July Recommendations for Grades 5-6 Book Club

Seven Wonders: The Colossus Rises by Peter Lerangis
Teens Jack, Marco, Aly, and Cass begin a quest to find seven pieces of Atlantis's power that were hidden long ago and that will, if returned to Atlantis, save them from certain death due to the genetic abnormality that also gives them superior abilities.

The Apothecary by Maile Maloy
Follows a fourteen-year-old American girl whose life unexpectedly transforms when she moves to London in 1952 and gets swept up in a race to save the world from nuclear war.

The Notorious Benedict Arnold by Steve Sheinkin
Most people know that Benedict Arnold was America's first, most notorious traitor. Few know that he was also one of its greatest war heroes. This accessible biography introduces young readers to the real Arnold: reckless, heroic, and driven. Packed with first-person accounts, astonishing battle scenes, and surprising twists, this is a gripping and true adventure tale. The Notorious Benedict Arnold is the winner of the 2011 Boston Globe - Horn Book Award for Nonfiction.

May Book Club Discussion for Grades 5-6

We had a great discussion about Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. Ben, Cameron C. and Harry were present. We answered questions and came up with stories of our own based off of creepy old pictures Miss Lisa found online.

The next book club selection is the sequel, Hollow City by Ransom Riggs. We will be meeting on June 11th at 3:00 p.m.


Who is your favorite character?:

-Dr. Goulan because he was so weird and crazy. Or the Santa Claus wight because he was funny looking. He would scan all of the kids who would sit on his lap and see if they were peculiar.
-Emma and Jacob. And Grandpa Portman because he shot hollowghasts in the face and what's more awesome than that. He was afraid but he was able to overcome his fear.
-I liked Ricky and the Grandpa. Grandpa Portman was just awesome.

What was your favorite scene?:

-I liked the part where the hollowghast ripped apart the sheep in the shed when Emma and Jacob were hiding.
-I thought it was an overall good book and liked a bunch of the scenes.
-Any of the scenes with a lot of action were good.

If you could change one scene, what would it be?:

-I would change the scene where the Grandpa died. It would have changed the story.
-I would change the scene where Jacob almost got swallowed by the hallowghast. I would have had him been eaten and then cut his way out with the garden shears.
-

Who was your least favorite character?

-The mom. The parents are too strict.
-I agree.


If you could live in the same day over and over, the best day you've ever had, would you?

-I would live my birthday over and over. Or birthday and Christmas, alternating.
-No, I would not. I would get bored eventually.
-No, I would get bored.

If you were a peculiar but could pass as common, would you?

-I would.
-If my peculiar gift helped fight, I would join the fight to save the peculiars.
-I would fight if I had the chocolate touch.


Would you reread this book?

-Possibly.
-Definitely.
-Definitely not. I never reread books.

June Recommendations for Grades 5-6 Book Club

The Land of Stories by Chris Colfer: 
Through the mysterious powers of a cherished book of stories, twins Alex and Conner leave their world behind and find themselves in a foreign land full of wonder and magic where they come face-to-face with the fairy tale characters they grew up reading about.

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull:                                                                                                               When Kendra and Seth go to stay at their grandparents' estate, they discover that it is a sanctuary for magical creatures and that a battle between good and evil is looming.

Hollow City by Ransom Riggs: 

Having escaped Miss Peregrine's island by the skin of their teeth, Jacob and his new friends must journey to London (circa 1940), the "peculiar" capital of the world.

April Grades 5-6 Book Club: Bomb by Steve Sheinkin

We had a great discussion about Bomb: The Race to Build–and Steal–the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin. Ben, Cameron C., RG4., Eva, and Harry were present. It was a wide-ranging conversation about spying, bombs, war, and various other subjects too numerous to count. I let the conversation flow and left off the typing for today.

The next book club selection is Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. We will meet on May 14th at 3:00 p.m. "A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of very curious photographs. It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children , an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow--impossible though it seems--they may still be alive. A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows." 

March Grades 5-6 Book Club: The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Hidden Gallery

We had a very interesting discussion about The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Hidden Gallery by Maryrose Wood. Cameron C., Cameron T., Eva, and Harry were present. Please find some of the comments about the book below. 

Penelope has a great deal of “pluck.” What are the characteristics of someone with pluck? Who else in the book has these characteristics? Who do you know who has pluck?



Cam C.: Simon has pluck.

Cam T.: I have pluck. And Margaret has pluck.

Eva: Lady Constance has it because she's always making a big deal about things. It's almost as if she is standing up for herself.

Harry: Simon.


Penelope has trouble explaining certain figures of speech to the Incorrigibles. How would you explain to them the meaning of staying “within reason,” “getting carried away,” “taking things too far,” or “going overboard” (page 26)? Why are these expressions so difficult to explain? Can you think of other figures of speech that might be difficult to explain to someone who isn’t familiar with them? 

Cam C.: "Killing two birds with one stone." "You're killing me." "Lord Ashton will have my head." "Following in someone's footsteps."

Eva: "You have the world on your shoulders."


Agatha Swanburne was known for her wisdom and her words of advice, and Penelope follows in her footsteps. What do you think is the most useful piece of Agatha’s or Penelope’s advice in the book? Which other characters in the book are wise? Who in your life is wise, and what is the best piece of advice they’ve ever given you?


Cam T.: "First eat." Simon was wise. I keep imagining him with a raven. In my own life, I am wise. I give myself tons of great advice. A lot of it in soccer. With real-life applications, I say that you should only pick fights that you can win. Never pick a fight that you know you will lose.

Eva: The whole book was advice from Mrs. Swanburne.

Harry: "Be brave. Don't panic." 

Miss Lisa: Do you think some of the advice was ridiculous?

Chorus: Yes!

Cam C.: My soccer coach says to look around you instead of just at the ball. You need to know your surroundings and who you are kicking the ball to.

 
Lady Constance tells Penelope that being optimistic “is a most unfortunate habit” (page 12). Do you think optimism is a positive or negative trait? Why? Do you agree that too much optimism is a bad thing? Do you consider yourself an optimistic person? What is the opposite of optimism?


Cam: Optimism and pessimism can lead to very different results.

Eva: Being overly positive can be a bad thing because you haven't thought of the bad things that could have.

Harry: Being too optimistic is not good. Being optimistic is okay.

What misperceptions does Lady Constance have about the poor people she visits? Where do you think her unrealistic notions come from? What are the major differences between her life and theirs? Many of the different characters in the story come from different social and financial backgrounds. What are some examples of class differences in the world of the Incorrigibles? 


Eva: I think that Lady Constance thinks differently because she's always been rich and has become a spoiled brat. 


Cam: I was thinking that she is probably a spoiled lady. She probably thinks that she's too good to hang out with someone who is really poor. 


Harry: Lady Constance's epiphany about the poor was really obvious. 


Eva: Maybe the people were much more filthy and poor than she had ever imagined.

Cam C.: Lady Constance is smart. Smart as the average marble.

Harry: On a scale of 1-10, she is a 1.5 on the scale of intelligence.

Eva: I would say that she's a 2.

Cam C.: I'd say she's around 0.001

Eva: I would say she's between 0 to 3.



What about the story makes you laugh? Would you call this book a comedy? Can a comedy include serious subjects (like poverty, orphans, danger, etc.)? Why, or 
why not? Pick an example of something in the book you find funny and explain why you do.

 
Cam C.: Either the part with Cassiopeia dying of the plague. Or the "Lord Ashton will have my head" quote.

Eva: I found the part where they were climbing onto the hat to be really funny. I don't find it a comedy because there were just a few funny things sprinkled into the book. A book with so much wisdom, like from Mrs. Swanburne, makes it not a comedy.

Harry: It's a partial comedy. Some funny parts and some drama. There wasn't humor in every part.



The story of the Incorrigibles is full of questions and clues (but few answers!). What do we learn about Lord Fredrick in this book? Hint: There are clues in his almanac and in his strange behavior before he and his wife leave for the theater. What do you think these clues might mean? Is Old Timothy helpful to the Incorrigibles, or is he a threat to them? What clues from the book make you think that?

Harry: I think that Old Timothy is a good guy because he has actually helped the Incorrigibles. Lord Ashton might be a werewolf. 

Eva: I was thinking that maybe Lord Frederick might have wolves in his blood (when he itches and scratches himself all over). I'm thinking that when it's a full moon he gets like a wolf. I also think that Old Timothy isn't bad because the author keeps bringing up the question of whether he's good or bad. That sets us up for a reveal of him being good. I think that the Judge is bad. He's been in the same location whenever something bad happens.

Cam: Maybe Judge Quincy is a powerful magic man. He's probably not completely human and placed the curse on the children.

Eva: Maybe Lord Frederick might have placed the curse on the children. Maybe he's a werewolf or wolf and he placed the curse on them. The gypsy woman hinted that the curse was placed by someone who is not human.

Harry: The children are in danger.

Cam: "The hunt is on."

Harry: The mysterious painting and the ghost writer are unsolved.

The Grades 5-6 Book Club selection for April is CURRENTLY UNDECIDED. PLEASE SEND IN YOUR TOP TWO SUGGESTIONS TO MISS LISA BY 4 P.M. ON FRIDAY, MARCH 14th. THE LIST WILL BE COMPILED AND VOTED ON BY YOU. MISS LISA WILL THEN ORDER COPIES OF THE WINNER. Copies of the book will be available behind the Circulation Desk within the next week. Please remember to register for Book Club so that we know how many people will be attending.

Grades 5-6 Book Club Recommendations for April

Doll Bones by Holly Black 
2015 RICBA Nominee
"Zach, Alice, and Poppy, friends from a Pennsylvania middle school who have long enjoyed acting out imaginary adventures with dolls and action figures, embark on a real-life quest to Ohio to bury a doll made from the ashes of a dead girl."- summary Book Trailer


The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Unseen Guest by Maryrose Wood
"Miss Penelope Lumley embarks on an investigation into the mysteries surrounding the Incorrigible children, Lord Ashton, the forests of Ashton Place, and her own past"--Provided by publisher. Book Trailer


Rump : The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff
2015 RICBA Nominee
"Relates the tale of Rumpelstiltskin's childhood and youth, explaining why his name is so important, how he is able to spin straw into gold, and why a first-born child is his reward for helping the miller's daughter-turned-queen."- summary Book Trailer 

February Grades 5-6 Book Club: The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious Howling

                                                                                                                            We had a very interesting discussion about The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood. Aljulanda, Cameron C., Eva, and Harry were present. Please find some of the comments about the book below. 

The narrator says that Penelope Lumley is "perfectly match[ed]" to "what any reasonable person might expect a young governess to look like". What adjectives would you use to describe Penelope?

Cameron: Worrisome, compassionate

Eva: Very intelligent, really young-looking, boring

Harry: Plain, normal/not-normal

When Penelope first tells the story of the ponies, she says that Silky's rough behavior is not his fault because he has "known no kindness or tender care in his life". Do you agree or disagree? Are people and animals responsible for acting badly if they've never been taught to act in a better way?

Cameron: I'd say that that would be correct. The dog with the collar (later in the book) was an example of this.

Eva: I'd say that this is true. It's not anyone's fault if they don't know any better.

Harry:  I think it depends on which person. If they're a good person on theinside, it would be true. Sometimes the opposite can be true.

Describe Lady Constance. By the end of the story, do you feel any pity or compassion for her? Why or why not?

Cameron: Not so much. She always so strict and mean about everything. She doesn't seem to understand that the children were raised by wolves.

Eva: I didn't feel any pity for Lady Constance because she expected a lot from children who were raised by wolves. She was so strict. She was the ruin of the party.

Harry: I only felt a little sorry for her. She was feeling stressed.

How does the author incorporate humor into the story? Which scene or line from the book do you think is the funniest?

Cameron: I thought that the part of the face outside had someone thinking it was the face of Christmas past. Or when the kids staged the poem.

Eva: I thought that their poems were funny. They included wolves. They incorporated a poem into a poem by a wolf.

Harry: The dance was probably the funniest segment.

Side note about their names: Alexander, Beowulf and Cassiopeia are such hard names (at least the last two) to pronounce.

Penelope explains irony to the Incorrigibles as "when you say one thing but mean something else .... or when you expect things to happen one way and then they turn out quite differently". Based on this definition, can you find examples of irony in the novel? How does the author use irony as a form of humor?

Cameron: The Mayhem for Boys book.

Eva: The interview was ironic. Penelope thought that it was going to go one way and then it was exactly the opposite. They never talked about the children.

Harry: Everyone's concern that the children wanted to eat the squirrel and then they really just wanted to have it as a pet.

The narrator defines hyperbole as the "practice of overstating the case". Find an example of hyperbole in the book, and explain why you think the subject of your example is being exaggerated. Is it for humor, emphasis, dramatic effect, or something else?

Cameron: Lady Constance.

Eva: When Penelope talks to Lady Constance and says how Cassiopiea is such a mathmatecal genius, etc. that is a case of hyperbole. It's used for dramatic effect. Hyperbole is used in instances that could never actually happen ("I'm so full I could burst")

Harry: Practically everything about Lady Constance is hyperbole. She is a living hyperbole.

Penelope buys books as presents, and she carefully tries to pick out the perfect book for each person on her list. Make a list of five of your family members or friends. If you could give each of them the perfect book, what would you choose? Explain your selections.

Cameron: I would buy my friend Josh the new Lego book. I would get Beauty and the Beast for my sister.

Eva: I have an idea of what kind of book I would get friends. I would get a book about ancient Egyptian cats. I would get my sister a 70's/80's book.

Harry: I'd get Robert a sticker book that is Star Wars, Despicable Me, Cut the Rope or similarly related.

What other stories about orphans have you read? Consider Anne of Green Gables, the Boxcar Children books, The Graveyard Book, the Harry Potter series, Oliver Twist, The Secret Garden , and A Series of Unfortunate Events. How are other orphan stories similar to and different from The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place? Why do you think stories about orphans are appealing to young readers?

Cameron: I think that Peter Nimble is a good example. He was an orphan.

Eva: I think orphan books are popular because they have had tough lives. They're not like normal kids with regular house, friends, etc. They are usually living with other people, in an orphanage or foster home. They often develop powers.

Harry: Practically anything that I've ever read that is good has an orphan in it. Orphans are popular are kids who are raised by someone sometimes tough. They have to fight for themselves. They have learned to survive for themselves.

What is a mystery? What mysteries are introduced in the book? Which of these mysteries are solved during the course of the narrative and which remain unsolved? Do you have any suspicions about how some of the unresolved mysteries might play out in later books in the series?

Cameron: What makes Lady Constance such a strict, mean lady? I expect that she was a spoiled child. I suspect Timothy is a fraud. He might be the one who sent the letter to the theater group.

Eva: The mystery of who the childrens' parents are. Maybe it's someone from Lord Ashton's club. I think that Penelope might be related to the kids.

Harry: How did Penelope get where she is? What's her origin story? Why is Penelope's hair the same as the Incorrigibles? What's going on with Lord Ashton? Why does he keep disappearing? Who (and why) are the children getting wound up in order to fail?

Al: How did the kids get in the barn?

The Grades 5-6 Book Club selection for March is The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Hidden Gallery by Maryrose Wood. This sequel to this month's book is described as such: "Fifteen-year-old Miss Penelope Lumley, a governess trained at the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females, takes the three Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place to London, England, and learns they are under a curse."--summary. Copies of the book will be available behind the Circulation Desk within the next week. Please remember to register for Book Club so that we know how many people will be attending.