February Book Club Grades 5-6: H.I.V.E.

For February's Book Club, we read H.I.V.E.: Higher Institute of Villainous Education by Mark Walden. Andrew, Jared, Julia, Kelsey, Liam, Owen, Rileigh, and Zoe were present. Please find some of our conversation below.

Otto and Wing seem to take their abductions in stride. Do you think this is an indicator of their adventures (and revealed backstories) to come?

-It is.
-I would be like "oh, I can go to a cool school for 6 years and don't have to do LA homework!"
-No, I would scream my head off.
-I'd probably try to beat up the guards who are guarding me. And then I'd get shot again. Then I'd play it all cool.  

As aforementioned, the story begins with Otto waking up and having no idea how he got where he is. Use this idea to start a new story of your own.

-They then read their stories to the group...They were all over the map and quite amusing.

When the new students arrive at H.I.V.E., they are introduced to many strange things, one of them being the H.I.V.E.mind. How would you feel knowing that an AI like H.I.V.E.mind was watching you all the time: safe or intimidated?

-I wouldn't care because I would know that it wasn't a human watching me like a stalker
-I wouldn't mind
-I would be kind of freaked out knowing that a creepy robot was watching me all the time
-I would be intimidated because it's a thing watching your every move
-I would feel intimidated and stalked
-It would feel creepy for me because they had to get dressed in front of it
-I would feel the opposite of safe; it could be dangerous since it has thoughts

      

When the children first arrive at H.I.V.E., Dr. Nero uses the following words to describe them... cunning, mischievous, villainous, undesirable, wicked. Do you think that Dr. Nero is accurate or are these just misunderstood kids?

-Half thought they were misunderstood
-Half thought they were villainous and wicked

Dr. Nero might have written a private letter to the parents of the each pupil, inviting them to send the children to H.I.V.E. What might this letter say?

-They then read their varied letters. Some were positive, starting with a "your child will be cared for" to "your child is a murderous villain and I will make him/her even worse". One letter began with an amusing "Hello there,"!

In Chapter 4, Otto finds some textbooks that are in use at the school. Titles include: Deathtraps: Their Use and Care and Elementary Evil. Could you write one of the pages from these manuals? Can you think of another appropriate title for a book in use at H.I.V.E.?

-They then read their suggestions.

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

-5
-3
-5
-5
-5
-5
-5
-4 

On March 9, we will meet at 3:00 p.m. to discuss Magisterium: The Iron Trial by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare.

"Warned away from magic all of his life, Callum endeavors to fail the trials that would admit him to the Magisterium only to be drawn into its ranks against his will and forced to confront dark elements from his past." - summary

Please be sure to pick up your copy of the book and register at the Circulation Desk so that Miss Lisa can get enough snacks.