A New Friend Could Be Sitting Right Next to You

Hello, Readers!

This week 4th grade book club kids are discussing Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan. Not only is this story written by two authors, it is also told from the points of view of two fifth graders, Joe and Ravi. 

Joe and Ravi might be from very different places, but they’re both stuck in the same place: SCHOOL.

Joe’s lived in the same town all his life, and was doing just fine until his best friends moved away and left him on his own.

Ravi’s family just moved to America from India, and he’s finding it pretty hard to figure out where he fits in.

Joe and Ravi don’t– think they have anything in common – but soon enough they have a common enemy (the biggest bully in their class) and a common mission: to take control of their lives over the course of a single crazy week.

Source: back cover of book

Possible Discussion Questions:

1. Have you ever invited new kids to sit with you and your friends at lunch? Why or why not?
2. Dillon Samreen seems to be so well-liked. What problems does he have in spite of being so "popular"?
3. What problems did Joe have? What problems did Ravi have? How were their problems similar or different?
4. How did teachers, parents, and/or grandparents influence or affect Joe and Ravi? What role did they play in the boys' lives? Positive or negative?
5. What did Ravi mean when he said, "Assumptions are often wrong. There is more to me than meets the eye." How does that quote apply to other characters in this story (or other people in the real world)?
6. How many words do you think Joe and Ravi said to each other before they became friends?
7. What message do you take away from this book?
8. What is the best school lunch in your opinion?

Curriculum Connections:

• Life Skills (problem solving, communication, empathy, how to deal with bullying)
• Writing (multiple points of view, text structure)

What 4th Grade Book Club Members Thought:

• Our rating: 3.9 out of 5.0
• "My favorite part was when Ravi brought leeches into the class and made all of the girls scream." --Anjulia
• "One question I wondered was how bad was Ravi when he was in his old school?" --Theo
• "My favorite part was when Dillon said everything was an 'accident'." --Varun
• "One question I wondered was why is Dillon Samreen so mean?" --Anjulia
• "My favorite part was when Joe saw Dillon Samreen's peanut underwear." --Ryan
• "One question I wondered was did Joe ever become friends with Ravi?" --Ryan
• "Why does Dillon Samreen show his underwear?" --Jeb
• "My favorite part was the M&Ms." --Hailey
• "I want to talk about the M&Ms." --Addie

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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

If You Liked This Book, You Might Try Reading These:

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Change Can Be Hard: Seeing the World from a Dog's Point of View

Fenway and Hattie by Victoria J. Coe

Hello, Readers!

This week, 2nd and 3rd grade book club members are discussing Fenway and Hattie by Victoria J. Coe. This entertaining story is told from the point of view of a dog, Fenway, who is dealing with a lot of change. He needs his best friend, Hattie, to help him navigate all that is new, but even Hattie is changing. If you've ever wonder what a dog would say if it could talk, you'll love reading Fenway and Hattie.

Meet Fenway, a little dog with a GIANT personality!

Fenway and his beloved short human, Hattie, are the perfect pair. She loves romping in the Dog Park, playing fetch, and eating delicious snacks as much as he does. 

But when they move from the city to the suburbs, there’s bad news. While Fenway’s hard at work deterring intruders and battling a slippery floor, Hattie starts changing. She hangs out in a squirrely tree house. She plays ball without him. What could be happening?

Crushed and confused, Fenway sets out on a mission. He’s going to get his Hattie back and nothing will stop him—not the Wicked Floor, not the dreaded Gate, not even a giant squirrel!

Get a dog’s-eye view of the world in this hilarious and heartfelt story about two best friends who learn that big changes aren’t always easy, but sometimes trying new things can get you everything you want.

Source: http://www.penguin.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Classroom-Guide-to-Fenway-and-Hattie-Sept-2015.pdf

Possible Discussion Questions:

1. What happened in Fenway and Hattie that surprised you? Why were you surprised?
2. What did this story make you wonder?
3. How has the story changed the way you think or act?
4. Fenway notices changes in the place they live. What are some of the similarities and differences between the apartment and the house?
5. What are some of Fenway's strategies or plans to get the old Hattie back?
6. What are some challenges that Hattie faces?
7. What did Hattie and Angel learn in this story?
8. Both Fenway and Hattie change from the beginning of the story to the end. How did Hattie change? How did Fenway change?

Curriculum Connections:

• Dogs (animals' needs, caring for a pet, communication)
• Social Skills and Character Development (friendship, problem solving, kindness, coping with moving or change)
• Visit author Victoria J. Coe's website to learn more about her and the books she writes.

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

• Our rating: 3.71 out of 5 - It was okay for some and others said it was good.
• "My favorite part was the wicked floor." --Caleb
• "My favorite part was when Fenway snapped the leash in half trying to save Hattie from the ice cream truck." --Rivian
• "I wondered why Fenway suddenly started liking walks at the end." --Sanika
• "My favorite part was when the brown truck keeps on following Fenway and Hattie." --Jake
• "My favorite part was that Fenway thought that his new backyard was a dog park." --Valeria
• "One question I wondered was why did they move?" --Nathan
• "My favorite part was when Fenway saw the wicked floor." --Boris

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