Family Book Club: September Edition

Get out the reading logs—it is back to school time! In between homework, soccer practice, and chess club, we promise your middle grader can sneak in some reading time with these September book picks. The best part? They are family friendly and mom and dad can join in on the fun to make it a family affair. Read these together and meet up for a book club meeting, complete with questions and snack suggestions, and those pesky reading logs will be full soon enough.

This book club meeting can center around a variety of food and drink options—from country-specific delicacies to simple foods that many refugees encounter in camps and in transit. More important than the food is a world map for this meeting. Discussing the waypoints of each character and pinpointing them on the map will provide a great visual aid for the entire family.

Questions for Discussion:
• How are the situations of Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud’s situations different, and how are they alike?
• Discuss their various methods of travel and the safety and ease of each.
• Who are the helpful people in each story and why are some people not helpful to the refugees?

When you get your kids this book, get them a pack of sticky notes to write down their thoughts and questions along the way. Send out an invite for this book club meeting via sticky note (of course) and pack a lunch (or dinner) for your get together.

Questions for Discussion:
• What do you think about banning cellphones in the middle school? How would you communicate with your friends if that was the rule at your school?
• Do you agree with the sticky note, “Words are ghosts that can haunt us forever,” that was found on Jason’s locker?
• Would you consider a sticky note challenge, in which you use an entire pack of sticky notes to write something nice about the people you know?

Most of this book takes place in a hospital setting, meaning food and atmosphere are both lacking. One hospital food favorite that might get your kid excited is Jell-O. Make a batch or two, perhaps several flavors, and dish out the colorful treat as you all gather to discuss.

Questions for Discussion:
• Why does Nora think Riley’s collapse and coma is her fault? Have you ever had a moment with a friend that you later regretted?
• What are the various emotions Nora feels as we read about Riley’s illness and recovery?
• How did you feel about Riley as she came out of her coma and worked to regain skills we use every day?

Gather your kids together for a sweet treat at this discussion. Throw Auggie an early birthday party (his birthday is October 10th) and celebrate this book with cake and punch, and maybe a few decorations to set the mood.

Questions for Discussion:
• When you experience a bully, do you ever consider why they are being mean or what might be going on their life?
• Who has been a good friend to you for most of your life? Who is a new friend from school that you are excited about being friends with? How are these friendships different?
• Do you like the way the author told the stories of these three characters who have relationships with Auggie?

Serve up the foods you wish your kids would stop loathing—like the broccoli and quinoa and ahi tuna you so love—and tell them to pretend they have amnesia. If Chase can start fresh, so can your kids!

Questions for Discussion:
• Is there anyone in your life whom you wish would stop bullying?
• Do you think it is possible to restart or remake yourself into a better version of you?
• What do you think it is like to wake up in a hospital and not know who you are? What would you do and whom could you trust to help you?

What is your family reading together this month?