Pizza and Pages: Ripper by Stefan Petrucha and Some Growing Pains

As with most established, long-running programs, I found that my middle school book club was experiencing some growing pains. Most of the regular attendees were beginning to age out (the original grade range for the group was 6 to 9) but they still love coming and were just a really great group in general. Plus, the titles I was choosing starting becoming too "baby-ish" as their reading tastes diverged and it was hard to find something they would all like. They wanted to grittier, meatier reads that I just didn't feel comfortable giving to 11 year-old sixth graders.

So I decide to alter my book group and bit and turn it into a Teen Book Club for grades 7 to 12. The teens were really on board with this change and are excited to delve into some older teen books.

So to kick off our first new book club meeting of the school year, I decided to choose a fun, historical thriller and Ripper seemed to fit the bill.

Type of Book: Historical/Mystery/Thriller

Plot Summary: From Goodreads: "Carver Young dreams of becoming a detective, despite growing up in an orphanage with only crime novels to encourage him. But when he is adopted by Detective Hawking of the world famous Pinkerton Agency, Carver is given not only the chance to find his biological father, he finds himself smack in the middle of a real life investigation: tracking down a vicious serial killer who has thrown New York City into utter panic. When the case begins to unfold, however, it’s worse than he could have ever imagined, and his loyalty to Mr. Hawking and the Pinkertons comes into question. As the body count rises and the investigation becomes dire, Carver must decide where his true loyalty lies."

Average Teen Rating: 7.3
The teens really enjoyed this one.

Discussion Questions: 

1. What makes a criminal? Do you think it’s nature? Nurture/environment? What makes people do awful things?
2. If someone breaks a subjectively unfair law, are they a criminal?
3. How do you think the story would be different/similar if it had taken place today with a modern day serial killer? Does the year it takes place make the story better?
4. On page 109, Hawking quotes William Blake who said, “A truth that’s told with bad intents beats all the lies you can invent.” What do you think Blake means by this? Do you agree?
1. Some lies can be helpful, kind, or white lies. However, truths with bad intents are hypocritical; Blake believes that using truth for the purpose of evil outdoes the evil of a lie.
2. An example of an evil truth is if you tell someone they will never win a gold medal, or that they have low grades, are obese, etc.

7. What invention from the Pinkertons would you be the most interested in?
8. If the New Pinkertons existed today, what kind of cool contraptions would you like to see exist?
9. Did you guess that Jack the Ripper was Carver’s father? Would it have been better to not include the murder in the first chapter or no?
10. What would you do if you found out one of your parents was a criminal?
11. Did you guess that Hawking was the Ripper? Is he the original or a copycat? What clues gave it away?
12. What do you think happened to Hawking? How did he escape?
13. Do you think Carver’s mother is alive?
14. Were you surprised to learn about which historical details from the book were real and made up? What surprised you the most? Least?
15. Have you read any Sherlock Holmes, Nick Neverseen, etc. type books? How does this one compare?
16. What do you think happens to Carver and Hawking after the story ends?

Book Review: Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate

Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate, Feiwel & Friends, September 2015. ARC provided by NetGalley.

Genre: Realistic/Magical Realism

Good for: Grades 3 to 6

Summary: Soon-to-be fifth-grader Jackson is a pragmatist whose number one rule is that there's an explanation for everything. So when his old imaginary friend, a cat named Crenshaw suddenly reappears, he doesn't quite believe it. His first appearance had been 3 years earlier when Jackson and his family had been forced to live out of their van. Now with the threat of homelessness looming again, Crenshaw is there to help Jackson in his time of need.

Thoughts: This book really tugged at my heartstrings. It's a unique take on the issue of poverty. Jackson's father is dealing with losing a good job due to multiple sclerosis and both parents are working part-time jobs just to make ends meet. But it isn't enough and the family goes through cycles of hard times where it's sometimes a challenge just to get food on the table. Jackson is going through a rough patch emotionally where he's now old enough to understand what's happening, though his parents are still trying to shelter him and his younger sister from it. Crenshaw serves as a device for Jackson to hopefully be able to tell his parents the truth about how he really feels even though he puts on a brave face. There's definitely an underlying sadness throughout, but it's coupled with a hopefulness that it so important in children's literature.

The writing style is simple, but lovely. Jackson is a character that readers will want befriend and/or give a big, warm hug to. Using a giant, charismatic cat as a device for dealing with difficult emotions is smart and effective.

Give this to kids who loved books like Keeper, The Higher Power of Lucky, or The Underneath. This would be a great choice for a book club.


My Goodreads Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Pizza and Pages: Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt

Type of Book: Realistic

Plot Summary: When Doug Swietek moves to Marysville with his family, things aren't too great. He finds himself trying to deal with an abusive father and an injured older brother who's just returned from the Vietnam war. With the help of the deli owner's daughter, Lil and an artistic librarian named Mr. Powell, Doug tries to become at least okay...for now.

Average Teen Rating: 6.9
I adored this book and luckily, the teens liked it too. I was worried that it might be too much of a "quiet" book for them, but they praised the writing style and characters.

Discussion Questions: It wasn't difficult to find good discussion questions since this title seems perfect for book clubs. I found them from Houghton Mifflin, as well as here.

Pizza and Pages: The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde

Type of Book: Fantasy/Humor

Plot Summary: From Goodreads: "In the good old days, magic was indispensable—it could both save a kingdom and clear a clogged drain. But now magic is fading: drain cleaner is cheaper than a spell, and magic carpets are used for pizza delivery. Fifteen-year-old foundling Jennifer Strange runs Kazam, an employment agency for magicians—but it’s hard to stay in business when magic is drying up. And then the visions start, predicting the death of the world’s last dragon at the hands of an unnamed Dragonslayer. If the visions are true, everything will change for Kazam—and for Jennifer. Because something is coming. Something known as . . . Big Magic."

Average Teen Rating: 7.35
I wasn't sure how the teens would respond to this title since it's a lighter fantasy and they usually enjoy pretty dark, heavy stuff. But I think it ended up being a good choice for a summer read!

Discussion Questions: I found some great questions, courtesy of Houghton Mifflin.

Pizza and Pages: Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson

Type of Book: Sci-Fi

Plot Summary: From Goodreads: "Ten years ago, Calamity came. It was a burst in the sky that gave ordinary men and women extraordinary powers. The awed public started calling them Epics. But Epics are no friend of man. With incredible gifts came the desire to rule. And to rule man you must crush his wills.

Nobody fights the Epics...nobody but the Reckoners. A shadowy group of ordinary humans, they spend their lives studying Epics, finding their weaknesses, and then assassinating them.

And David wants in. He wants Steelheart - the Epic who is said to be invincible. The Epic who killed David's father. For years, like the Reckoners, David's been studying, and planning - and he has something they need. Not an object, but an experience.

He's seen Steelheart bleed. And he wants revenge."

Average Teen Rating: 8.6
The teens really liked this one! They loved the action and the world-building. They didn't so much like the romance between David and Megan and that led into a great discussion about using romance in YA books in general. This is a great pick for teen book clubs.

Discussion Questions: 

1. David’s main purpose for killing Steelheart is to avenge his father. Prof says to him “You’ve got a passion to kill, but you need more passion to live.” Is Prof right? Is David’s motive (revenge) misguided or not?
2. Why do you think Calamity appeared? What do you think it is?
3. In the story, scholars theorize that Epics were a new stage of human development or evolutionary growth. Do you agree? Or do you have another theory?
4. Epics had a distinct, even incredible, lack of morals or conscience. That bothered some people, on a philosophical level. Theorists, scholars. They wondered at the sheer inhumanity many Epics manifested. Did the Epics kill because Calamity chose—for whatever reason—only terrible people to gain powers? Or did they kill because such amazing power twisted a person, made them irresponsible?
5. Megan mentions that things will be worse with Steelheart gone b/c he in a tyrannical way, provided food, electricity, etc. What do you think about that?
6. After Steelheart dies, what do you think happens to Newcago?
7. In the Reckoners, everyone has their own role:the leader/manager, the techie, the researcher, the odd jobber, etc. What would you do if you were a part of the group? What job do you think is the most important/essential?
8. Do you think people harvesting and selling the Epics mitochondria/blood for research purposes without them knowing is ethical? Why or why not?
9. What do you think of Megan as a character? Is her attitude towards David justified? Did you guess she was an Epic early on or were your surprised?
10. Why do you think that Prof and Megan were so hesitant to give in to their powers? How do you think it changes them?
11. Do you think Prof accidentally killed his students?
12. How far in the future do you think the story takes place?
13. What do you think of the different book covers? Which one is better/more effective?
14. What do you think happens in the sequel? Will you read it?

Pizza and Pages: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Type of Book: Sci-Fi

Plot Summary: From the author's website: "Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future."

Average Teen Rating: 8.6
My teens loved this one. I had several of them stop in to the library a few days after they received the book asking for the sequel!

Discussion Questions: Marissa Meyer actually has a great discussion guide on her website.

Pizza and Pages: Revolver by Marcus Sedgwick

Type of Book: Historical/Thriller

Plot Summary: Set in the Arctic Circle during the Gold Rush of 1910, fourteen year-old Sig is isolated in a cabin after his father dies by falling through the ice. Then a menacing stranger named Wolf appears and claims that Sig's father is hiding gold that rightfully belongs to Wolf. Sig's only defense might be his father's prized revolver.

Average Teen Rating: 5.3
I chose this book because I knew that it would generate a lot of good discussion. My teens we mixed on this title too. Some really got into the story, but some felt that it was too bleak for them.


Discussion Questions: I didn't really have to make up my own questions this month. I found some great ones here and here.

Book Review: Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman

Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman, HarperCollins, April 2015.

Genre: Realistic/Magical Realism

Good for: Grades 8 and Up

Summary: Fifteen year-old Caden Bosch's life takes place in two different worlds. The first is where he is a crew member aboard a ship bound for the Marianas Trench. The second is where he is a teenager struggling through paranoia and, eventually, schizophrenia.

Thoughts: For me, this was a difficult read. Not because it was boring or a slog to get through, but because of how dark and heartbreaking Caden's story is. It begins with Caden describing his travels aboard the ship along with the crew and their mission: to find treasure by diving into the deepest part of the Marianas Trench called the Challenger Deep. Then the story begins to alternate with Caden in the real world as a teenager who becomes increasingly paranoid at home and school. For instance, he believes that a classmate he barely knows is trying to kill him. His symptoms worsen until his parents have no other choice but to commit him. Most readers will figure out partway through that the "ship" chapters are a metaphor for Caden's time in the psychiatric hospital though until then, the story can make them feel a bit disoriented and confused (much like Caden's state of mind). Illustrations from the author's son, who has dealt with mental illness himself, are interspersed throughout and help to enhance the mood. While the teen appeal isn't obvious (it is quite a heavy, dark read), it's a great one to generate discussion in a book group or classroom.

My Goodreads Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Book Review: Fish in a Tree

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt, Nancy Paulsen Books, February 2015.

Genre: Realistic

Good for: Grades 3 to 7

Summary: Sixth-grader Ally Nickerson can't read. She can see the words on the page, but they dance around and don't make any sense to her. Ashamed, she acts disruptive in class in order to hide the real issue of her dyslexia. Even though she's actually good at things like math and art, the other kids call her stupid and slow. So when a new teacher arrives and wants to help Ally with her problem, she is reluctant to come around and finally realize that maybe she isn't as hopeless as she thinks.

Thoughts: Overall, this is a sweet, uplifting story about a girl who thinks that just because her mind works differently, she isn't as smart or as normal as the other kids in class. Along the way, she befriends Albert, a quiet and pragmatic boy with a less-than-ideal home life and Keisha, a confident girl with a talent for baking. Ally herself is coping with a military father who is away from home. Ally and her two friends are the most realistically portrayed characters by far. There are some nice moments with the other classmates, namely a hyper boy named Oliver and the "assistant bully" Jessica. However (and unfortunately) bully-in-charge Shay and the unconventional teacher, Mr. Daniels, fall flat. While the story starts strong, it begins to fall into cliched and sappy territory with one too many uplifting moments to make it ring completely true.  Nevertheless, this is a heartwarming story overall and would be a great choice for a tween book club or classroom.

My Goodreads Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Pizza and Pages: Fever Crumb by Philip Reeve

Type of Book: Steampunk/Sci-Fi

Plot Summary: From Goodreads: Fever Crumb is a girl who has been adopted and raised by Dr. Crumb, a member of the order of Engineers, where she serves as apprentice. In a time and place where women are not seen as reasonable creatures, Fever is an anomaly, the only female to serve in the order.

Soon though, she must say goodbye to Dr. Crumb - nearly the only person she's ever known - to assist archeologist Kit Solent on a top-secret project. As her work begins, Fever is plagued by memories that are not her own and Kit seems to have a particular interest in finding out what they are. Fever has also been singled out by city-dwellers who declare her part Scriven.

The Scriveners, not human, ruled the city some years ago but were hunted down and killed in a victorious uprising by the people. If there are any remaining Scriven, they are to be eliminated.

All Fever knows is what she's been told: that she is an orphan. Is Fever a Scriven? Whose memories does she hold? Is the mystery of Fever, adopted daughter of Dr. Crumb, the key to the secret that lies at the heart of London?

Average Teen Rating: 5.4
This was another book that I thought would be a sure-fire hit with my teens. They were pretty divided! I did have a smaller group than usual on Saturday due to a snowstorm, so I might have had other teens that loved it that didn't come to the meeting. Their main complaints were than the author didn't describe things well enough and that it was confusing at times. I think this might be a book with more limited appeal than others.

Discussion Questions:

1. Fever is adopted into the Order of Engineers, who have a very logical, no-nonsense way of life. They look down upon frivolous things like falling in love. Do you agree? If you lived in Fever's world would you be an Engineer?

2. When do you think the story takes place (near future, far future, etc...)? How can you tell? If you have to assign a year number to the story, what would you guess?

3. Do you think the "Downsizing" changed the world for the better or worse?

4. Did you guess what was inside Auric Godshawk's vault? What did you think it was? What did you think when you found out it was an engine to move London?

5. What do you think about Wavey Godshawk? Is/was she a good mother? A good person?

6. The Scriven called themselves "homo superior". Are they? If so, what made them better than humans? Why do you think the humans wanted to eliminate them?

7. What are Stalkers? Human? Cyborg? Zombie? Are they still human? Why do you think Grike is special?

8. What do you think happens in the sequel(s)? Will you read them?

9. Why do you think the book ends with the sentence: "My name is Fever Crumb."?

10. Did Fever Crumb remind you of any other books that you've read? Is it better? Worse?

To Rock with Resolve in 2015

The awesome librarians over at Storytime Underground are challenging everyone to set some professional goals for 2015. Others are already setting the bar pretty high with theirs, but here are mine for the coming year:

1. Read more - I know this one sounds pretty obvious (and maybe a bit lame) but in 2014 I found myself in a bit of a reading slump. I had just come off of an exciting experience on an awards committee where I had to read a crazy amount of books, so I found myself a bit book fatigued. This year, I plan to get back into the swing of it and resolve to read more. I set my Goodreads goal to a modest 100 books and will try The Hub's reading challenge to help keep me on task.

2. Put myself out there more - Amy Koester had a great blog post a few month's ago about her experience at ALA conferences in regards to meeting new people in a professional setting. I, myself, am not a wallflower per se, but the thought of heading to Midwinter this month not knowing anyone else attending kinda terrifies me. I'm lucky to be connected with some really great librarians on Twitter and such, but I'm a bit intimidated to just approach one of them in-person. Also, the sheer scope of an ALA conference in and of itself can be overwhelming. Amy had some truly sound advice and I'm going to resolve to follow it in Chicago.

3. Let it go - In 2014, I found myself wanting to do it all and be it all. So then I found myself stressed out, overwhelmed, and over-extended. This year, I resolve to realize that I don't have to take on everything myself and that it's okay to let others share the load with me.

4. Become good enough at the ukulele to play in storytime - This goal is a carryover from last year. I tried videos, books, and even some not-so-helpful private lessons, but I've just never felt comfortable enough to "pull the trigger" and play in storytime. This year, I'm going to try at least 1 song in storytime in front of an audience.

5. Blog more - I'm pretty comfortable blogging write-ups of my programs and storytimes, but I haven't really tried my hand at blogging on the more theoretical side of librarianship or reviewing the books I've read. I'm going to see if that's something I can do well and will be helpful to other youth librarians out there.

What are your goals for 2015?

Pizza and Pages: Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass

Type of Book: Realistic

Plot Summary: Just before Jeremy Fink's 13th birthday he receives a mysterious box from his deceased father along with a letter. The letter states that the box contains none other than the meaning of life. One problem though...there aren't any keys! In this sometimes humorous, sometimes touching tale Jeremy along with his best friend, Lizzy go on the hunt to locate the keys to this mysterious box...and hopefully learn the meaning of life.

Average Teen Rating: 7.4
I wasn't sure how my teens would react to this book since most of them are die-hard sci-fi and fantasy fans, but for the most part they loved it! They especially liked Wendy Mass's writing style and touches of humor throughout. I highly recommend this one for middle school book groups.

Discussion Questions:

The majority of my questions came from here.

1. Throughout the book, Jeremy and Lizzy end up delivering 3 different items back to their owners (the book, the lamp, and the telescope). What lesson did they learn about life from each? Did one resonate with you more than another?

2. Jeremy dubs the hour between 11pm and midnight the "Hour of Jeremy". Do you have time set aside daily like Jeremy? If so, when is it and what do you do during that time period?

3. Let's go back to the scene where Lizzy and Jeremy miss their bus stop, but because of that, Lizzy finds another rare card to add to her deck. Was that fate or coincidence? Do you believe in either?

4. What do you think about Lizzy as a character? How would you describe her? Same with Jeremy. Do you relate to one more than the other?

5. Were you surprised to learn that Jeremy's dad planned everything that happened in the story? Did you guess it beforehand? If so, when did you know?

6. What is the meaning of life to you? Why are we here?

Pizza and Pages: The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer

Type of Book: Sci-Fi

Plot Summary:
From Goodreads: "Matteo Alacran was not born; he was harvested with the DNA from El Patron, lord of a country called Opium. Can a boy who was bred to guarantee another’s survival find his own purpose in life? And can he ever be free?"

Average Teen Rating: 6.07
I was actually pretty shocked at how polarizing this book was! About half of my teens loved it and rated it at a 10. The rest complained that it was too slow at the beginning or too depressing and gave it low marks.


Discussion Questions:

I found discussion questions from the Multnomah County Library website and from Miss Giggles.

1. Why do you think the decision was made not to blunt Matt's intelligence? Do you think his life was easier or more difficult because of this?

2. Is a clone still human, or something else?

3. Is someone's personality formed more from their genetics or their upbringing (nature vs. nurture)?

4. Did you realize right away that this was set in the future or did you think it was in the past/present? How far into the future do you think it is?

5. What do you think happened in the story's world between now and then to make the world the way it is?

6. Do you think this could happen to us?

7. Would you clone yourself? What would you use your clone for?

8. If you lives in Matt's world, would you clone yourself to live longer or be more like El Viejo?

9. Do you think Celia's solution of poisoning Matt so that he couldn't be an organ donor to El Patron was a good one? Was there a better way?

10. Will you read the sequel?

Pizza and Pages: Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Septys

Type of Book: Historical Fiction

Plot Summary:
On one June night in 1941, 15 year-old Lina's life is changed forever. Soviet NKVD officers ransack her home and force Lina and her family into a train car bound for Siberia. Along with many other Lithuanian families, Lina's must learn to survive in prison camps under the harshest of conditions. This is based on true events that occurred during Stalin's reign of terror.

Average Teen Rating: 7.2
My teens loved this one. A lot of them found it to be "depressing" but "very well-written". This book generated a lot of good discussion. I highly recommend it!


Discussion Questions:

1. A lot of people are aware of the Holocaust, but not as many are aware of the mass deportations in 1941. Were you? If so, did the book teach you anything new? If not, were you surprised to learn about it?

2. Have you read other novels that dealt with mass killing before, such as the Holocaust? How did it compare with this one?

3. When the NKVD comes to take Lina and her family away, her mother miraculously remains calm. Do you think this helped the rest of the family?

4. When Jonas observes his mother smashing all of the crystal as asks why, she replies that it's because she loves them so much. Is this a rebellion? Is her reaction appropriate or strange?

5. Do you think the author was good at describing the conditions that Lina and her family lived in (the train, the camp, etc.)? How did it make you feel?

6. Do you think you would have survived?

7. The Bald Man isn't painted as a very sympathetic character throughout most of the novel. What do you think his purpose in the story was?

8. Why do you think Lina, Jonas, and Andreas ultimately survived? What character traits did they have that helped them? Who did you relate to the most?

9. Do you think the people that signed the documents that charged them with counterrevolutionary activities against the Soviet Union were wrong? Weak? Could you see yourself or your family doing the same?

10. Lina's outlet for dealing with her situation is drawing. Do you have a similar outlet? If so, what is it?

11. What was your reaction to finding out that Lina's extended family was safe in Germany at the cost of Lina's family's freedom? Do you think Lina was justified in her reaction?

12. What are the "shades of gray" in the story?

I borrowed/tweaked some of the discussion questions from here.

Pizza and Pages: Reckless by Cornelia Funke

Type of Book: Fantasy

Plot Summary:
(From Goodreads):

"Ever since Jacob Reckless was a child, he has been escaping to a hidden world through a portal in his father's abandoned study. Over the years, he has made a name for himself as a finder of enchanted items and buried secrets. He's also made many enemies and allies--most important, Fox, a beautiful shape-shifting vixen whom Jacob cares for more than he lets on.

But life in this other world is about to change. Tragedy strikes when Jacob's younger brother, Will, follows him through the portal. Brutally attacked, Will is infected with a curse that is quickly transforming him into a Goyl--a ruthless killing machine, with skin made of stone."

Average Teen Rating: 3.3

Oh man, my teens did NOT like this book. The most common complaints were that it was too confusing and too slow. I had one upper middle school girl that loved it. She is a massive fantasy fan. I was actually quite surprised because the majority of my book club teens are fantasy fans. I decided to post my questions anyway in case any other book clubs out there think their teens might like the book better.

Discussion Questions:

1. What do you think about Jacob? Is he a good person? Would you be friends with him?

2. Which fairy tales did you recognize in the book? Snow White, Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty, Hansel and Gretel, The Frog Prince - Funke concentrated on the Grimm German fairy tales in this book.

3. What did you think about Mirrorworld? Would you rather live in a place like that, with magic and no technology? Or do you prefer this modern real world?

4. Did you have a favorite part of Mirrorworld? (i.e. the fairy realm, the Goyl city, the Empress’s palace)?

5. Do you think the characters were fleshed out enough? Is there someone you wanted to know more about?

6. How do you feel about Fox? Why do you think she is so protective of Jacob? Why do you think she prefers her fox form over her human one? (Did you know that foxes are often found as supportive characters in the Grimm’s fairy tales?)

7. Who in the story do you think is the strongest? Why?

8. Why do you think Jacob decided to free The Dark Fairy? Was that a mistake?

9. Does your opinion of the book change knowing that it was first written in German and then translated?

10. Where do you think Jacob and Will’s father is? Do you think he’s alive?

11. Will you read the sequel, Fearless? What do you think happens?

Pizza and Pages: Zen and the Art of Faking It by Jorden Sonnenblick

Type of Book: Realistic

Plot Summary:

When San Lee starts eighth grade at a new school, he makes the decision to become someone completely different. As luck would have it, he accidentally answers too many questions about zen in his World History and thus becomes known as the school's resident zen master.Now San has to decide whether to come clean to everyone, including a cute girl named Woody, or keep playing the part.


Average Teen Rating: 5.03

My teens, for the most part, did not care for this book. They felt like it was too slow, though to be fair, most of them are hard-core fantasy/sci-fi fans. I did have a couple of teens that gave it high marks, though the bulk of the ratings were between 3 and 6.


Discussion Questions:

1. What do you think about San creating a different past/identity for himself as a Zen master being the new kid? Would you ever do something similar if you could start over at a new school?

2. Have you ever lied about yourself to impress others? Were there any consequences? Would you do it again?

3. San knows that he should tell Woody the truth about himself, but doesn’t. When do you think he should have?

4. Did you guess who ELL was before it was revealed?

5. Do you think San ended up being a Zen master in the end or was he still just faking it?

6. Do you think San was right in his feelings for his dad? Would you forgive him if you were San?

7. Do you agree or disagree with the way San’s mom felt about his father? Was San or his mom more justified in their feelings?

8. Woody also has some family issues, which was the reason for changing her name. Do you think that helped her deal with her situation?

9. Have you ever studied the art of zen and/or meditated? Did it help you?

(You can also find questions on the Multnomah County Library's site.)

Pizza and Pages: The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau

Type of Book: Science Fiction/Dystopia

Plot Summary:

Sixteen year-old Cia Vale's dream comes true when she is chosen for The Testing which is society's one chance to attend the University and become one of the future leaders. However, she soon discovers that The Testing isn't what she thought it would be. Cia quickly learns that she can't trust anyone and that some of her tests can mean the difference between life and death.


Average Teen Rating: 6
This title was polarizing in my group. Some loved it and some really did not. Those who really loved The Hunger Games or Divergent or other similar stories enjoyed it. Others thought it was boring and didn't finish.

Discussion Questions:

1. What do you think started the Seven Stages War?
2. Do you think The Testing is a good idea? Why or why not? Why do you think The Testing was created?
3. Would you make it through The Testing? How far would you get?
4. If you could only choose 3 things to survive in the unknown wilderness like the candidates, what would you take? Why?
5. What do you think about Cia? Is she too perfect?
6. How does The Testing compare to other similar stories like The Hunger Games and Divergent? Better? Worse?
7. Would you have drunk the anti-truth serum liquid in the vial from the fence stranger?
8. The Testing is a way for the United Commonwealth to determine who would make a good leader. What do you think makes a good leader? What is the most important quality?
9. On page 255, Cia talks about "the end justifying the means" in regard to the war and bombing the cities. Do you think it does? Does winning mean everything, even at the expense of others?
10. Would you want your memory erased after The Testing?
11. What do you think happens in the sequel?

Pizza and Pages: Bird by Angela Johnson

Type of Book: Realistic

Plot Summary:

Thirteen year-old Bird runs away from Ohio to Alabama to chase after her stepfather, Cecil and bring him back home. There, Bird meets Ethan, who lives in the house next to the barn where she is hiding. She also encounters a boy named Jay who is dealing with the death of his brother, Derek. Their lives intertwine in interesting and quietly surprising ways.

Average Teen Rating: 7.4
My realistic fiction fans rated this one high, but my sci-fi fans still gave it good marks!

Discussion Questions:

This Pizza and Pages meeting was unique because we were fortunate enough to get Angela Johnson live and in-person to answer questions! First of all, can I just be a fangirl and gush for a minute about her? I highly recommend trying to get Ms. Johnson to your school or library. She is lovely. She put the teens at ease with her demeanor and sense of humor and was always interested in hearing their thoughts and opinions.

So needless to say we didn't follow our typical discussion questions format, but I'll post the ones I had prepared anyway.

1. What do you think of the cover?
2. Why did Bird run away from home? Would you ever do the same thing?
3. What would you do and how would you feel if you were in Bird's situation?
4. On page 18, Ethan says that the world whispers when his Mama is near. He says the same thing about Bird. What do you think he means?
5. What did you think about the chapters alternating between Bird, Ethan, and Jay's perspectives? Do you think it added to the story? Did it confuse or bother you?
6. What do you think about Googy taking the fall for stealing Mrs. Pritchard's truck?
7. What kind of a person do you think Cecil is? Good? Bad? Neither? What makes you think so?
8. Ethan talks about how having Derek's heart makes him want to do and eat things he never wanted before, like peanut butter. Do you think this is scientifically possible?
9. Why do you think Bird chose to hide rather than confront Cecil? What was it that made her decide it was time to go back home?
10. Which character did you connect to the most?

Pizza and Pages: UnSouled by Neal Shusterman

Type of Book: Science Fiction/Dystopian

Plot Summary:

This is the third book in the "Unwind" dystology. (Note: We had read/discussed both Unwind and UnWholly in previous book club meetings. The teens begged me to read and discuss UnSouled so I agreed to make it my end of the year discussion back in January, giving them plenty of time to read (or re-read) the first two books if they wanted. The teens who decided not to read the other two books commented that they had very little trouble following the plot, save for a couple of minor details.)

Because there is so much going on in this third installement, it's better if I just quote the plot summary from Goodreads instead of attempting to be concise myself:

"Connor and Lev are on the run after the destruction of the Graveyard, the last safe haven for AWOL Unwinds. But for the first time, they’re not just running away from something. This time, they’re running toward answers, in the form of a woman Proactive Citizenry has tried to erase from history itself. If they can find her, and learn why the shadowy figures behind unwinding are so afraid of her, they may discover the key to bringing down unwinding forever.

Cam, the rewound boy, is plotting to take down the organization that created him. Because he knows that if he can bring Proactive Citizenry to its knees, it will show Risa how he truly feels about her. And without Risa, Cam is having trouble remembering what it feels like to be human.
With the Juvenile Authority and vindictive parts pirates hunting them, the paths of Connor, Lev, Cam, and Risa will converge explosively—and everyone will be changed."

Average Teen Rating: 8.36
My book club teens LOVE science fiction, so this one got high marks.

Discussion Questions:

A curriculum guide to the book with some discussion questions can also be found here.

1. Let's talk about Janson Reinschild. Do you consider him to be a hero, a victim, or a villain. Why?
2. If Unwinding technology were available today and you had been in an accident that vitally affected one of your limbs or organs. Would you take an unwound body part? What if it was a matter of life or death?
3. Would you ever get a NeuroWeave or eye pigmentation or any other technological enhancement? Why or why not?
4. What do you think the purpose of the real-life articles at the beginning of each section are?
5. At the beginning of Part 3, there are stories of heart transplant patients who seem to be able to recall the memories of their donor. Do you think this is really possible?
6. What did you think about the "commercial" interruptions throughout? Do you think they added or distracted from the story?
7. What do you think about "shelling"? Does it make a difference that the ones being shelled are violent criminals?
8. Cam worries that he might be "nothing more than a medical sleight of hand. A trick of the scalpel. A hollow shell mimicking life." Do you agree? Is Cam his own person or a combination of all of this unwound parts?
9. Is Starkey a good guy or a bad guy? Why?
10. Do you see any similarities between Starkey and Connor?
11. What do you think Grace's purpose in the story is?
12. Do you think unwinding could ever become a reality?
13.  What do you think about the cover of the book? What does it mean that only one pair of eyes is open?
14. Why do you think the book is titled UnSouled?
15. What do you think will happen in the fourth book?

Pizza and Pages: The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen

Every Saturday, I host a book discussion group for grades 6 to 9, which I wrote about here.

While I was hopping around the Internet, I stumbled across a librarian that writes up her book discussions on her blog along with a list of her discussion questions. I thought that was ingenious and something that I find handy when I'm planning my book club discussions. (Note: I am soooo sorry, but I absolutely cannot remember what/whose blog it was...so if it's yours, please let me know and I will make sure to give you credit!)

This month, we read the book The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen. This was at the request of one of my middle school girls who absolutely LOVES this book. I thought that there was a lot of potential discussion here, so I decided to give it a whirl. Now, most of my book group falls into one of three categories:

1. The majority, who would be overjoyed if I chose nothing but science fiction every month.
2. A small group of boys who would be overjoyed if I chose nothing but epic fantasies.
3. A VERY small group of girls who would be overjoyed if I chose nothing but romances.

It's sometimes hard to appease all three groups. I make sure to frequently remind them that the purpose of a book club is to read outside of their comfort zone and that even if they don't like a book, come anyway.

So when I picked this book, I knew it would be divisive. At the end of each book club meeting, I have the teens go around the table and rate the book from 1 to 10. A "1" means that "This is the worst book I've ever read in my life. Blech!" A "10" means that "This is the best, most fabulous book I've ever read in my life and I'll never read anything better." I then take an average for my notes.

Plot Summary:

Jessica is 16 years-old and one of the stars of her school's track team. When a terrible bus accident causes her to lose one of her legs, she must find a way to keep her dream of running again alive. Themes in the book are determination and friendship. This one would appeal the most to middle/high schoolers who love a realistic, emotional read like Jorden Sonnenblick.

Average Teen Rating: 7.44
Some gave it a 3 and my three romance fans gave it a 10. The rest middled around a 7.

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you know anyone who has lost a limb or has a similar condition? How do they compare with Jessica? How do the other kids at school treat them?
2. How would you react if you lost one of your limbs?
3. At first, Jessica wishes she had lost an arm instead. Which would be better/worse?
4. Do you think Jessica's up and down emotions are normal or too dramatic?
5. Do you find the other characters to be realistic?
6. Do you think Jessica could have raised that money herself? Do you think she would be in the same place at the end of the book without all of the support?
7. What do you think of Rosa?
8. Would it be more difficult to have a challenge similar to Rosa's (cerebral palsy) or Jessica's?
9. What do you think about Gavin? Did you like that they ended up together?
10. Do you think the romance between Jessica and Gavin was an important plot point or did you wish it hadn't been included?
11. Do you ever judge others or have you ever been judged for the way that you look or act?
12. What was the toughest obstacle you have ever overcome in your life and how did you do it?