Multicultural Kid Travels Down the Bumpy Road Called "Growing Up"

Hello Readers!

This week, third grade book club members are discussing Grace Lin's book The Year of the Dog. Although Lin's debut novel was published nearly ten years ago, it still holds true as a classic story that explores themes such as friendship, self-esteem, multiculturalism, and self-expression.

This enjoyable and funny novel follows a young girl's adventures during the Chinese Year of the Dog. Pacy (also called Grace) is both Taiwanese and American, but most people think she is Chinese. Her multicultural background leaves her feeling confused about who she is. Pacy celebrates the Lunar New Year with her family, and she finds out that this is the year she is supposed to "find herself." As the year goes on, Pacy struggles to find her talent, makes a new best friend, and discovers just why the Year of the Dog is a lucky one for her after all. In an author's note following the story, Grace Lin explains that she wrote this mostly autobiographical book "because it was the book I wished I had had when I was growing up, a book that had someone like me in it."

You can preview our discussion questions here. Please visit the Grade 3 page for links to Grace Lin's web site and information about the Chinese zodiac. In the video below, you can watch Grace Lin speak about growing up, why she wrote The Year of the Dog, and using books as both windows and mirrors.

Happy reading!

Second Graders Saddle Up for Kate DiCamillo's First Tale from Deckawoo Drive

Hello Readers!

Yippie-i-oh! This week second grade book club members are discussing Leroy Ninker Saddles Up, the first book in the Tales from Deckawoo Drive series by Kate DiCamillo (author of Because of Winn Dixie, The Tale of Despereaux, and the Mercy Watson series).

In this story we meet Leroy Ninker, a man with a dream to be a cowboy. He has a hat, a lasso, and boots, but what he doesn’t have is a horse—until he meets Maybelline, that is, and then it’s love at first sight. Maybelline loves spaghetti and sweet nothings, and she loves Leroy, too. But when Leroy forgets the third and final rule of caring for Maybelline, disaster ensues. Can Leroy wrestle fate to the ground, rescue the horse of his heart, and lasso loneliness for good?

Once again, DiCamillo entertains us with loveable characters, enriching words, and laugh-out-loud situations. To preview our discussion questions, please click here. Links to Kate DiCamillo's and illustrator Chris Van Dusen's web sites can be found on the Grade 2 page.

Happy reading!

My boys and I meeting Kate DiCamillo, Seattle Public Library, May 2013

Witty and Loveable Genius Creatively Muddles His Way Through Grief, Shakespeare, and Middle School Tribulations

Hello Readers!

This week our fifth grade book club members are meeting to discuss A Year in the Life of a Complete and Total Genius by Canadian author, Stacey Matson. Arthur Bean is a genius - it's just that no one else realized this quite yet. He's going to be a world-famous author, and the first step is to win this year's story-writing contest. What he writes is pretty funny, but it gets him into trouble too.

Like with his English teacher.

And the school newspaper advisor.

And cool girl Kennedy.

And Arthur's number one nemesis, Robbie Zack.

Through a variety of formats, including letters, email exchanges, "SEE ME" notes, and doodles, the reader gets to enter the hilarious and often mixed-up mind of Arthur Bean, creative genius. Come the end of 7th grade, Arthur realizes that everyone has different strengths, occasionally our enemies are our best friends, and sometimes life is "never going to be okay," but you can "hope it can be easier." I think middle-grade readers will appreciate Arthur's wit, honesty, and creative attempts at reaching his goals. His teacher says at the end of their year together, that it was a learning experience for her, too. As the reader, watching Arthur grow across the school year, I must say I concur. :)

This debut novel by Stacey Matson is a creative winner! It is the first in the "Genius" triology, and the second book, Scenes from the Epic Life of a Total Genius, is due out in the US this summer.

To preview our discussion questions, click here. Visit the Grade 5 page for more links to Stacey Matson's website and other information related to the book. Happy reading!