When I was a kid, my sister and I spent summers at the library. We went every morning and checked out as many books as we could carry. We’d read all afternoon, then go back the next day and start over. We read so much the librarian in charge of the summer reading program thought we were padding our numbers and asked to speak to our mom.

My oldest daughter is nothing like that.

Don’t get me wrong. She’s a great kid. Musical, athletic, outgoing and talented in ways I’ll never be. But reading is not her big thing.

This pains me. I did all the things parents are supposed to do to raise a reader. I read to her, took her to the library, filled our house with books and let her see me reading. No dice.

So this summer, I resorted to bribery. Now in middle-school, she’s old enough to want certain things but young enough to lack the necessary cash. She especially wanted these shoes. I admired their fabulosity, but questioned their practicality and wasn’t about to buy them. Sulking ensued – hers and mine.

Enter, The List.

It contained 26 books. For each book she read, I promised $5. I spent a lot of time crafting the list. I wanted books she’d like and books I’d feel good about her reading. I drew from many sources. My favorites. Books getting a good buzz now. Topics that matched her interests. And a few I hadn’t read that seemed promising.

My disclaimer: In no way do I claim this is a comprehensive review of middle-grade or YA literature. It’s not. It’s just one mom’s attempt to match her daughter with some books that might get her excited.

Did it work? Yes and no.

She started with dollar signs in her eyes and a pledge to read every book on the list. She didn’t make it. Some of the shorter books got read first. Some she finished only for the money.

But there was only one book she just couldn’t make herself finish. And there were others she didn’t like at first, which grew on her. And we talked. About whether we’d want a savvy like Mibs had and why John and Lorraine acted the way they did to Mr. Pignati.

She learned to reserve books online. And found other books, not on the list, that she read and enjoyed, including two graphic novel series.

Then, at a bookstore, she said, “A lot of those books on your list are displayed here. That’s cool.”

She earned enough to buy the shoes, which made her the happiest pre-teen in Wisconsin for a few days. And we agreed to continue our deal during the school year, which made me a happy mom.

She’s currently on page 54 of My Side of the Mountain and just informed me she’d have to be very hungry to trap and kill a deer.

Oh, and she wants to know when we can visit the library. She has more books to pick up.

Maybe my work here is done.