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Family Book Club: January Edition
Making more time for family and reading are at the very top of my New Year’s Resolution list: so combining the two into a family book club is perfection. And January is the perfect time to kick it off! Geared towards middle grade readers, these picks include some of our favorite books from 2016, are equally compelling for adults, and make excellent read-aloud options for younger siblings. Together, your family can explore the tale of a pet fox, read a story about prison life, get a taste of a New Mexico summer, and more. Great questions, insights, and conversations are sure to be shared as your family reads and discusses these books together.
Ships in 1-2 days.
Pax, by Sara Pennypacker
This story about a boy and his pet fox will pull you in and may break you apart, just a little. Peter and Pax have been together since Pax was rescued as a kit five years ago. Fully domesticated and happy as Peter’s pet, Pax must return to the forest when Peter’s family is forced to make a military move. After relocating 300 miles away, a devastated Peter embarks on a journey to reunite with Pax. Meanwhile, Pax sets out on a journey of his own. Parents will find similarities in this book to a childhood classic, Where the Red Fern Grows, exploring themes of love, loss, and loyalty.
As the family convenes to discuss this book, serve up some fox-friendly foods, such as a platter of fruits and berries. To make things a little more interesting and to test your own wilderness survival capabilities, consider some dried crickets or grasshoppers, too!
Questions for discussion:
• Describe the connection between Peter and Pax. What makes Peter leave to look for Pax?
• Have you ever been torn apart from a loved one (human or animal) due to circumstances beyond your control?
• If you had to travel 300 miles as fast as possible, how would you plan for your trip?
• Why do you think the author wrote the book from two points of view, alternating between Peter and Pax? How did that help you in understanding the plot?
• What do you think Peter and Pax do after the story ends?
All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook, by Leslie Connor
Exploring a different type of diversity often rare in children’s books, this title is about a little boy born in a prison and growing up there with his incarcerated mother, Jessica. The warden is progressive and allows Perry to live at Blue River Penitentiary, but the district attorney soon finds out about Perry and the little boy is sent from prison to the foster VanLeer house as the awaits his mother’s parole. With big characters and big issues unfolding, this book is a memorable tale about what really makes a place a home.
When it is time for the family to meet for book club, consider serving up some favorite comfort foods as a reminder of home, whether it’s macaroni and cheese with a side of pizza, or mashed potatoes with turkey. Make the food and drinks all about your family favorites.
Questions for discussion:
• What does it mean when someone is incarcerated? How does that happen?
• Is Mr. VanLeer true to his word?
• If you had a family member who was incarcerated, would you want to live in prison to be near them?
• How is life different at Blue River Penitentiary?
• What makes a place a home?
Ships in 1-2 days.
Hour of the Bees, by Lindsay Eagar
A summer spent helping a distant grandpa move out of his ranch and into an assisted living facility isn’t at the top of most 12-year old’s wish lists. But that is exactly what Carol must do. She misses her friends, sleepovers, and days spent lounging by the pool, but ultimately discovers that she could have missed out on learning magical tales and fantastic stories from her grandfather. An excellent book to deliberate with kids as you discuss your own aging family members.
When you meet to discuss this book, serve up New Mexican style ranch food with chiles, beans, and corn. A refreshing lemonade hits the sweet spot and don’t forget the dessert—sopapillas with honey, of course.
Questions for discussion:
• What does having dementia mean and how does it affect someone?
• Do you think twelve is the borderline age between being a child and becoming a young adult?
• What does Carol believe about her grandfather’s stories? What do you believe?
• As the title suggests, bees appear throughout the story, but what do you think the word “hour” refers to?
• How does nature play a role in this story?
Ships in 1-2 days.
Booked, by Kwame Alexander
Some kids live and breathe soccer, and Nick Hall is one of them. He loves the sport more than anything. When he is sidelined by an injury, his whole world starts to fall apart. His mom takes a job in another state, he and his best friend are on the outs, a bully comes into his life, and he develops a major crush on someone. A rapping librarian and a verbomaniac dad provide very interesting characters as Nick’s story goes from bad to better. This novel is equally great for avid readers, poetry lovers, and sports fanatics.
As book club convenes, set out some sporty snacks to help set the tone—think orange slices, fruit smoothies, trail mix, and apples with peanut butter. You may even want to get outside and kick a soccer ball around a bit before or after your book club gathering.
Questions for discussion:
• What types of poetry styles does the author use in this book?
• What is the relationship between Nick and his father like?
• What new words did you learn while reading this book?
• What is the connection of this book to the World Cup?
It Ain’t So Awful, Falafel, by Firoozeh Dumas
Set in the late 70’s, this story is about a young Iranian-born girl living in California during the Iranian crisis. Based on the author’s childhood, this story follows along as Cindy experiences normal middle school concerns coupled with serious anti-Iranian sentiments that come her way. Cindy and her family face hardships, yet find a way to embrace their heritage while also incorporating new traditions into their lives. A book that straddles two cultures, It Ain’t So Awful, Falafel will teach your family a lot about Iran, history, faith, stereotypes, racism, and perseverance.
At book club, serve a mashup of Persian food with American sweets. A combination of kebabs and rice with a classic fruit pie will pair nicely with this book. For a sweet drink treat, try carrot juice or pomegranate juice and ice cream.
Questions for Discussion:
• What does it mean to be an immigrant? What might it like to be an immigrant family in America?
• What was the Iranian hostage crisis? How did this event impact Cindy’s family?
• Have you ever witnessed someone being harassed because of their ethnicity, religion, culture, or gender? How did you respond? How did it make you feel?
• Cindy’s family was harassed in the 1970’s as a result of worldwide political issues—do you think the problems they faced still confront immigrant families today?
What books would you like to see in the February Edition of Family Book Club?