Marvelous Deeds of Derring-do

A household with eight people, four of whom have full-time jobs outside the home, living under one roof requires a certain level of coordination. Enter the family meeting, a weekly mandatory gathering implemented by my wise parents to facilitate scheduling, meal planning, and — most importantly — bitter complaints. Just because we legal adults have jobs and pay rent does not mean we’re exempt from helping out with dinner. Nor does the fact that we all generally enjoy one another’s company mean that we get along perfectly (thus the bitter complaints). Never ones to do anything halfway, my brother and I decided these meetings needed more formality and planned to introduce Robert’s Rules. Though we’d both used variations of these rules, which cover the proper proceedings for running a meeting, in college, I remembered reading a full account of them in a delightful book from my childhood: The Daring Book for Girls. Once I pulled it off the shelf, however, what was supposed to be a quick refresher on meeting etiquette and proper motion procedures turned into a trip down memory lane.

Published in 2007, The Daring Book for Girls, by Andrea Buchanan and Miriam Peskowitz, is packed with fascinating and practical information for any and every girl. Buchanan and Peskowitz tell readers immediately that, yes, the book was directly inspired by Conn and Hal Iggulden’s book, The Dangerous Book for Boys (which, I’m reliably informed by my brother, is much more interesting than my selection).

While it certainly doesn’t contain everything, this book is packed with enough wisdom and fun to keep a reader busy for hours. Want to build a scooter? They’ve got a template for you. Curious about the rules of softball? That’s covered. Need to know the Latin or Greek root of a word? Look no further. Building a fire, pressing flowers, poetry, camping — there’s something for every type of girl, in every mood, and on every occasion.

While the craft projects were more in line with my early interests, it’s my memory of the biographies scattered throughout the pages that stands out. More than for any activity, I pulled out this book to learn about Boadicea, Florence Baker, Ginnie and Lottie Moon, and many others whose lives are detailed here. Powerful women from ancient civilizations aren’t forgotten, and neither are female Olympians, inventors, and explorers. There is always some new person to learn about, and the writers never spend time putting down men to make women look good. The stories are told in an interesting, straightforward manner that piques the interest and sends you searching for more information.

Even with this much information in one place, the book never feels scattered or jumbled. There aren’t many corners of the world that aren’t given at least a passing mention, and if you want to make a lemon-powered clock or read up on the rules of darts, look no further. It seems designed to be opened at random, flipped through until a song, picture, word, or adventure catches the eye. And since every girl must be prepared for adventure, the whole volume begins with a list of “essential gear.” My penciled circles around various items on this page prove I was on my way to being Kate Weatherall (of Mysterious Benedict Society fame) before I even knew there was such a character.

As with most things, there’s a caveat. The majority of the information in this book is harmless, and the general tone is positive and lighthearted, never going overboard with an agenda. But, while some people may not mind if their daughters learn how to play “Bloody Mary,” have a horror-movie marathon, or discover the basics of palm-reading, it’s good to be aware that these activities are included here. I do draw a firm line at one item in particular, however. There’s an almost-excellent book list at the end of the book, but unfortunately, it recommends Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials series. Cheri Blomquist, in her superb book Before Austen Comes Aesop, wisely warns us about the dangers of this book when she says that “the trilogy is often called the ‘anti-Narnia,’ making it probably the most atheistic, secular humanistic children’s tale ever written. . . . Except for its overall literary quality and excellent storytelling, which can be found in equally great measure in other classics, I consider this trilogy to have no virtues.”

Among the many topics that are handled wonderfully in this book, however, is the page (and there’s only one, mind you) on boys. Short and clear, this section is a practical guide for dealing with the other sex. The authors finish it with the perfect summary:

Overall, the truth is that there’s no great big mystery about boys. Boys are people. And like all people they are complicated. And that’s what makes being friends with other people interesting: you get to learn about how other people think and act, and, in the process, learn a little bit more about yourself.

Besides the fun, there’s also the practical. CPR basics, the Periodic Table, basic French phrases, reading tide charts, and negotiating a salary are all detailed here. The book avoids dry lists or flowery excitement, giving history, advice, and maybe a story to make the information come alive. That’s how I discovered the real Robert behind Robert’s Rules. This brilliant American was a Civil War engineer who organized, planned, and directed numerous projects, but: “His greatest challenge came when he was asked to preside over a church meeting. With no knowledge of how a meeting should be run, he bravely attempted to take charge, only to end up embarrassed and thoroughly humbled by the proceedings. He resolved never to attend another meeting until he knew something about parliamentary procedure.” Well, thanks to his ability to see his shortcomings and his desire to improve, our family meetings will (perhaps) stay on track.

Yes, this may be the Daring Book for Girls, but whether you’re eight or 80, this excellent read will keep you deeply engaged in a new escapade or happily reminiscing about thrilling quests gone by.