Killer Pizza

Who was your favorite character in this book and why?

Notes From the Dog

Check the Walnut Creek website for a list of the Forty Developmental Assets.  Fin developed a number of them as the story progressed.  Which ones became more important to him and why?

Notes From the Dog

Why did Gary Paulsen give his book this title?  How do the notes add to the story?

Anything But Typical

Do you think that Jason and Rebecca continue to have a friendship?  Will he still refer to her as his girlfriend?

Anything But Typical

What did you learn about autism from reading this book?

Anything But Typical

Who does Jason label as neurotypical and why does he call them that?

Juvie Three

Which of the three main characters is your favorite and why?

Juvie Three

Gordon Korman is a very popular author.  Why do you think that he wrote this book?

Juvie Three

Look at the list of 40 Developmental Assets on our school web page. (http://plv.ishareinfo.org/wc/documents/40Assets_MC_0.pdf)  What is one asset that you think that the boys acquired that helped them succeed in the story?

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

Callie and her grandfather studied plants.  What would they do differently today if they wanted to record their information?  How would they submit their discovery today?

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

Why do you think that the author chose The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate  as the title for this book?

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

Were you surprised by the subjects that Callie studied in school?  Why do you think that didn’t study the same things you study?

Kenny and the Dragon

What things about Grahame are not typical for a dragon?

Kenny and the Dragon

Pretend that you are writing a sequel to this story?  What would happen in the next book?

Kenny and the Dragon

I found Kenny to be a very likeable character.  Do you agree?  Why?

Storm Chaser

Do you think that the family would still operate a dude ranch the next summer?

Storm Chaser

When do you think that Jessica’s father realize that she was old enough to work with the horses?  How did he show his change in attitude?

Storm Chaser

I found three storylines in this book. What do you think they were?

Night of the Spadefoot Toads

This book was realistic fiction.  Do you think that it could really happen as it did in the story?

Night of the Spadefoot Toads

Do you think that Mrs. Tibbits was a good teacher?  Why?

Extra Credit

Abby changed her work habits during the story.  What do you think will happen when she gets to seventh grade?

Extra Credit

What did Sadeed risk by revealing himself to Abby?

Extra Credit

What did you learn about the country of Afghanistan from reading this book?

Magic Thief

Who was your favorite character in The Magic Thief and why?

Magic Thief

Pretend that you are writing the second book in this series.  Describe the plot you would write.

Magic Thief

Keeston was not a very likable character at the beginning of the story.  Did your opinion of him change as the story progresses?

Magic Thief

At what point in the story do you think that Nevery started to value Conn?

Dying to Meet You

This is the first book of a series.  Should I order the rest of the series?  Why?

Dying to Meet You

This story was a “quick read”.  Did the story engage you or bore you?  Why?

Dying to Meet You

The author wrote this story as a series of letters.  How do you think that this affected the story?

Jake Ransom and the Skull King’s Shadow

There were people from many places and cultures living in the valley when Jake and Kady arrived there.  Which ones did you find most interesting?  Why?

Jake Ransom and the Skull King’s Shadow

f you could make a change in this book, what would it be and why would you change it?

Jake Ransom and the Skull King’s Shadow

What do you think was the connection between the Skull King and the Bledsworth Sundries and Industries?

Jake Ransom and the Skull King’s Shadow

Do you think that Jake and Kady travelled to another dimension or were they time travelers?  Support your theory.

Closed for the Season

What other books by Mary Downing Hahn have you read?  Compare them to Closed for the Season.

Closed for the Season

Children who are characters in books often make choices that are not safe.  What things did Logan and Arthur do that you think were unsafe?

Closed for the Season

At the beginning of the book Logan isn’t sure that he wants to be Arthur’s friend.  Does that change as the book progresses?  Give the reasons for your answer.

Closed for the Season

Why do you think that the author chose Closed for the Season as the title for the book?

Shooting the Moon

If the author chose to write a sequel to this story what do you think that it would be about?

Shooting the Moon

There were three main themes in this story: Jamie’s relationship with Private Hollister, TJ becoming a soldier who serves in the Vietnam War and Jamie’s relationship with her father.  Which one do you think was most important and why?

Shooting the Moon

In your opinion how were the pictures of the moon important to the story?

Shooting the Moon

Did the book end the way you thought it would? Why or why not?

Chains

If you were in Isabel's place how would you have reacted to your owner? Would you be a Loyalist or a Patriot?

Chains

Most people don't think of slavery in relation to the Revolutionary War. Did this book change your perspective?

Home of the Brave

Why was the cow so important to Kek?

Home of the Brave

How did reading this books change your attitude toward immigrants? What do you think was the hardest thing for Kek when he came to the United States?

Peeled

Do you think that Minska's history and her stories were relevant to the book? How were they relevant?

Peeled

What was the issue in this book caused by adults not trusting what kids can do?