For June's Grades 3 & 4 Book Club, we read the book From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Jenae Marks. This title is Rhode Island Children's Book Award nominee for 2022. The below questions are from Middle Grade at Heart.
1. Zoe wants to become the first Black girl to win the Kids Bake Challenge! and points out that she’s never seen many Black pastry chefs in cookbooks or on TV. Have you noticed a lack of diversity in certain careers? Why do you think that is, and what do you think can be done to change that?
2. In one scene, Zoe feels judged by a white woman who sees Zoe, who is black, with her white stepfather. Have you ever felt the need to defend something that wasn’t actually wrong because someone judged you? What did you do? How did that make you feel?
3. At first, Zoe refuses to tell Trevor why she’s upset with him. Do you think that was fair? When she did explain, whose side of the story did you connect with most? Have you ever said something you didn’t mean because you felt pressured to fit in, like Trevor? Or had someone hurt you in their attempt to fit in, like Zoe? What did you do?
4. Zoe’s experience at the bakery internship doesn’t start the way she expects it to. Have you ever been excited about something, only to be disappointed? How did it turn out in the end?
5. Were you surprised when Zoe’s grandma agreed to keep Zoe’s letter writing a secret? Do you think it was the right thing for her grandmother to do? Why or why not?
6. Zoe is shocked when she reads stories of people who were wrongfully convicted and sent to prison for crimes they didn’t commit. How did you feel reading that?
7. Zoe and Trevor talk about how they’ve each had discussions with their parents: “...because I’m black, I have to be extra careful around the police. Stuff like that.” If you’re a person of color, have you ever had that discussion? How did it make you feel? If you’re white, how did you feel reading that? What do you think it’s like to feel that, because of the color of your skin, you can’t trust the very people who are supposed to be helping and protecting you?
8. As you read, how did you feel about Marcus? Did you believe he was guilty or innocent? Did your thoughts about Marcus change at all as you learned more about his story and the facts of what happened?
For July's Book Club, we will be reading:
Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat (Book #1) by Johnny Marciano and Emily Chenoweth
"Klawde, the exiled ruler of the planet Lyttyrboks, and Raj, who just moved from Brooklyn to tiny Elba, Oregon, forge an unlikely friendship as they find their footing in a strange new world." — Source of summary not specified
We will be meeting on Wednesday, July 14 at 3:30 PM. Book Club will be held outside on the lawn—Swinburne Street side. In case of inclement weather, Book Club will move indoors. 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!
