June Grades 5-6 Book Club: The Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark by Ridley Pearson

In June, we discussed The Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark by Ridley Pearson. Cecilia (and Cameron), Courtney, Kelsey, and Rileigh were present. Please find some of the comments about the book below. 

1. Discuss the character traits that allow Finn to assume the role as leader of the DHI (Disney Host Interactive) teen group. During their first meeting, Wayne recognizes Finn’s potential for leadership and shares this with him. In your opinion, what is his motivation in doing so? Do you think Finn is the leader Wayne predicts he will be? Use specific evidence from the story to support your opinion.

-He definitely is the leader. 
-He takes charge.
-He's always suspicious.
-He wants to impress others (he doesn't like to let down his mother).

2. Describe Wayne. Is he an important character? Explain your position. Predict what role he will ultimately have in assisting the DHIs as they fight to defeat the Overtakers.

-He's mysterious and important. He is a very big help to the kids.
-He's a person that works at Disney World. He was a friend of Walt Disney.
-He gives the teens information but doesn't give the whole story. He makes them work for their success.

3. Consider the story’s setting. Does the Disney World location seem fitting? Would the story work as well if the setting were changed? Offer an alternate setting and make a case for why that location would be appropriate for the story.

-The story would not work as well if it weren't in Disney World. 
-Disney Land because it is extremely similar to Disney World.
-No where else would be as fitting because there would be different villains and the story would be completely different.
-They could go to Universal and get chased by Voldemort in the Harry Potter experience. 
-You need someplace that has villains.
-A zoo in which all of the animals turn evil.

4. In your opinion, are there any benefits to becoming a DHI? If so, what might those be? Would you be interested in a similar opportunity? Why or why not?

 -You can walk through walls and I would take the opportunity to become one.
-I would like to walk through walls and scare people out of their pants.
-I would love to have a Fast Pass and all of that behind the scenes access
-I would like to be a DHI because you could scare people and also it would be cool to walk through people and cut the line.
-You can get into animal pens and pet the tigers and other animals. They cannot attack you because you're a hologram.
 
5. The Kingdom Keepers contains a number of characters who exhibit a variety of strengths or skills. In what ways do their personalities complement Finn’s and make the DHI group complete? Who most impresses you with their strength or skill? Explain your choice.

 -Finn rescues people from Space Mountain. It's dark there. And he rescued Maybeck.
-The whole group works together really well.

6. Consider the Overtakers. Why are they so dangerous? How do they use technology against the DHIs? In what ways is this effective? In your opinion, what is their ultimate goal?

-They have an evil witch.
-They use technology to trick the DHIs. 
-The Overtakers want to take over Disney World. That is their goal.
-The Overtakers will overtake. Their name says it all.

7. Disney stories and films are ripe with evil villains. Consider Maleficent. What makes her the ideal villain? Though the novel doesn’t specifically address other villainous characters working in collaboration with her, who else do you predict will be discovered as an Overtaker? In your opinion, what are some reasons the author chose to include these characters?

-She is a horrible witch.
-She's a Disney dementor or Voldemort.
-Cruella de Ville
-Ursulla

8. Using the phrase, “This is a story about . . . ” supply five words to describe The Kingdom Keepers. Explain your choices. 

-Adventurous, magical, powerful, funny, old
-Adventurous, weird, geeky, useful, secretive
-Awesome, crazy, amazing, suspenseful, out of this world
-Awesome, futuristic, super-awesome, weird, adventurous 

On a scale of 1-10, what would you rank this book?

10
9.99523
10
9.999999999999 

In July, we will be reading The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt. We will be meeting on July 8th at 3:00 p.m.

"During the 1967 school year, on Wednesday afternoons when all his classmates go to either Catechism or Hebrew school, seventh-grader Holling Hoodhood stays in Mrs. Baker's classroom where they read the plays of William Shakespeare and Holling learns much of value about the world he lives in."

Please be sure to sign up for Book Club so that Miss Lisa can buy enough snacks!

June Grades 5-6 Book Club Suggestions

Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan

In the tradition of Out of My Mind, Wonder, and Mockingbird, this is an intensely moving middle grade novel about being an outsider, coping with loss, and discovering the true meaning of family.
Willow Chance is a twelve-year-old genius, obsessed with nature and diagnosing medical conditions, who finds it comforting to count by 7s. It has never been easy for her to connect with anyone other than her adoptive parents, but that hasn’t kept her from leading a quietly happy life . . . until now.

Suddenly Willow’s world is tragically changed when her parents both die in a car crash, leaving her alone in a baffling world. The triumph of this book is that it is not a tragedy. This extraordinarily odd, but extraordinarily endearing, girl manages to push through her grief. Her journey to find a fascinatingly diverse and fully believable surrogate family is a joy and a revelation to read.

 

This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki

Every summer, Rose goes with her mom and dad to a lake house in Awago Beach. It's their getaway, their refuge. Rosie's friend Windy is always there, too, like the little sister she never had. But this summer is different. Rose's mom and dad won't stop fighting, and when Rose and Windy seek a distraction from the drama, they find themselves with a whole new set of problems. One of the local teens - just a couple of years older than Rose and Windy - is caught up in something bad... Something life threatening. It's a summer of secrets, and sorrow, and growing up, and it's a good thing Rose and Windy have each other.

 

The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt

Meet Holling Hoodhood, a seventh-grader at Camillo Junior High, who must spend Wednesday afternoons with his teacher, Mrs. Baker, while the rest of the class has religious instruction. Mrs. Baker doesn’t like Holling—he’s sure of it. Why else would she make him read the plays of William Shakespeare outside class? But everyone has bigger things to worry about, like Vietnam. His father wants Holling and his sister to be on their best behavior: the success of his business depends on it. But how can Holling stay out of trouble when he has so much to contend with? A bully demanding cream puffs; angry rats; and a baseball hero signing autographs the very same night Holling has to appear in a play in yellow tights! As fate sneaks up on him again and again, Holling finds Motivation—the Big M—in the most unexpected places and musters up the courage to embrace his destiny, in spite of himself.

 

 

May Grades 5-6 Book Club: Honey by Sarah Weeks

For May's Book Club, we read Honey by Sarah Weeks. Cece, Courtney, Kelsey and Rileigh were present. This is some of what we discussed.

My favorite character was:

-Melody because she wouldn't stop trying to figure out who Honey was.
-I didn't read the whole book but I liked Bee Bee, because she made her own nail polish.
-I also liked Mo because he's cute.
-My favorite character was Miss McKenna because she's very caring. She was concerned about Melody.

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

-I would be Bee Bee, because she makes her own nail polish.

-I would be Mo because he's a dog and I like dogs.

-I like the name Mo. It sounds funny.

-I would be Mo or Melody.

If I could change one scene in the book, it would be:

-I would change where Melody says to her new teacher that she knew her secret (because she doesn't really know her secret).
-When her dad tells Melody that his girlfriend is Miss McKenna, it would be funny if he said that it was Miss Hogan.
-When her grandfather is smoking in the garage and says he's looking for the hammer.
-I would change when her grandfather made the tuna noodle casserole that made everyone who ate a lot of it sick.

The character I wouldn’t want to mix nail polishes with (I don't really like):

-Miss Hogan. (Melody's mean teacher).

-I wouldn't want to mix nail polishes with Mo because he'd make a mess.

The one character I would want to be happy forever is:

-Mo, because he's a dog and deserves happiness.
-Melody, because her mother died when she was young and the whole book, she thought her dad liked a truly awful person.
-Teeny Nelson because she's an annoying little girl who deserves happiness.
-Melody's mom should be forever happy in Heaven.

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

-5
-5 billion
-pi x 10
-1

For June's Book Club, we will be reading The Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark by Ridley Pearson.

Thirteen-year-old Finn Whitman and four other young teens have been transformed into holograms to be guides for visitors to Disney World. When Finn is unexpectedly transported to the Magic Kingdom in his hologram form, Wayne, an Imagineer, tells him that he and the other guides must save the park from the scheming witch Maleficent and the Overtakers.

We will be meeting on Wednesday, June 17 at 3:00 p.m. Please note that this is the third week of the month. Copies of the book will be available behind the Circulation Desk.

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.