Summer Reading Club: The Aviary by Kathleen O'Dell

Summer Reading Video Project By Joey Rucker and Family

     Eleven-year-old Clara Dooley has no friends.  She has never seen past the boundaries of the household she resides in, due to a heart defect she developed as a child.  Her mother is the keeper of the Glendoveer Mansion, where they live in relative quiet.  The aviary outside, however, is usually far from silent.  How much trouble could a pack of old performance birds be?

   Slowly, Clara's well-kept life begins to unravel.  The details surrounding this old mansion are constantly elusive.  Clara  goes in search of answers about the mysterious deaths of the Glendoveer children, and finds out more than she bargained for.

Summer Reading Club: Pride and Prejudice

     Thought to be one of Austen's finest novels, Pride and Prejudice is certainly among the most well known.  And while character development is present in all of her novels, this one in particular I believe has the most drastic changes and some of the most relate-able characters.  

Also, give Elizabeth's character some serious thought.  This type of strong willed person was rare in Victorian England, and even rare today.  While she does have her own faults (and most of us do) she is a good example of a strong woman character.  Stop by the school this week and tell me what you think of her!  You might even see it posted on this website :-)

 The Sparknotes is also available for those who want/ like the extra help and background information.  Should you need the Sparknotes, please email me as soon as possible.  Here are a few favorite questions book club members have asked and found helpful through the years-

Discussion Questions:

1. What is your impression of Elizabeth so far in the novel?
2. How would you describe Elizabeth's relationship with her parents?
3. Literary Concept: The term dramatic irony refers to the contrast between what a character knows, and what the reader knows.  Try to find an example of dramatic irony in your first few chapters.  How did this irony affect your opinion of the characters?
4. Making Connections: How does your eating schedule compare to those in the novel?  Try to keep track of what you eat and at what time.  Do you think Elizabeth ate the same way you do? What do you think her favorite food was?

Summer Reading Club: Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief

As poor Percy Jackson struggles through school (and does something rather embarrassing to his math teacher)  he begins to suspect that his life is not what it seems. He discovers that his lifelong reading and attention troubles are all signs that he is a half-blood-a child of the Greek gods. After training, Percy and the gang go on a quest to recover Zeus' lost thunderbolt and stop a war between the fickle gods. Along the way, where modern life and mythology intersect to create both humor and excitement, Percy will come to know his father Poseidon, rescue his mother, and discover that he has what it takes to be a hero. Ultimately, Percy learns to trust his friends and his abilities and to choose love over despair. -Scholastic Review  

Discussion Questions:

1. Percy says, "Mr. Brunner expected me to be as good as everybody else, despite the fact that I had dyslexia and I had never made above a C- in my life.  No- he didn't expect me to be as good.  He expected me to be better."  What does this say about Mr. Brunner as a teacher?  

Literary Devices: 

Foreshadowing- When an author hints or gives clues to suggest that something will happen later in the story.

2. What foreshadowing did you pick up on in this story?  (An example could be Percy's love for water.)  What did is lead up to in the story?

Foil-a type pf character who is a contrast or the opposite of another character.

3. Do you think Percy's character is a foil for Luke? Why or why not?

4. SPOILER ALERT: DO not read this last question if you have not finished the story :-)

In the end of the book, do you sympathize with Luke and his feelings of betrayal from his father? Do you think what he did was right or wrong? Why? 

Summer Reading Club: Projects

Project by Anna Smith. Great Job Anna!

Summer Reading Club: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S.Lewis

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis is one of my all-time FAVORITES.  If you are familliar with the Narnia stories, you are already aware of the drastic transformation that each child goes through with each visit to Narnia.  And for good reason! Epic battles, trying sibling rivalry, and, of course, Aslan!! Whenever we spend time with God, we are drastically changed for the better.  I LOVE this series, and especailly this novel.  

Edmund, Lucy and their boisterous (and awful) cousin Eustace are pulled into Narnia throught he painting of a ship (soooo cool!!) to aid Prince Caspian in his recent plight.  They join forces with Caspian and traverse the great Eastern Ocean.  Caspian swore an oath to Aslan that he would find and bring home the 7 missing lords from the outlying islands who had been banished during Caspian's Uncle's tyrannical reign.

This novel is a fantasy classic for many reasons!! Heroism, epic adventures and leadership combine forces to create this amazing novel.  

**** Here are a few discussion questions to help you think deeper about the story: ****

Discussion Questions:

1. Is it irresponsible of Caspian, as King of Narnia, to leave his kingdom and go off on a long sea voyage? Why or Why not?
2. Why do you think Aslan send Edmund, Eustace, and Lucy to the Dawn Treader to join the quest in the first place?
3. What would you do if Aslan sent you on this kind of quest? Would you act similar or different to the children?
4. What does Aslan mean when he says he has "another name" in Edmund, Lucy, and Eustace's world? 
5. SPOILER ALERT!!! Consider the fates of the seven missing lords. Do we learn anything from what happened to them? How important are they to the overall plot of the book? Why have so many of them met with unpleasant fates?
6. THINK ABOUT IT: What's the meaning of the ship's name, Dawn Treader? 

Summer Reading Club: Projects List

Hello all!!! I hope you are having a wonderful summer of rest, relaxation, and READING!! I know I am!! 

Don't forget to be working on your projects when you are finished with these novels!! Here is the list of things you can do to show your love of the book!

Summer Reading Projects:

Fairy-Tale Ending: Have you ever wanted to change the way a story ended? Well, here is your chance! Re-write the last chapter in the story, and make it your own! Give the story the ending you think it should have. Don’t be afraid to mix it up! (1-2 pages maximum)

Dinner is served: Imagine you are invited to dine with a character in your book. List 5 – 10 questions that you might ask them during your visit, and imagine what their response might be. Also think about your surroundings: Where are you? What is being served? Who else might be there? Try to ask questions that people really want to know

Where in the world? Create a detailed map of where your story takes place. Show with words or symbols where important events occurred. Be sure to use plenty of detail in your artwork and description! (Maps can be three-dimensional as well. Paper maché is a wonderful resource. Get creative with it!)

Scrapbook it! Create a scrapbook based on information you have learned from the story. Be sure to write captions for each entry/page as to what is being included n the page and why. You can add items mentioned throughout the story, or create something new by including items that you think the characters might have used or collected. (5-10 illustrated pages, each with at least one caption)

Dear Diary: Create 5 journal entries from one of the main characters in the story. Be sure to include key events in these entries to give us an understanding of when they might have been written. Give plenty of detail! Be sure to write one entry from the beginning of the novel, and one from the end. (Each entry should be no less than one paragraph, no more than one page)

Lights, Camera, Action! Create a movie poster promoting the novel as a popular, new movie. You can cast real actors as the main characters, or use people you know. Make sure your poster reflects the time period from which the story takes place, and be sure to show costumes and background detail!

Shadowbox Showcase: Create a shadowbox that shows one of your favorite scenes from your novel. Be sure that it can sit vertically, so that it can hang on the wall. Imagine that you are capturing a little piece of that moment in the story with your artwork. Be expressive!

Some of my favorite things: Create a poster of ten of your favorite things about your novel. Be sure to give a description of each item, and illustrate each caption with either drawings or make a collage. Be sure to explain why they are your favorite!

Remember when… Create a poster of a timeline and show the main events of the story. Choose at least five main events out of your timeline to illustrate on your poster. You can illustrate them by either drawing or making separate collages.

Wanted! Create a wanted poster for either the villain or hero in your story. Explain who they are and what have done that makes them wanted by the law. Also give a one-page description of who they are and what they contributed to during the story.

Comic Quest: Create a comic book based on the main events of the novel. Be sure to include chapter headings and page numbers. Each illustrated page will need to have captions explaining what is happening in the picture. (5-10 pages)

On the Cover: Create a book jacket for your novel. Illustrate the front cover by either drawings or a collage. Be sure to include your favorite quote on the cover, and write a summary and review for the story. Try to capture the heart of what your novel is about in your artwork! (Going the extra mile: Research the author of your novel and write a short biography about them on the inside)