Artemis Fowl By Eoin Colfer ages 10-up

Summary:
Artemis Fowl may be the smartest criminal in history. And he's only twelve years old. He comes from a family of con artists and crime figures, so it's only proper that he would have an interest in someone else's money. Actually, he's interested in the money of "The People"-little people, like leprechauns, fairies, trolls, and sprites. Yes, they're real-Artemis knows, because he found it out on the internet. With some friends and a bag full of tricks, Artemis sets out to find his fortune, encountering trouble and adventure along the way.

Discussion Questions:

1. Describe Artemis Fowl. What kind of person is he? Would you like to have him as a friend?
2. What was your first impression of Artemis Fowl? Did it change as you read the novel? In what way?
3. How is the fairy world different from the human world?
4. What was your favorite thing about the fairy world?
5. Does Artemis Fowl seem like a twelve year old to you?
6. Did the fairy world make sense to you? Do you like to read fantasy stories?
7. Did you break the code? If so, what is your translation?
8. What criticisms do you have of this book? What parts would you change if you were writing the story?
9. Do you think this book would make a good movie? What elements would have to be included? What could be left out? Who do you think should play the lead parts?

Dealing With Dragons By Patricia Wrede Ages 9-up

1. Describe Cimorene. Would you like to be her friend?
2. How does Cimorene find the dragons?
3. What happens to the Knights who try to rescue Cimorene?
4. How do Cimorene and Alianora get to be friends?
5. What is Cimorene's plan to help the dragons?
6. What are Woraug's crimes? In the end, does he get what he deserved?
7. What "fractured" fairy tales did you find in this book?
8. Did you like the fantasy elements of this book? Did any of the events in the book seem like they could really happen?

• Why does Meg have trouble fitting in at school? Is it her fault?
• If you had the opportunity to time travel, would you? What time period would you choose? The past or the future?
• What is so evil about Camazotz?
• Why does it have to be Meg who saves her brother, Charles Wallace?
• Does good always conquer evil?
• This novel was written in 1962. Can you see how this book may have influenced other books written later, for instance, The Giver by Lois Lowry or the Harry Potter books?
• This book is part of a series of 4 books known as the "Time Quartet". The others are, Wind in the Door , A Swiftly Tilting Planet , and Many Waters. Would you like to read the others in the series?
  
  

• How did Jack feel about poetry at the beginning of the school year?
• How does poetry differ from regular writing?
• What does the word anonymous mean?
• Have you ever tried to write about something, making the words in the shape of what you're talking about. What shape would be fun to use?
• Why do you think Jack uses a journal to communicate with his teacher?
• Do you have a favorite poet or author? What does that poet or author do in his or her writing that you like?

Summary:
Sixteen people are invited to rent apartments or business spaces in the newly constructed Sunset Towers. A real estate agent named Barney Northrup is in charge of the arrangements. Yet there is no such person as Barney Northrup. And why are these particular people singled out to move into Sunset Towers? Then the infamous Sam Westing is discovered lying dead in his crumbling mansion. The sixteen residents of Sunset Towers are invited to the reading of the Westing will, where they find out that Sam Westing did not die of natural causes. Then the sixteen are divided up into teams of two, with each team given a clue, to try to discover what happened to Sam Westing. Now the fun begins! As the clues are interpreted in every way imaginable, the heirs learn more and more about each other, and it begins to seem that Sam Westing had a method to his madness after all. It's time to play The Westing Game.

Discussion Topics:

• At the end of the first chapter we are told that one of the tenants was a mistake. Which tenant do you think was a mistake? Explain your choice.
• Describe Mrs. Wexler's relationship with her two daughters.
• Sam's obituary mentions that he was a dedicated gamesman and a master of chess. Why might this be significant?
• When the will is first read, why are those present shocked to hear the words, "my sixteen nieces and nephews"?
• Why were Turtle and Sandy dubious about the "murder" of Samuel Westing?
• Who did you think the bomber was? Why?
• Who was Rosalie and how did she die?
• What is Judge Ford's connection with the Westing family?
• Which heir wins the game? How did they finally solve the puzzle?

The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling 96 pages (ages 9-12)

Summary:
John Midas loves chocolate. In fact he's obsessed with it. He eats it daily, dreams about it, and can't get enough of it. The man at the local candy store gives him a mysterious candy coin which john immediately eats. His life changes almost instantly. How does it change? Is John happy? Read and find out!

Discussion Topics:

• Name at least four types of candy that John loves.
• Who is named Cranium in the story? Is this a good name for him? Why?/
• How does the candy coin change John's life?
• Is he happy with the changes?
• List four rules that John should follow to avoid trouble in the future.
• If you had one wish, what would you wish for?
• What would you do if you had the "chocolate touch"?

Summary:
Sounder, a great coon dog, is owned by a poor black sharecropper and his family. When the sharecropper steals to feed his hungry wife and family, Sounder can not save him from the sheriff. The family faces many hardships while the father is away, and Sounder suffers also. The man's young son is forced to take on man's work to help the family, Sounder searches for his master, the family continues to hope for the father's return. Will everyone be reunited? Will Sounder find his master?

Discussion Topics:

• In what period of history do you think this story takes place?
• Do you believe Sounder is a true story? Why/
• What kind of dog is Sounder? Draw a picture of him.
• What is a sharecropper? What did it mean to be poor and black during the late 18th and early 19th centuries?
• How did you feel at the end of the story? What happened that made you feel that way?
• Describe what you think the boy's adult life may be like.

Running Out of Time by Margaret Haddix Peterson

• How would you describe the village of Clifton? Did it seem normal to you at first? Or did you suspect that something odd was happening there?
• How does Jessie's mom feel about her? What makes you think so?
• Do you think that Jessie's parents were right to hide the truth from their children? Did they deserve to get their children back?
• What "new" technologies and inventions does Jessie encounter in the modern world? What do you think about her reactions to modern day life?
• Will Jessie be able to survive in the modern world? Why or why not?
• Do you agree with Frank Lyle that the Clifton experiment will be valuable in the long run, even though in the short term people may die? Why?
• Would you like to live in 1840 or modern times? List pros and cons for each time period.
• Make a list of how life in 1840 was different than how we live today. Lighting, heating, writing instruments, and food have all changed. What else has changed?

Holes by Louis Sachar 233 p. (grades 3-6)

1. Why is the book called Holes?
2. What does the nickname "x-ray" suggest about that character? What about the name Mr. Mom?
3. What "holes" are there in the story for the reader? How are they "filled-in"?
4. Give some examples of irony in the book? For instance, the basketball player, Sweet Feet, really has stinky feet.
5. There are some "sub-stories" running along with the main story of the boys at Camp "Green Lake. What are some of these other stories?
6. How has Stanley changed as a person at the end of the book?

Summary: In Jonas' perfect world, everything is under control. There is no war or fear or pain. But when Jonas learns the truth, there is no turning back.

In a utopian community where there are no choices--where everyone has his or her place in the world assigned according to gifts and interests--the time has come for 12-year old Jonas to become the new Receiver of Memory. He will be the one to bear the collective memories of a society that lives only in the present, where "Sameness" is the rule. But Jonas soon recognizes the losses and discovers the lie that supports his community. He decides he will change his world--but he cannot predict how that change will come about, or what that change will mean for himself and the "newchild", Gabriel, whom he has resolved to protect.

Discussion Topics:

• What sets the tone or mood of the book right from the beginning?
• How is Jonas' relationship with the Giver different from the relationship he has with his mother, father, and sister?
• Did Jonas feel that his assignment as the next Receiver of Memory was an honor or a punishment? Why?
• What does Jonas take with him on his Journey at the end of the book? Why does he take it with him?
• Why do you think that Lois Lowry makes the ending of the book unclear? What do you think really happens to Jonas at the end of the book?

Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry 176 p. (grades 4-7)

Summary: Nobody could capture the Phantom. She was the wildest mare on Assateague Island. They said she was like the wind, that the white "map" on her shoulders was her mark of freedom. Paul and Maureen had their hearts set on owning her. They wanted to buy and tame her and worked hard to earn the money that she would cost. But the roundup men had tried to capture her and for two years she had escaped them.

Pony Penning Day holds a surprise for everyone, because Paul not only brings in the Phantom, but her newborn colt as well. Can Paul and Maureen possibly earn enough to buy them both?

Discussion Topics:

Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner 96 p. (grades 3-6)

Summary: Little Willy has a big job to do. When his grandfather falls ill, it is up to Willy alone to save their farm from the tax collector. But where can a ten-year-old get five hundred dollars in a hurry? Then Willy sees the poster for the National Dogsled Race. The race pits Willy against the best dog teams in the country, including the Indian stone Fox and his five beautiful Samoyeds, who have never lost a race. And Stone Fox wants the prize money as badly as Willy does. Willy's dog, Searchlight, is every bit as fast as the competition, and Willy knows the terrain better than anyone. But can one boy and one dog be a match for the unbeatable Stone Fox?

Discussion Topics:

• What joke did grandfather play on little Willy in Chapter 1?
• Why didn't grandfather get out of bed?
• How did grandfather and little Willy communicate when grandfather stopped speaking?
• What did little Willy do to get ready for winter?
• What advantages do little Willy and Searchlight have which may help them win the race?
• How long was the dogsled race?
• Why did Stone Fox want the prize money?
• Why did Stone Fox hit Willy?
• Did the ending of the story surprise you? Would you end the story in a different way? If so, write your ending.
• What traits does little Willy have that you admire and would like to have?
  

Summary: 14-year-old Billie Jo tells her heroic story through her free-verse journal. Her mother died in a tragic accident which left her talented, piano-playing hands permanently scarred. Her father, struggling to deal with the depression and the grief, turns to alcohol. On top of all of that, Billie Jo has to deal with all of the normal parts of being fourteen - her first crush, figuring out what she wants to do with her life, and son on. Enter the world of the Great Depression through Billie Jo's journal and you will leave it inspired.

Discussion Topics:

Summary:
Samurai are born, not made. And Seikei is born not a samurai, but the son of a tea merchant. But he longs for the life of a Samurai--brave and loyal, fearing nothing, not even death. Then Seikei is witness to the theft of a priceless ruby intended for the shogun. And the ruby appeared to have been stolen by a ghost! Famous samurai magistrate Judge Ooka needs Seikei's help to solve the mystery of the stolen ruby. Can Seikei demonstrate the skills of a samurai to the shogun himself? .

Discussion Topics:

Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor 144 p. (4th grade and up)

Summary:
Shiloh, an adorable beagle, runs away from an owner who mistreats him and is
found by a young boy named Marty. Marty knows Shiloh belongs to someone else but is determined to save the dog from more harm. Against the wishes of the dog's owner and his father, Marty risks everything to protect the dog and make him his own.

Discussion questions:

1. What details does the author provide in the opening pages of the book that make it clear that Marty loves animals?
2. Marty feels that he has two choices with Shiloh. He can either hide the dog and keep it a secret, or give it back to Judd. Are there other possibilities that he hasn't considered?
3. Have you been in a similar situation to Marty's? How did you handle it?
4. There are times in this book when Marty has to keep secrets from his family. Is this wrong or is it justified?
5. How did Marty get Judd to honor his end of their agreement about Shiloh?

Frindle by Andrew Clements 105 pages Age Range: 8 to 11

Summary:
Nick Allen is a creative fifth grader whose wit tends to get him into trouble at school. His legendary fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Granger, has "X-ray vision" and runs a very strict classroom. These two personalities clash almost right away, and Nick, as punishment for his behavior in class, is assigned to write a report on the dictionary. At first, Nick is hopelessly bored reading the dictionary. But as he finds out more about words and how they are created, Nick comes up with a plan. He invents his own word, frindle. What does this word mean? Why does the whole world fall in love with the word frindle?

Discussion topics:

• Before reading this book, had you ever thought about how are created? Do you think that you could make up a new word that everyone in the country could use? What would that word be?
• Do you think that Nick was a troublemaker? Why or why not?
• Nick has many great ideas. Do you have any great ideas about ways to improve your school or home?
• What kind of relationship do Mrs. Granger and Nick have with each other? Do you think they admire each other?
• Was Mrs. Granger the "bad guy" in this book?
• Do you think Mrs. Granger was a good teacher? List the characteristics that you think a good teacher should possess.
• As an adult, how does Nick show Mrs. Granger his appreciation?

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo 182 pages 4th grade and up

Summary:
Ten-year old India Opal Buloni is lonely when she moves to the small town of Naomi, Florida with her father. Her father is the preacher at a small Baptist church in Naomi. India Opal's mother left her and her father when she was three. That fact brings her inescapable sadness. She has trouble making friends until she finds Winn-Dixie, a big lovable dog who can make friends with anyone. Opal can talk to Winn-Dixie about anything, gradually; Opal makes some unusual, but lovable friends because of Winn-Dixie. Opal begins to realize that life is good and she has a lot to be thankful for.

Discussion questions:

Spaghetti Book Club Web Site: http://www.spaghettibookclub.org/review.php3?review_id=2232

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