July Discussion for Grades 3-4 Book Club

In July, we discussed the book The Spindlers by Lauren Oliver. Kelsey, Rileigh, Cecilia, Natalie, Abigail and Estelle were present.





If I could be a character from this book it would be:
-I would be Mirabella because she wears wigs.
-I would want to be the Spindler Queen because it would be cool to be a queen for a day. You can direct your kingdom and make everything your way.
-I would be Liza because of all of the adventures she had.
-I would be Liza because she had so many adventures and she was brave. I would want to be the main character.
-I would be the broom. Because it's awesome.

Would you travel to Below in order to retrieve the soul of a loved one?
-Only if it wasn't my brother. He's really annoying. If it was Kelsey or Rileigh or a baby cousin, I would.
-It depends.
-If it was my sister, maybe. If it was my friend, then no. No way for my brother.
-I would travel for a friend and for my brother because life would be really boring without him. I would go for Estelle and Abby.
-I would go for my sister. I would not go for any boys. I would go for anyone sitting at this table.

Did you like the number of adventures that happened in the story (ie. the number of times that Liza almost died)?-I think that it was just the right amount of adventures. It made you want to read more.
-I thought it was too many adventures. There wasn't very much down-time in the story. You almost wonder when she is going to save her brother because she's always trying to not die.
-I liked all of the events because, without them, the book was really boring. I am glad that all of those things happened.
-Yes. Because.


What do you think about the ending of the book? Was it a good conclusion to all of the adventures?
-I don't think it was because I was expecting more. It leads up to such a good ending. But it just ends with her brother not remembering anything and waking up in bed.
-I agree with Natalie.
-Yes.


Do you think that the nice creatures from The Below (Mirabella, etc.) should have come Above to live?
-I thought that Liza would have kept Mirabella as a pet.
-I thought Mirabella would come above and visit.
-I though Liza would make a goodie-basket with pinks, a mirror, a new hat, a wig, etc. for Mirabella.
 

Do you think that Liza's fighting parents was put in the story for a specific reason?

-No.
-Yes. So she could give her mother the seeds of hope.
-And give her father the glasses.


Did you like the author's style?-Yes. Because I like adventures and mysteries.

On a scale of 1-5, how would you rate this book?

-3 because I liked it but didn't.
-4 1/2 because I liked almost everything but the Spindlers. They freaked me out.
-I would give it a 4 3/4 because I really like adventure and mystery. 
-I would give it an 8 out of 5.


We will be reading Witches: The Absolutely True Tale of Disaster in Salem by Rosalyn Schanzer for Book Club in August. Please note that we will be meeting at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 27 in order to accommodate vacation schedules. 

"In the little colonial town of Salem Village, Massachusetts, two girls began to twitch, mumble, and contort their bodies into strange shapes. The doctor tried every remedy, but nothing cured the young Puritans. He grimly announced the dire diagnosis: the girls were bewitched! And then the accusations began.

The riveting, true story of the victims, accused witches, crooked officials, and mass hysteria that turned a mysterious illness affecting two children into a witch hunt that took over a dozen people’s lives and ruined hundreds more unfolds in chilling detail in this young adult book by award-winning author and illustrator Rosalyn Schanzer."

August Recommendations for Grades 3-4 Book Club

I've been told that the kids entering 5th grade (who will actually become part of the Grades 5-6 Book Club after this session!) must read at least one non-fiction book for school this fall. Here are some suggestions for books to read for Book Club that will cover this requirement. 

Emancipation Proclamation: Lincoln and the Dawn of Liberty by Tonya Bolden

Published on the anniversary of when President Abraham Lincoln’s order went into effect, this book offers readers a unique look at the events that led to the Emancipation Proclamation. Filled with little-known facts and fascinating details, it includes excerpts from historical sources, archival images, and new research that debunks myths about the Emancipation Proclamation and its causes. Complete with a timeline, glossary, and bibliography, Emancipation Proclamation is an engrossing new historical resource from award-winning children’s book author Tonya Bolden.

The Mayflower and the Pilgrims' New World by Nathaniel Philbrick
After a dangerous journey across the Atlantic, the Mayflower's passengers were saved from certain destruction with the help of the Natives of the Plymouth region. For fifty years a fragile peace was maintained as Pilgrims and Native Americans learned to work together. But when that trust was broken by the next generation of leaders, a conflict erupted that nearly wiped out Pilgrims and Natives alike. Adapted from the New York Times bestseller Mayflower specifically for younger readers, this edition includes additional maps, artwork, and archival photos.

Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World: The Extraordinary True Story of Shackleton and the Endurance by Jennifer Armstrong
In August 1914, Ernest Shackleton and 27 men sailed from England in an attempt to become the first team of explorers to cross Antarctica from one side to the other. Five months later and still 100 miles from land, their ship, Endurance, became trapped in ice. The expedition survived another five months camping on ice floes, followed by a perilous journey through stormy seas to remote and unvisited Elephant Island. In a dramatic climax to this amazing survival story, Shackleton and five others navigated 800 miles of treacherous open ocean in a 20-foot boat to fetch a rescue ship.

Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World vividly re-creates one of the most extraordinary adventure stories in history. Jennifer Armstrong narrates this unbelievable story with vigor, an eye for detail, and an appreciation of the marvelous leadership of Shackleton, who brought home every one of his men alive.

Witches: The Absolutely True Tale of Disaster in Salem by Rosalyn Schanzer 

In the little colonial town of Salem Village, Massachusetts, two girls began to twitch, mumble, and contort their bodies into strange shapes. The doctor tried every remedy, but nothing cured the young Puritans. He grimly announced the dire diagnosis: the girls were bewitched! And then the accusations began.

The riveting, true story of the victims, accused witches, crooked officials, and mass hysteria that turned a mysterious illness affecting two children into a witch hunt that took over a dozen people’s lives and ruined hundreds more unfolds in chilling detail in this young adult book by award-winning author and illustrator Rosalyn Schanzer.