September Grades 5-6 Book Club: Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins

For September's Book Club, we read Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins. Andrew, Courtney, Elizabeth, Kelsey, and Rileigh were present.

Gregor’s life isn’t as easy or as happy as it used to be since his father disappeared. How has his life changed? Do you think these challenges in any way prepared him for his quest in the Underland?

-He didn't have his dad to teach him saxophone.
-Losing his father helped prepare him for harder times. When one of the Underlanders gives Gregor his dad's keychain, he was afraid to hope that his dad was still alive.He doesn't want to be let down again.
-I think he never thought realistically.
-Gregor wants to see his father again so much that that helped keep him going during the quest. Once he knew that his dad was alive, he wasn't going to let anything stop him.
-Knowing that his father was still alive gave him hope for the first time.

In the beginning of the story, Gregor believes his father will be back, but he has created a rule for himself that prohibits him from thinking about a future that includes his father. Why? How might this aid him in his quest? Does Gregor ever break his own rule?

-Breaking his own rule is arguable. You could say that he did or didn't break it. 
-He already believed that his father would be back; the Underlanders just helped him build on this belief.
-I think he doesn't want to grieve about his father having disappeared. He didn't want to have to think if what would happen if they found his dad dead.
-Getting into the Underland and finding out about his dad allowed to break his own rule. 
-I think the reason that Gregor made the rule so that he wouldn't have to think of all of the things that he could have been doing with his dad when he was gone. Disappointment could be inevitable.

What are some of the descriptions in the book that show how the Underlanders have adapted to their new environment? How do the adaptations help them survive? What might happen to them if they came back to the Overland?

-They to the rats by always washing themselves so the rats couldn't smell them. 
-You can see every vein in their bodies and they are so pale because there is no light in the Underland. 
-They made the city of Regalia out of things that were found in the Underland. Baths and toilets are made from the water that flows away from the city. 

The Underlanders see Gregor as the great warrior told of in the Prophecy of Gray, and because of that he is to lead the quest to prevent their annihilation. But Gregor sees himself differently—he says to Vikus, “You’ve got the wrong guy. Really, I promise you, I’m not the warrior.” Explain his feelings. Why is Vikus so convinced that Gregor is the right one?

-The prophecy is full of wordplay that can be taken for different meanings. The son of the sun is a big thing to them but no one knows for sure.
-Gregor sees himself as just another kid who has lost a family member. He lives with his mom, sisters and delusional grandma. 

How is Gregor like many soldiers who go off to war? Gregor has many qualities that we associate with the typical American hero. What are they? How are these traits different from those of Luxa and Henry?

-Because Gregor doesn't really believe in himself. He's not accustomed to his surroundings. Everyone else has made peace with who they are. Gregor is slightly insecure.
-Luxe and Henry are sure of themselves, they know who they are. They think very highly of themselves.
-He will do whatever it takes to find his dad and complete his mission. He will do his duty but he's not going to act like a servant to Luxe and Henry.

One of the most interesting characters in the novel is not human, but a rat that Vikus has enlisted to be the guide for the questers. Discuss Ripred’s traits that set him apart from the others, both rats and humans.

-He is sarcastic.
-He is lethal.
-He thinks ahead.
-He knows his facts about the other species who live Underland.

At one point, Ripred says, “Mutual need is a strong bond. Stronger than friendship, stronger than love.” What does he mean by this? In what ways do the various groups have mutual bonds that outweigh friendship and love? Do you think Ripred is wrong?

-Aries broke the bond to save Gregor. He risked being banished in order to be with someone who was good.
-Aries didn't save Henry who turned out to be evil.
-Luxe needs Vikus because she doesn't know how to run a kingdom.

Authors sometimes plant clues in a story to foreshadow future events. Often these clues can be very subtle and hard to pick up on. Look back in the story, and find things that Henry said and did that point to his treachery.

-He tried to kill Ripred even though Vikus trusted him with their lives. 
-If Gregor hadn't woken open, Ripred might be dead.
-The Prophecy of Bane is foretold by Luxe at the end of the book.

At the end of the story, Gregor does not accept Bartholomew of Sandwich’s sword, a gift from Vikus. Why? Even after the quest is over and Gregor has helped the Underlanders avoid annihilation, do you think Gregor thinks of himself as a warrior?

-No, Gregor just helps the Underlanders. He doesn't see himself as a warrior.
-His mom wont' let him have a pocketknife.
-He didn't think about the Prophecy of the Gray. He didn't think that he was responsible for it. He just did what he had to.

Rate this book between 1 and 5 with 5 being the best.

-5.5555
-5.9999
-5
-4
-5
-4 1/2
 
In October, we will be reading by Nightbird by Alice Hoffman . We will be meeting on Wednesday, October 14 at 4:00 p.m. Copies of the book will be available behind the Circulation Desk. Please register for Book Club so that Miss Lisa knows how many snacks to buy!
 
"Twig lives in Sidwell, where people whisper that fairy tales are real. After all, her town is rumored to hide a monster. And two hundred years ago, a witch placed a curse on Twig's family that was meant to last forever. But this summer, everything will change when the red moon rises. It's time to break the spell. What Other Authors Are Saying "I loved Nightbird. Such a clever mix of fantasy and reality; the fantasy is so persuasively meshed with the story that the reader accepts everything. Alice Hoffman enters brilliantly into the twelve-year-old mind and winds her account of a disordered family into the twists and turns of an elegantly crafted narrative in which past and present unite to solve a magically intriguing problem of witches, feathers and owls." -summary
 

October Grades 5-6 Book Club Suggestions

The Island of Dr. Libris by Chris Grabenstein

What if your favorite characters came to life? Billy’s spending the summer in a lakeside cabin that belongs to the mysterious Dr. Libris. But something strange is going on. Besides the security cameras everywhere, there’s Dr. Libris’s private bookcase. Whenever Billy opens the books inside, he can hear sounds coming from the island in the middle of the lake. The clash of swords. The twang of arrows. Sometimes he can even feel the ground shaking. It’s almost as if the stories he’s reading are coming to life! But that’s impossible . . . isn’t it? 

Nightbird by Alice Hoffman

Twig, aged twelve, is practically ignored by classmates and other residents of Sidwell, Massachusetts, but gets along fine with just her mother and brother, whose presence must be kept secret, until descendants of the witch who cursed her family move in next door and want to be her friends.

Kate Walden Directs: Night of the Zombie Chickens by Julie Mata

Kate Walden wants to be a famous film director. However, she has to deal with her mother's job of raising back yard chickens as well as a best friend who has recently been hanging with the popular girls in school. Without her main actress, and crazy chickens in the way, can she accomplish her movie making dreams?

August Grades 5-6 Book Club: Greenglass House by Kate Milford

For August's Book Club, we read Greenglass House by Kate Milford. Those attending were Courtney, Elizabeth, Kelsey and Rileigh.  Here are our thoughts...

If I could be a character from this book it would be:

-I would like to be Addie because she's a ghost. I want to be able to walk through walls.
-I want to be Clem because I love her hair and I want to be a cat burglar.
- Milo beause he is a foundling who knows nothing about himself and is trying to find out everything.
-I would like to be the ghost.
-I want to be a ghost but she has such a sad past.

Talk a little bit about family in this story. Could you relate to Milo at all?:

-I can relate to Owen because he didn't know that he had a family related to the house he went to. Once I met a cousin at a party that I didn't even know I was related to.
-Except for Mr. Vinge, it seemed like all the guests and people living at the inn are one big family. They are one big dysfunctional family.

Do you think that this story happens in our world or another one, one in which smugglers are commonplace?: 


-This probably took place in the 1900's.
-There was no TV or modern electronics.



What did you think of the guests? Were they interesting?:

-Two girls who came to the same place to compete for the same man. A couple of smuggler's from an underground train. A lady who went there for a magic item. 2 men who went for the same treasure. Yes, they are pretty interesting.

What do you think about the ending of the book? Was it a good conclusion to all of the adventures?:

-It was awesome.
-I was surprised that Meddy was a ghost. 
-It was a good conclusion.
-I liked how they outsmarted Mr. Vinge and his cronies. 
-I liked how they gave back Doc Holystone's final cargo.


Do you think that Meddy will visit other places when she's not at Greenglass House or does she just disappear?:

-She'll visit other places and help other kids. 

-I think that Meddy can't really leave the area around Greenglass House because that's where she died and that's where she's buried. She may be trapped there by rules of ghosts.

If you were Milo, would you tell your friends at school about Meddy?:

-No.
-I would wait and see if Meddy came back and showed herself to them. Then he could tell them that she was a ghost and her friend.
-It would be hard to keep the secret but if the subject never came up, I wouldn't say anything.
-I would be scared of being sent to a mental asylum.
 

Did you like the author's style? Did you like the bits of humor? How about the threat of violence at the end?:

-I liked the humor of the ghost face.
-I thought it might be boring. But it ended up being an interesting and captivating book. I liked the author's writing style.

 
What's Milo's/Negret's next adventure going to be?:

-Finding the mystery of the stolen underpants.
-Finding more treasure in the attic. There's a lot of cool stuff there.
-His next campaign mission should be exploring the house and finding out more (not dangerous) secrets about it.
-He should explore the dumbwaiter.


Please rate this book from 1-5, with 5 being the best:

-pi
-4.99999999939999995
-5
-5

The book for the next Book Club meeting is Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins. We will be meeting on Wednesday, September 9th at 4:00 p.m. Copies of this book will be available behind the Circulation Desk within the next few days. Please come with recommendations for October's Book Club selection. Thanks!