Embrace What Makes You Different, and Don't Be Afraid to Show It to the World

Forget Me Not by Ellie Terry

Hello, Readers!

This week 5th grade book club kids are discussing Forget Me Not by Ellie Terry. The story is told from two points of view (Callie and Jinsong) an d in two different formats (free verse and prose) over the course of a school year. Ellie Terry captures the true personalities of middle school students in her well-developed, realistic characters. Especially significant in this book is the incorporation of a character with Tourette syndrome and the message that we should "embrace what makes you different, and don't be afraid to show it to the world."

It would be nice

to stay in one place

long enough to make a best friend . . .

Astronomy-loving Calliope June has Tourette syndrome, so she sometimes makes faces or noises that she doesn't mean to make. When she and her mother move yet again, she tries to hide her TS. But it isn't long before the kids at her new school realize she's different. Only Calli's neighbor, who is also the popular student body president, sees her as she truly is--an interesting person and a good friend. But is he brave enough to take their friendship public?

As Calli navigates school, she must also face her mother’s new relationship and the fact that they might be moving—again—just as she starts to make friends and finally accept her differences.

Source: book flap; book design by Anna Booth; cover art by Oana Befort

Possible Discussion Questions:

1. What is Tourette syndrome? What symptoms of TS does Calli have? What advice does Calli's doctor (and mom) give her?
2. Describe Calli's background experiences and relationship with her family members.
3. What does Jinsong think of Calli? Does his thinking change? Why is he struggling with being Calli's friend?
4. Why does Calli's mom cut her hair, and how does Calli feel about it?
5. What role does Beatriz play in this story? Why does Calli consider Beatriz to be a beast? Why do you think Beatriz is so mean to Calli?
6. Where do you think Jinsong goes wrong in this story?
7. What surprised you as you read this story?
8. Author Ellie Terry has TS. How do you think that impacted this story?
9. What message do you take away from this book?

Curriculum Connections:

• Life Skills (problem solving, communication)
• Science (rocks and minerals, the moon, flowers)
• Neurological Disorders (Tourette syndrome)
• Writing (multiple points of view, text structure, free verse poetry)

What 5th Grade Book Club Members Thought:

• Our rating: 4.94 out of 5.0
• "One question I wondered was why did her mom come back from Vegas with a new HUSBAND?!" --Alexa
• "Did Calli know that Jinsong liked her." --Katie
• "I want to talk about Tourette syndrome." --Aditi
• "One question I wondered was why does Calli use poetry so much?" --Alex
• "I want to talk about how Beatriz was referred to as a beast." --Alex
• "One question I wondered was what other books the author writes." --Jordyn
• "I want to talk about how her mom cut her hair." --Katie
• "The message I took away from this book was: We all have differences, and that's okay." --Aditi
• "I would rate this book 777 out of 5." --Alex
• "I wondered why does Jinsong like Calli?" --Sophie
• "I would rate this book 200,000,000 out of 5." --Katie
• "The message I took away from this book was: Be yourself." --Alexa

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Never Tell a Lie ... Unless You Have To

Full of Beans by Jennifer L. Holm

Hello, Readers!

This week 4th grade book club members are discussing Full of Beans by Jennifer L. Holm. Full of Beans seamlessly blends historical and cultural information into a humorous story that takes place in Key West during the Great Depression.

The protagonist, Beans, is a very likable character who makes some mistakes and does the wrong things for the right reasons. He is a character who learns and grows—like any child would.

Beans Curry has plans. Big plans. He owns this town. He and his gang of barefoot buddies know everyone in Key West, and they know how to get things done -- and get paid.

Most of the time, anyway.

Now it's the middle of the Great Depression, and times are tough. There are no jobs and everyone is out for themselves, which means it's hard for a kid to make a cent. Luckily, Beans isn't any kid.

But not every plot goes according to plan . . .

Source: book jacket

Possible Discussion Questions:

1. From the beginning of the book, we learn how Beans feels about adults? How would you describe his attitude? Why do you think Beans feels this way?
2. What is going in in Key West (and the rest of the country for that matter) that would cause the garbage to pile up all around town?
3. How is Termite an important character in this story?
4. “Everyone was a salesman in this town,” Beans tells the reader. (p. 29) Explain why. What are the different things the kids try to sell? Do any of their ideas work out? Why, or why not?
5. Johnny Cakes proposes work to Beans on three different occasions. What does Beans decide to do, and do you agree with his decisions?
6. Why do you think Beans likes going to the movies? Why do you think the leper, Murray, is so secretive when he meets Beans at the movies?
7. Describe the ongoing conflict between Dot and Beans. How does it continue to escalate? Explain how it is resolved.
8. Describe the members of the Diaper Gang and explain what they do. Why is this business successful?
9. How do the kids help with the New Dealers’ project? What is the result of their help?
10. How does the town begin to change once the tourists arrive?
11. How does Beans' thinking change from the beginning to the end of the story?

Curriculum Connections:

• Social Studies (Great Depression, geography of Florida, the New Deal, prohibition)
• Health and Science (rheumatic fever, leprosy, stroke)
• Writing (author Jennifer L. Holm, writing multiple projects related to one topic, character development, metaphors)

What 4th Grade Book Club Members Thought:

• Our rating: 3.9 out of 5.0
• "One question I wondered was how do the marble games work?" --Addie
• "The character I liked the most was Too Bad because he messes up almost everything." --Jeb
• "I want to talk about how they changed Key West." --Hailey
• "Who was better? Baby Leroy or Shirley Temple?" --Varun
• "The character I liked the most was Pork Chop because he has a funny attitude." --Jack
• "One question I wondered was did Johnny Cakes get caught?" --Jeb
• "I want to talk about the quote 'Grown ups are lying liars.'" --Ryan
• "The character I like the most was Buddy because he screamed." --Theo
• "I wondered how many kids helped." --Hailey
• "Did Dot end up playing the Keepsies?" --Ryan
• "I want to talk about Johnny Cakes actions." --Varun
• "The character I liked the most was Beans because he was sneaky." --Addie

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A Skunk, A Third Grader, and Lots of Learning about Points of View, Empathy, and Understanding Others

A Boy Called Bat written by Elana K. Arnold with drawings by Charles Santoso

Hello, Readers!

This week our second and third grade book club members are discussing A Boy Called Bat by Elana K. Arnold. This book is the first in a series starring an authentic, unforgettable autistic character. The story brings empathy and understanding to the forefront as it encourages readers to understand multiple points of view, communicate, and help each other. Readers will love the characters in this book, but they will also be reminded of how good it feels when we taking time to understand others.

For Bixby Alexander Tam (nicknamed Bat), life tends to be full of surprises—some of them good, some of them not so good. Today, though, is a good surprise day. Bat’s mom, a veterinarian, has brought home a stray baby skunk, which she needs to take care of until she can hand him over to a wild animal shelter. 

But the minute Bat meets the kit, he knows they belong together. And he’s got one month to show his mom that a baby skunk just might make a pretty terrific pet.

Source: book jacket

Possible Discussion Questions:*

1. What is Bat’s main interest? What is Bat's career goal?
2. Do you think some of Bat’s senses are more sensitive than yours? Less sensitive? The same? 
3. How does Bat feel about experiencing the sights, sounds, and smells of the clinic compared to when he is at school? Why?
4. Why does Bat’s mom think his dresser drawers are a mess? Why does Bat think they are organized? Is either one right or wrong? Why or why not?
5. How did Thor help Bat grow emotionally? What changes did you see within Bat and his actions after getting Thor?
6. What persuasive techniques did Bat use throughout the book to try to get his mom to agree to let him keep Thor?
7. What makes Mr. Grayson a good teacher in general, and what makes him a good teacher specifically for Bat?
8. Bat’s teacher Mr. Grayson has an “open-door Babycakes policy” in his classroom. What does that mean? How does Bat feel about Babycakes?
9. Even though Bat and Israel don’t understand how to interact with each other well, they eventually become friends. How does their shared interest in animals help? How does Mr. Grayson help?
10. Although Bat has difficulty understanding the emotion in a facial expression, he understands other body language well.  How does he know he can trust Israel with Thor?
11.  Bat’s dad says, “you sure inherited my sweet tooth,” but what he means is “you sure inherited my liking for sweets.” Why does Bat find this figure of speech funny?

*Some discussion questions based on Walden Pond Press Educator's Resource for A Boy Called Bat

Curriculum Connections:

• Life Skills (communication, appreciating differences, problem solving, listening, understanding other points of view)
• Science (skunks, animal needs)
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (neurodiversity)

What 2nd and 3rd Grade Book Club Members Thought:

• Our rating: 3.8 out of 5
• "My favorite part was when Bat finally made a friend." --Sanika
• "One question I wondered was why Mr. Grayson had his face squinched up." --Rivian
• "One question I wondered was why Bat's mom and dad got divorced." --Nathan
• "My favorite part was when his mom said, 'Look in my eyes.'" --Boris
• "My favorite part was that Bat got a skunk and loved it." --Valeria
• "I wondered, was the skunk going to spray Bat." --Joliz
• "My favorite part was when they went over to their dad's house and watched the baseball game. Cause I like baseball." --Jake
• "One question I wondered was if Bat got to keep Thor." --Sanika
• "My favorite part was when Bat got to know Thor." --Nathan

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