February Grades 3-4 Book Club: Matilda

For the February's Grades 3-4 Book Club, we read the book Matilda by Roald Dahl. Here's what we discussed, aided by some discussion questions on Schmoop.com.

Are the books Mrs. Phelps gives to Matilda appropriate for a five-year-old to read? What would you add to this list? What would you remove?

-Matilda

-The Wild Robot

How would you react if the Trunchbull wandered into one of your classrooms?

-Try to act nicely and think hard about everything I said to her. But that might not help at all.

Look back at a few of the different pranks played in the book. Are they realistic? Could any of them really work? And which one's your favorite?

-They are somewhat realistic. They might not work.

-I liked the peroxiding of the hair prank.

Could anyone besides Bruce Bogtrotter eat an entire chocolate cake?

-No.

Who is the meanest character in the book? How are they mean? The nicest? What makes them nice?

-Mrs. Truchbull. She's really mean and uses her power over the kids.

-Miss Honey was the nicest because she was really gentle with the kids.

Do you think there's too much violence in Matilda, compared to other kids' books? Is the amount of violence appropriate for most readers' age level?

-It depends on who the reader's parents are. But for the most part, I didn't think it was too violent.

If you had powers like Matilda's, what would you do with them? Suppose you could move just one thing with your mind. What would it be?

-It's hard to decide.

Do you think Miss Honey's explanation about why Matilda starts losing her special abilities at the end of the book makes sense?

-Yes.

At what point in the book did you figure out the connection between Miss Honey and the Trunchbull?

-Once the author noted it.

Do you think any of Matilda's pranks are mean spirited? Or are they totally deserved?

-The pranks weren't necessarily deserved and the glue prank was a little mean.

Do you think events like those in the book could ever happen? Why or why not?

-No. All of it seemed a little bit too much. The magical powers are not very realistic. Plus the fact that Matilda was so smart without any help from her parents didn't seem realistic.

Would you call the end of the book a happy one? Why or why not?

-I would call it happy for Matilda. It was good for her because her parents were mean and didn't care about her.

-I think she was probably sad that her parents left her so easily without looking back.

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

-4

-3.5

For Book Club in March, we will be reading Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder

"On the island, everything is perfect. The sun rises in a sky filled with dancing shapes; the wind, water, and trees shelter and protect those who live there; when the nine children go to sleep in their cabins, it is with full stomachs and joy in their hearts.

And only one thing ever changes: on that day, each year, when a boat appears from the mist upon the ocean carrying one young child to join them—and taking the eldest one away, never to be seen again.

Today’s Changing is no different. The boat arrives, taking away Jinny’s best friend, Deen, replacing him with a new little girl named Ess, and leaving Jinny as the new Elder. Jinny knows her responsibility now—to teach Ess everything she needs to know about the island, to keep things as they’ve always been.

But will she be ready for the inevitable day when the boat will come back—and take her away forever from the only home she’s known?"

Book Club will be meeting on Wednesday, March 11 at 3:00 p.m. 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!

March Grades 3-4 Book Club Suggestions

Front Desk by Kelly Yang

Mia Tang has a lot of secrets.

Number 1: She lives in a motel, not a big house. Every day, while her immigrant parents clean the rooms, ten-year-old Mia manages the front desk of the Calivista Motel and tends to its guests.

Number 2: Her parents hide immigrants. And if the mean motel owner, Mr. Yao, finds out they've been letting them stay in the empty rooms for free, the Tangs will be doomed.

Number 3: She wants to be a writer. But how can she when her mom thinks she should stick to math because English is not her first language?

It will take all of Mia's courage, kindness, and hard work to get through this year. Will she be able to hold on to her job, help the immigrants and guests, escape Mr. Yao, and go for her dreams?




Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder

On the island, everything is perfect. The sun rises in a sky filled with dancing shapes; the wind, water, and trees shelter and protect those who live there; when the nine children go to sleep in their cabins, it is with full stomachs and joy in their hearts.

And only one thing ever changes: on that day, each year, when a boat appears from the mist upon the ocean carrying one young child to join them—and taking the eldest one away, never to be seen again.

Today’s Changing is no different. The boat arrives, taking away Jinny’s best friend, Deen, replacing him with a new little girl named Ess, and leaving Jinny as the new Elder. Jinny knows her responsibility now—to teach Ess everything she needs to know about the island, to keep things as they’ve always been.

But will she be ready for the inevitable day when the boat will come back—and take her away forever from the only home she’s known?

The Rhino in Right Field by Stacy DeKeyser

Nick wants to change his life. For twelve years, he’s done what his hard-working, immigrant parents want him to do. Now he’s looking for his own American dream and he thinks he’s found it. The local baseball team is having a batboy contest, and Nick wants to win.

But the contest is on a Saturday—the day Nick has to work in his father’s shop. There’s one other tiny—well, not so tiny—problem. A 2,000-pound rhinoceros named Tank. Nick and his friends play ball in the city zoo—and Tank lives just beyond the right field fence. Nick’s experience getting the ball out of Tank’s pen has left him frozen with fear whenever a fly ball comes his way. How’s a lousy fielder going to win the contest?

Nick practices every day with his best friend, Ace, and a new girl who has an impressive throwing arm! But that’s not enough—to get to the contest, Nick has to lie to his parents and blackmail his uncle. All while dodging the school bully, who’s determined to win even by playing dirty. Nick will need to keep his eye on the ball in this fast, funny story about a game that can throw you some curveballs—just like life!