 

We hope to have you join us at our next meeting on Friday November 17 from 8-9 am in the Lower School library to discuss A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman.