April Grades 5-6 Book Club: The Witch's Boy by Kelly Barnhill

For the April Book Club, we read The Witch's Boy by Kelly Barnhill. Cecilia, Courtney, Isabella, Julia, Kelsey, and Rileigh were present. We used the Algonquin Young Reader questions to lead our discussion: 

1. Ned is always compared with his brother and referred to as “the wrong boy” by everyone around him. Even Áine’s mother, who never meets Ned, calls him that on her deathbed. Have you ever felt unfairly compared with another person? Have you ever compared one person and another, perhaps unfairly?

-I've been treated unfairly by my sisters because they usually take over my playdate. Everyone votes for them because they are so cute.

-If I have a playdate with Kelsey, everybody wants to play with Kelsey.

-I'm not super-sporty. In gym, no one ever picks me first. All the same people get picked first.

2. At the end of chapter 2, Tam’s soul is stitched to Ned’s body. What did you think the consequences would be for Ned? Were you surprised by what happened to him?

-He was stuttering, not matter how hard he tried to talk.

-I was not surprised. His stuttering words are mixed with his brother's. He has double words; hence, the stutter. And he can't read because he has double vision from being mixed with brother.

3. Many characters, such as Sister Witch, the Queen, and the Bandit King, are never called by their actual names. Why do you think Kelly Barnhill chose to name her characters this way? Can you think of people in your life or in other stories that aren’t often referred to by their given names?

-I call Jayden Jay-Dog.

-I call my brother Cam, not Cameron.

-Murph, Ri-fi, Smurf, Izzie, KK, Kelpie
-My grandma Margaret is Peg
-I only learned that Cassia given name is Pennington

4. While Áine is a very pragmatic girl, Ned is timid and clumsy. How do their personalities complement one another on their journey? Did you identify with either Áine or Ned as you were reading?

-I am timid.

-Áine was brave and daring while Ned was always questioning things. When it came to Wolf, the roles were reversed.

-I am like Áine and Ned mixed together. I am timid but not clumsy.

5. When Áine first meets Ned and the wolf, she’s mistrustful of both. But by the end, all three are friends. At what point do you think her opinion of Ned, and her opinion of the wolf, changed? Have you ever changed your mind about someone the more you got to know him or her?

-The first day of school, I sat in Kelsey's spot at lunch. Kelsey was mad at me. I thought she was mean but the more I got to know her, I realized she's nice.

-When I first met her, I thought Julia was poor. I just wanted another friend so I overlooked it. And I thought she was annoying. But now we are better friends.

-There's a kid in the class who was really annoying and bossy. He's not as annoying anymore.

6. Why do you think the Queen and King Ott behave so differently? In the beginning of chapter 6, it’s mentioned that even when the Queen took the throne at the young age of seventeen, she displayed her famous sardonic humor. Do you think that an older King Ott would also act as he had in youth?

-A young King Ott doesn't know what he's doing. An older King Ott would be less greedy and more in control.

-He would have acted way differently if he had been older because he would be wiser.

-He would have acted differently because he would have been more mature and thinking ahead about what he was doing. When you're a teenager, you're less mature.

7. Consider the pros and cons of Sister Witch’s small portion of magic. Would you ever want to possess this kind of magic in your day-to-day life? Why or why not?

-I would not want to possess the magic because it has consequences. Sometimes having a cool thing isn't always the best thing. When a man touched the magic and wished for gold, it filled up his body.

-I would want to possess that magic because the consequences could be good. When the man died from the golden nuggets, the witch gave the gold to a poor family so it was a good consequence for someone else.

-I would not want to possess it because there would be deadly consequences.

8. At the end of The Witch’s Boy, the Bandit King frees himself from his obsessive greed and makes the ultimate sacrifice for his daughter. Do you think the Bandit King was a villain or a hero—or both? Are there other characters in the novel that seemed either good or evil when you began reading but changed as the novel progressed?

-He was a bit of both. He tried to steal the magic but then he helped his daughter.

-I think in sacrificing yourself for your daughter, you would be a good person. However, most people weren't able to see the Bandit King's good qualities.

9. In the beginning and end of The Witch’s Boy, Ned longs to go out to the sea. Why do you think that is?

-He wants to go in the beginning because it's him and his brother. At the end, he wants to finish what he started.

-I agree with Rileigh, because in the beginning, he wants to go to sea with his brother. In the end, he's finishing up what he started.

10. What would you rate this novel, with 1 being the worst and 10 the best?

-7
-9
-10
-10
-9.5

We will meet on May 13th to discuss Honey by Sarah Weeks.

For a girl like Melody and a dog like Mo, life can be both sticky and sweet.

Melody has lived in Royal, Indiana, for as long as she can remember. It's been just her and her father, and she's been okay with that. But then she overhears him calling someone Honey -- and suddenly it feels like everyone in Royal has a secret. It's up to Melody and her best friend, Nick, to piece together the clues and discover why Honey is being hidden.

Meanwhile, a dog named Mo is new to Royal. He doesn't remember much from when he was a puppy . . . but he keeps having dreams of a girl he is bound to meet someday. This girl, he's sure, will change everything.


As always, snacks will be served. It is expected that kids finish the book before arriving. Also, bring ONE suggestion for the next Book Club discussion.

May Recommendations for Grades 5-6 Book Club

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

“Everybody is smart in different ways. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its life believing it is stupid.”
 
Ally has been smart enough to fool a lot of smart people. Every time she lands in a new school, she is able to hide her inability to read by creating clever yet disruptive distractions.  She is afraid to ask for help; after all, how can you cure dumb? However, her newest teacher Mr. Daniels sees the bright, creative kid underneath the trouble maker. With his help, Ally learns not to be so hard on herself and that dyslexia is nothing to be ashamed of. As her confidence grows, Ally feels free to be herself and the world starts opening up with possibilities. She discovers that there’s a lot more to her—and to everyone—than a label.


Jinx by Sage Blackwood

A young boy named Jinx encounters magic and danger as he grows up in the deep, dark forest known as the Urwald and discovers that the world beyond--and within--the Urwald is more complex than he could imagine.



The Secret Hum of a Daisy by Tracy Holczer

Twelve-year-old Grace and her mother have always been their own family, traveling from place to place like gypsies. But Grace wants to finally have a home all their own. Just when she thinks she's found it her mother says it's time to move again. Grace summons the courage to tell her mother how she really feels and will always regret that her last words to her were angry ones.

After her mother's sudden death, Grace is forced to live with a grandmother she's never met. She can't imagine her mother would want her to stay with this stranger. Then Grace finds clues in a mysterious treasure hunt, just like the ones her mother used to send her on. Maybe it is her mother, showing her the way to her true home.

March Grades 5-6 Book Club: Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson

For the March Book Club, we read Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson. Cecilia, Courtney, Isabella, Julia, Kelsey, and Rileigh were present. We used the recommended questions in the back of the book to lead our discussion: 

Much of the first part of the story takes place in the Cook Coffeehouse. Describe the activities that go on there before, during, and after the guests arrive.

-Coffee making
-Sleeping
-Cleaning
-Eat
-Serve food
-Take orders
-Talk
-Tell stories

At the time, no one really knew the true cause of the yellow fever epidemic. What are some of the possible causes suggested by various townspeople and doctors?

-One, the trash pile giving off toxic smells. Two, I thought that the yellow fever transferred from an animal to the humans
-From the heat
-Refugees

Toward the beginning of the story, Matilda wants to go to the market place in town. Why does she want to go there?

-To bump into Nathaniel Benson

Why does Mrs. Cook want Matilda to join her for tea at the Ogilvies'? Why does Matilda agree to join her that afternoon?

-To be nice
-To discuss something important
-Mrs. Cook wants Matilda to marry Collette's brother.
-She agreed to go to get out of her chores.

Throughout the book, Matilda and her mother never say they love each other, yet we know they do. What evidence is there in the story that the two feel deeply for each other?

-Matilda's mother wants her to do well in life
-Mrs. Cook has had a tough life.
-When Mrs. Cook gets sick, Matilda takes care of her and doesn't want to leave her. But her mother forces her to go.

In good times, how are the farmers outside the city dependent on the city dwellers of Philadelphia? How are the city-dwellers dependent on the farmers?

-The farmers are dependent on the city dwellers to buy their food and the city dwellers on dependent on the farmer for bringing them food.

Authors sometimes subject their characters to difficult tasks. What are two tasks Matilda accomplishes?

-She gets over the fever
-She gets over losing her grandfather
-She makes sure that her grandfather's body is taken care of respectfully
-She decides to open the coffeehouse with Eliza

What evidence is there in the story that grandfather enjoyed his earlier years as a soldier?

-He keeps talking about his soldier days
-He dresses like a soldier when he and Mattie leave for the farm

Matilda changes a great deal from the beginning of the novel to the end. Give three specific examples of those changes.

-She's working
-She acts like a big sister to Nell
-She has a thin layer of wanting to do things

During the story, the people of Philadelphia face many dangers, including the risks of disease, starvation, robbery, and assault. Describe a dramatic incident in which Matilda faces one of these dangers and point out the personal qualities that help her survive.

-When they were robbed, she got her grandfather's sword to cut the robber and try to protect her grandfather
-She got the yellow fever but her perserverence helps get her over it. She's stubborn

Based on what you know about Matilda's character and experiences throughout the story, what, to Matilda, would make a perfect day?

-Sleeping in, meeting Nathaniel, not doing chores, eat sweets and visit the waterfront. She would gossip with Eliza.

How would Matilda's life have changed if Mrs. Cook had stayed healthy and remained with her daughter at all times during her story?

-She wouldn't become brave
-She wouldn't have met Nell
-Her mother would have continued to shelter her

Do you think it is fair of the town council of Pembroke to prevent fever victims from escaping the city of Philadelphia and entering their town?

-They should have helped the citizens of Philadelphia
-They could just have the citizens of Pembroke stay inside if they were afraid
-Would Jamestown residents want to risk their lives if they could just close the bridges if there were a similar situation?
-Philadelphia was a major city in which people would be unable to segregate themselves. Jamestown is different.

We will meet on April 8th to discuss The Witch's Boy by Kelly Regan Barnhill.

When Ned and his identical twin brother tumble from their raft into a raging river, only Ned survives. Villagers are convinced the wrong boy lived. But when a Bandit King comes to steal the magic Ned’s mother, a witch, is meant to protect, it’s Ned who safeguards the magic and summons the strength to protect his family and community.

Meanwhile, across the enchanted forest that borders Ned’s village lives Áine, the resourceful and pragmatic daughter of the Bandit King, who is haunted by her mother’s last wordsto her: “The wrong boy will save your life and you will save his.” When Áine’s and Ned’s paths cross, can they trust each other long enough to stop the war that’s about to boil over between their two kingdoms?

As always, snacks will be served. It is expected that kids finish the book before arriving.

April Recommendations for Grades 5-6 Book Club

Listen, Slowly by Thanhha Lai

A California girl born and raised, Mai can't wait to spend her vacation at the beach. Instead, though, she has to travel to Vietnam with her grandmother, who is going back to find out what really happened to her husband during the Vietnam War. Mai's parents think this trip will be a great opportunity for their out-of-touch daughter to learn more about her culture. But to Mai, those are their roots, not her own. Vietnam is hot, smelly, and the last place she wants to be. Besides barely speaking the language, she doesn't know the geography, the local customs, or even her distant relatives. To survive her trip, Mai must find a balance between her two completely different worlds.


Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool

When Jack Baker’s father sends him from his home in Kansas to attend a boys’ boarding school in Maine, Jack doesn’t know what to expect. Certainly not Early Auden, the strangest of boys. Early keeps to himself, reads the number pi as a story, and refuses to accept truths others take for granted. Jack, feeling lonely and out of place, connects with Early, and the two become friends.

During a break from school, the boys set out for the Appalachian Trail on a quest for a great black bear. As Jack and Early travel deeper into the mountains, they meet peculiar and dangerous characters, and they make some shocking discoveries. But their adventure is only just beginning. Will Jack’s and Early’s friendship last the journey? Can the boys make it home alive?

A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd

Midnight Gulch used to be a magical place, a town where people could sing up thunderstorms and dance up sunflowers. But that was long ago, before a curse drove the magic away. Twelve-year-old Felicity knows all about things like that; her nomadic mother is cursed with a wandering heart.

But when she arrives in Midnight Gulch, Felicity thinks her luck's about to change. A "word collector," Felicity sees words everywhere---shining above strangers, tucked into church eves, and tangled up her dog's floppy ears---but Midnight Gulch is the first place she's ever seen the word "home." And then there's Jonah, a mysterious, spiky-haired do-gooder who shimmers with words Felicity's never seen before, words that make Felicity's heart beat a little faster.

Felicity wants to stay in Midnight Gulch more than anything, but first, she'll need to figure out how to bring back the magic, breaking the spell that's been cast over the town . . . and her mother's broken heart.

February Grades 5-6 Book Club: Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

For the February meeting of Book Club, we read Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson.  Cecilia, Isabella and Julia were present for the discussion.

Why has Jess gotten up early every morning during the summer?

-To practice his running so that he can be the fastest boy in 5th grade.
-When Leslie comes to school, Leslie becomes the fastest person in school.
-He also has to milk the cow Bessie and do chores.
-His sisters don't have to do any chores.

What is Jess's favorite teacher Miss Edmunds like? How is she different from the other teachers at Lark Creek Elementary?

-She's a music teacher. She's a hippie. 
-Jess has a secret kind of crush on her.
-She compliments everything you do even if you mess up, unlike the other teachers.
-Miss Edmunds doesn't make the students do anything. She wants them to participate and be who they are.

Why does Jess keep his drawing supplies hidden under his mattress? And why doesn't he dare show his drawings to his father?

-So that no one will take them.
-So that his sisters won't tease him.
-May Belle might take them.
-Because the last time he showed him his artwork, his father told him to be a man. 

In the beginning of the story, why doesn't Jess have any friends? Why does he try to avoid Leslie when she first tries to be friendly with him?

-Because he is mad at her for beating him in the race.
-Because he slipped on a banana peel. 

During the first week of school, Jess begins to change his mind about getting to know Leslie. Why do you think he changes his mind?

-Because she's nice and he realized she would be a good friend. 

A couple of months later, Jess comes to feel that "Leslie was more than his friend. She was his other, more exciting self-his way to Terabithia and all the worlds beyond" (p. 46). In your own words, what does this mean?

-It means that she is a really good friend.
-It means that they are closer than even siblings. They are the best of friends.
-It means that it's a special place for them to play and use their imagination.
-It's a place for them to get away from everything. It's a place for them to rule and be the boss and not have their parents boss them around.

Why do you think kids often make fun of others who are different? Do the students at your school have the same tendency as the students in Jess and Leslie's school?

-Because they are jealous of their personality.
-Kids who bully are often the ones who are unhappy.
-Some kids at our school can be a little bit mean to kids who are different. 

Leslie says to Jess, "We need a place. . .just for us. . . It might be a whole secret country, and you and I would be the leaders of it" (p. 39). In your own words, what does Terabithia represent to Jess and Leslie? Why is it so important to them?

-It's their make-believe world of fun and make believe.

At the end of the story, Jess uses wood planks to build a solid bridge to Terabithia. Why do you think he does this? Why does he decide to share Terabithia with May Belle? What does this show us about how he is changing?

-He built the bridge so that new visitors won't fall in. He brought May Belle because he loves his sister.
-He built the bridge to be safe. He built it to allow others to share it.
 

When Jess is overwhelmed with his feelings after Leslie's death, who helps him cope with his loss? How do each of these characters try to help him? Do you think any of them do help Jess cope with Leslie's death?

-At first, Jess was mad at the music teacher because she took Jess away from Leslie on the day of her death. His dad helped him cope. May Belle helped too.
-His dad was really helpful because he knew how much Jess liked to play with Leslie.
-Leslie's mom and dad also helped Jess.

In the past, some people have suggested that this book is inappropriate for children because it describes death, a topic that some children might not be able to handle. In your opinion, is Bridge to Terabithia an appropriate book for kids your age? How might reading about Jess's loss help students who have to face their own losses someday?

-It is an appropriate book. Leslie died in a kid-appropriate way (not a bloody, painful death).
-This book might be the first introduction to death for some people. 
-I'm afraid of death so that it scared me at first when I knew that Leslie was going to die. I think it's appropriate for ages 10 and up. It might help kids through their losses but it depends on who they are. Sometimes kids can't understand death. The way they die might also be an 
influence as well. 

A suggestion for April: Warriors: Into the Wild
Wednesdays in the Tower (Tuesdays in the Castle is the first)
Wonderstruck
After Happily Ever After
Owl

For the March meeting of Book Club, we will be reading Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson. In 1793 Philadelphia, sixteen-year-old Matilda Cook, separated from her sick mother, learns about perseverance and self-reliance when she is forced to cope with the horrors of a yellow fever epidemic. Book Club will be held on March 11 at 3:00 p.m. and, as always, snacks will be served.

January Grades 5-6 Book Club: El Deafo by Cece Bell

For the January Grades 5-6 Book Club, we read the book El Deafo by Cece Bell. Courtney, Izzie, Izzie, Rileigh, Kelsey, Laurel, Harry, Cecilia, Olivia, Evan, Julia and Nina were present. Here's what we discussed.

When did Cece lose her hearing? After losing her hearing, why does she talk differently?  

-When she was four.
-She was sick.
-She lost her hearing because she had meningitis.
-Because if she can't hear as well as she used to, she wouldn't be able to react to things the way she used to. She wouldn't be able to hear her own voice and know what she sounded like.



What are the pros and cons of the Phonic Ear? Overall, was the Phonic Ear something positive or negative for Cece? 

-My grandma taught a class of kids who had a Phonic Ear.

-I think it was a positive thing for her after a while. At first, I felt bad for her. But then she embraced it as a superpower.
-In the beginning, she felt weird that she had wires coming from her ears.
-People spoke slowly to her at times which really annoyed her.
 

Have you ever felt as if you were in a bubble of loneliness like Cece? When
was it? What did you do to help pop your bubble? Would you rather have a friend like
Laura or be in a loneliness bubble? 

-When I was in 3rd and 4th grade, I was bullied and I felt alone. People ganged up on me. I would like a friend like Laura because she liked everyone and she would have liked me.
-In my old school, I was kind of bullied. People made up something about an allergy that I didn't even have. And that spread and people made fun of me.
-There are 2 girl groups and 1 boy group in 5th grade. The groups don't talk to each other but they're not mean to each other. Everyone is friends.
-In Kindergarten, I had no friends. I tried to do something. And then I became friends with ____. 
-Nope.
-I felt that I was in a bubble of loneliness during the first day of kindergarten. But then I met new people. Then I started playing with _____.
-Sometimes on Fridays, when my cousins come over, they play with my brother and not with me. But then I play with my baby cousin instead and my loneliness bubble is burst.
-_____ has bullied me since I first met him. The only way to get him to stop was to get him to change his classes. He abused me during every single class.
-In 3rd grade, I had no friends when I moved here.

What are some misconceptions about deafness that other people have throughout El Deafo? 

-You can't hear; you're disabled.
-Speaking slowly and doing sign language.
-Talking slowly. And introducing someone by their disability.
-That just because she's deaf, she can't hear (even with the Phonic Ear). She's really no different from anyone else.


How does Cece’s view of the Phonic Ear change throughout the book? 

-At first, she thought that she had to hide her device. But then she decided to embrace it and decided not to hide it.



In her author’s note, Cece Bell writes that being different turned out to be a strength. She says, “Our differences are our superpowers.” Could you give examples of how a difference could become a superpower?

-I have braces. When I grow up, I'll have straight teeth. People won't think I'm weird anymore.
-I pulled on my earlobes so much that they became long. Then I thought that I had super hearing because of my longer ears.
-Because I'm short, I'm good at the limbo.
-In 3rd grade, I felt like I had short arms. With my short arms, I could do the flexed arm hang better.
-I'm tall, so I'm not good at crouching down low. But I can use my height to intimidate people.
-I'm short so in games, I can hide better.
-I'm tall so I can reach stuff.
-I'm taller, so I can keep stuff away from my sister.
-Nuttiness. It can be a superpower because I can confuse anyone.
-If someone has glasses, they can pretend that they have X-Ray vision.
-My superpower would be my ADHD. It makes my brain work faster.


Please rank this book from 1-5, with 5 being the best.

-(0) 1
-(1) 2
-(1) 3
-(5) 4
-(5) 5



Here's a short interview with the author, Cece Bell, explaining the story behind the story and some great words of advice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cnj5STG0SZo

For Book Club in February, we will be reading Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

"Jess Aarons has been practicing all summer so he can be the fastest runner in the fifth grade. And he almost is, until the new girl in school, Leslie Burke, outpaces him. The two become fast friends and spend most days in the woods behind Leslie's house, where they invent an enchanted land called Terabithia. One morning, Leslie goes to Terabithia without Jess and a tragedy occurs. It will take the love of his family and the strength that Leslie has given him for Jess to be able to deal with his grief."

Book Club will be meeting on Wednesday, February 11. Books will be available behind the Circulation Desk within the next few days. As always, snacks and good conversation will be provided at Book Club!

February Recommendations for Grades 5-6 Book Club

Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson  Book Trailer
During the summer of 1793, Mattie Cook lives above the family coffee shop with her widowed mother and grandfather. Mattie spends her days avoiding chores and making plans to turn the family business into the finest Philadelphia has ever seen. But then the fever breaks out.

Disease sweeps the streets, destroying everything in its path and turning Mattie's world upside down. At her feverish mother's insistence, Mattie flees the city with her grandfather. But she soon discovers that the sickness is everywhere, and Mattie must learn quickly how to survive in a city turned frantic with disease.



The Witch's Boy by Kelly Regan Barnhill
When Ned and his identical twin brother tumble from their raft into a raging river, only Ned survives. Villagers are convinced the wrong boy lived. But when a Bandit King comes to steal the magic Ned’s mother, a witch, is meant to protect, it’s Ned who safeguards the magic and summons the strength to protect his family and community.

Meanwhile, across the enchanted forest that borders Ned’s village lives Áine, the resourceful and pragmatic daughter of the Bandit King, who is haunted by her mother’s last words to her: “The wrong boy will save your life and you will save his.” When Áine’s and Ned’s paths cross, can they trust each other long enough to stop the war that’s about to boil over between their two kingdoms?


Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson Book Trailer
Jess Aarons has been practicing all summer so he can be the fastest runner in the fifth grade. And he almost is, until the new girl in school, Leslie Burke, outpaces him. The two become fast friends and spend most days in the woods behind Leslie's house, where they invent an enchanted land called Terabithia. One morning, Leslie goes to Terabithia without Jess and a tragedy occurs. It will take the love of his family and the strength that Leslie has given him for Jess to be able to deal with his grief.


The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne Valente Book Trailer
Twelve-year-old September lives in Omaha, and used to have an ordinary life, until her father went to war and her mother went to work. One day, September is met at her kitchen window by a Green Wind (taking the form of a gentleman in a green jacket), who invites her on an adventure, implying that her help is needed in Fairyland. The new Marquess is unpredictable and fickle, and also not much older than September. Only September can retrieve a talisman the Marquess wants from the enchanted woods, and if she doesn't . . . then the Marquess will make life impossible for the inhabitants of Fairyland. September is already making new friends, including a book-loving Wyvern and a mysterious boy named Saturday.