Rhode Island Children's Book Award Winner 2016
Newberry Medal Honor
For May's Grades 3-4 Book Club, we read the book El Deafo by Cece Bell. Alex and Emme were present. Here are some of the questions we answered during our discussion:
1. El Deafo is a memoir. What is a memoir? Are there benefits to writing a memoir as a graphic novel? What about drawbacks?
2. How does Cece lose her hearing?
3. We learn about Cece's friendships. Could you relate to any of Cece's friendships? How do Cece's friendships comfort her? How do they challenge her?
4. How does Cece use her El Deafo identity to cope with tough situations?
5. People react to Cece's Phonic Ear in a variety of ways. What are they, and why are their reactions important to Cece's story?
6. Cece grapples with her own feelings towards the Phonic Ear. Overall, do you think the Phonic Ear is something positive or negative for Cece? Why?
7. Cece describes feeling like she is in a bubble of loneliness. What does this mean? Have you felt this way?
8. How does Cece change throughout the book?
Rating: on a scale of 1—5 (1 is the lowest; 5 is the highest), what do you rate this book? Would you recommend it?
4!
4!
And yes, we would recommend it!
For June's Book Club, we will be reading:
Rhode Island Children's Book Award Nominee 2022
From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marky
"Zoe Washington isn't sure what to write. What does a girl say to the father she's never met, hadn't heard from until his letter arrived on her twelfth birthday, and who's been in prison for a terrible crime?
A crime he says he never committed.
Could Marcus really be innocent? Zoe is determined to uncover the truth. Even if it means hiding his letters and her investigation from the rest of her family. Everyone else thinks Zoe's worrying about doing a good job at her bakery internship and proving to her parents that she's worthy of auditioning for Food Network's Kids Bake Challenge.
But with bakery confections on one part of her mind, and Marcus's conviction weighing heavily on the other, this is one recipe Zoe doesn't know how to balance. The only thing she knows to be true: Everyone lies." — summary
We will be meeting on Wednesday, June 9 at 3:30 PM. Book Club will be held outside on the lawn—Swinburne Street side. In case of inclement weather, Book Club may be moved indoors or via Zoom. Participants will be notified by noon, the day of, if the location changes.
To register, visit the circulation desk or email Miss Colleen at jamlibyouth@gmail.com
Be sure to stop by the library to pick up your copy!
