07.31.06

Guardians of Ga’hoole: The Capture

Posted in Books at 11:29 am by Meg

Since we’re dealing with talking animals, I thought we’d go next to the Guardians of Ga’hoole series. This was one of Girl’s favorite books for a while and you should have seen her working the group, so she could get it on our readling list. The first book is The Capture and it is written by Kathryn Lasky.

Consider what would have happened if Soren hadn’t been ‘rescued’ by the owls from St. Agges. Would he have survived his time on the forest floor? How? And what might have happened when his parents came home?

If Gylfie had left the school as soon as she was able, what could she have done to help Soren? Given what they found when they both left the school, would she have been able to find help? Why was her choice to stay the better choice for her?
The book describes many different ceremonies that young owls go through as they mature. How do these ceremonies compare to stages that you might go through? Why did the author add this detail to the stories? Did it help you identify with the owls and see them as rounded characters?
St. Agges also marked life stages with ceremonies. Why would they have continued these ‘normal’ activities?
Even speaking of Ga’hoole was enough to shock a moon-blinded owl, let alone for Gylfie and Soren to avoid being moon-blinded. Was this a realistic situation? What does it suggest of the regard of these stories in owl society?
Hortense has put herself in a very dangerous position in order to infiltrate St. Agges. Why did the author put her in the story? Did she hope to convey something to the reader or did Soren and Gylfie need Hortense’s presence?
The value of belief is a reoccurring theme throughout the book. In particular, it is stressed that an owl’s ability to fly is contingent on the belief that they will be able to. Have you ever been in a situation that you weren’t prepared to handle and gotten through it by keeping in mind that you should be able to?
After living at St. Agges and not being able to ask any questions; Grimble decides that the sweetest taste is not anything he can eat, but being having “a question on the tongue.” Do you agree that intellectual exploration (questions) is as important as food for someone’s quality of life?
Deus ex Machina is “an unexpected, artificial, or improbable character, device, or event introduced suddenly in a work of fiction or drama to resolve a situation or untangle a plot.” This device goes back to Greek and Roman dramas and in modern stories is often seen as ‘cheating.’ Do you think that the appearance of the eagles at the end qualifies as using this device?
At the very end Soren decides, “Legends were not only for the desperate. Legends were for the brave.” Why do ‘the brave’ need legends as well?
What did you enjoy about this book?
What have you read that is similar to this book?
Who was your favorite character? What did you appreciate about him/her?
What is stronger in the book: plot or character development? Why? Do you think this was intentional on the part of the author?
What are your concerns about this book?
What are the most important relationships in the book?
Did you find any flaws in the book?
Choose a minor character. What makes this character memorable?

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07.30.06

Dealing with Dragons

Posted in Books at 11:20 am by Meg

Keeping with the theme of dragons, we now move to Patricia Wrede’s series of books that start with Dealing with Dragons. Recommended for grades 5 to 9, most of the older kids found it a little simple. We based our discussion on the first book.

Describe Cimorene. What is she like? Does she fit your image of a typical princess
How does Cimorene find the dragons? Do you think that there is a reason that they aren’t easier to be found?
What happens to the Knights who try to rescue Cimorene? How might you try to discourage them from coming back?
How do Cimorene and Alianora get to be friends? Do they have much in common?
What happens when Cimorene unintentionally releases a jinn? What did you expect to happen? Is there another way to resolve this?
What is the power of Colin’s stone?
What are Woraug’s crimes? In the end, does he get what he deserved?
Cimorene’s great aunt’s name is Rose, who slept for years under a fairy’s curse - a take off on Sleeping Beauty. What other fairy tales are fractured in this book?
Are you a fan of fantasy books? How does this book compare to other dragon books you have read?
There is a lot of humor in this book. Where is one of the things that you found very funny as you were reading the book?
What would you rate this book on a scale of 1-10? What did you enjoy about this book? What would you change to improve the story?
Cimorene is really a classic tomboy heroine. Describe one of her “tomboy” strengths and how it is perceived as a defect at the beginning of the story.
When Cimorene goes looking for the dragons, the frog tells her not to stop at the Golden Palace. What might have been there, and what would have happened if she stopped?
What do you think the author was trying to accomplish with this novel?
Who was your favorite character? What did you appreciate about him/her?
Choose a minor character. What makes this character memorable?

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07.29.06

Eragon

Posted in Books at 11:12 am by Meg

Since it’s in the news, we’ll next go to Eragon by Christopher Paolini. I’m thinking that it doesn’t need any explanation,so here’s the quesions.

In Carvahall, after talking to the trader and knowing people’s feelings about “The Spine” and anything from it. Not knowing the rest of the story, would you have kept the “rock?”

Brom is an interesting character. When Brom and Eragon leave Carvahall, Brom describes himself as more than a storyteller but won’t explain at that point. Later he tells some of his story, but more details do not come clear until after his death. Is this slow release of Brom’s information appropriate, or should Eragon have learned it quicker?

On leaving the Palancar Valley, they pass Utgard, The ‘Place of Sorrow’ where the last Riders were killed by the king. Is this foreshadowing the ending when Eragon must take on the king? Or will it end some other way?

When Eragon discovers that he can use magic, Brom explains the different types of magic users: a sorcerer, like a Shade, magicians, witches and wizards, and explains that the Riders were different. Did Paolini justify the different categories adequately, or would you have wanted it differently?

Brom and Eragon discuss that everyone has 2 names. A common usage one and then a true name. He describes that to know your true name as “terrible knowledge…knowing yourself without delusions or sympathy.” Do you expect Eragon will find out his true name? And what earth-shattering thing will he learn about himself when he does? In the dungeon, Eragon tells the Shade that his name is: Du Súndavar Freohr, or death of the shadows. Is this his true name?

In the herbalist’s shop, Eragon has his fortune read. He is told: that he’ll have a long life, he has many choices to make, and will be in the center of great battles (some fought for him), the ‘mighty powers’ of the land will try to control his will and destiny, he has only one possible future that will bring him happiness and peace, he is free to choose his own fate, there is a doom upon him, some of which awaits a great journey, he will leave Alagaësia forever, he will have an epic romance with someone of noble birth and heritage, and will be betrayed from within his family. How much of this have we seen in the first book? And what are some possible storylines that we’ll see in the other 2 books?

Also in the herbalist’s shop the werecat speaks to Eragon. He tells him 2 things: where to find a weapon and what to do when all seems lost. Having just had Eragon have his fortune read, is Paolini putting in too many hints for future events?

What is the Elf woman, Arya, to Eragon? Who might she be with her tattoo? Is her long “elf” life an indication that she is the one that Eragon will have his ‘romance’ with? Or will the ‘romance’ be with Nasuada, or someone else?

Is there significance to the encounter with the slavers?

Murtagh is the son of a Forsworn and some woman. His mother is not named and disappeared at one point for a length of time and came back very ill. The description would fit Selena showing up in Carvahall and giving birth to Eragon. So, are they brothers? It is logical to assume the same father, but Angela speaks of Brom being in love and it being the ‘undoing’ of the woman. Could Eragon and Murtagh actually be half brothers? What would this imply to the story line?

Murtagh is a character with many hidden possibilities. His past and upbringing makes him a logical spy. Will there be a betrayal in his future? Is the evenly matched sparing that he and Eragon go through be a foreshadowing of a future battle?

Who will get the other 2 dragons? Will these stories see the ‘end’ of the dragons, or will the Riders start anew?

Will the mystery surrounding where Ajihad and his daughter be explained in the future books. Will they have a hidden agenda?

Eragon and Saphira ‘bless’ the orphaned child. What future storylines is the author setting up?

The twins appear to be the hidden spies in this book. Are they, or are they a red herring, and while they are twisted, someone else is leaking information about the Varden to the King?

Who is Osthato Chetowä, the Mourning Sage (and Togira Ikononka, the Cripple who is Whole) and what will he give Eragon?

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Junior Super Series Championship

Posted in Life, the Universe and All that Jazz at 8:33 am by Meg

Okay, we’re here. And believe it or not, they have free internet access!! Since we came over from the hotel early, I was able to jump on and read email (and of course) write this post. Boy is nervous and didn’t sleep well, but excited to be here. He says that his deck will do real well if he makes it to tomorrow, but the decks he might have to face today will have a good chance of plowing all over him. We’ll see.

I was planning on hanging out with Hubby and Girl for the day, but in the meeting center there’s a homeschooling conference going on next door. It even seems to be secular, which I’d never expect in Georgia. So, when it opens, I’m off to go check it out.

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07.28.06

Surviving the Applewhites

Posted in Books at 11:04 am by Meg

Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie Tolan has to be the first book on this list. It is recommended for ages 10 and up, but our group ranged from 8 to 14 and no one had problems with it.

If you aren’t familiar with it, this book is about a middle school troublemaker that is sent to live with an unschooling family and finds himself. It is very pro-homeschooling (as these things go) even though the author claims to have no connection to homeschooling.

The discussion questions:

Compare your typical day to a day at Wit’s End? Would you like to have an education like theirs? Is the Creative Academy a good example of homeschooling?

“’What gives you joy?’ … ‘Once you know that, you will know what you want from an education and you’ll be able to set your own program.’” (p. 123-124) What kind of program will Jake choose? How might you change your education?

Why did the author choose to alternate chapters between Jake and E.D. telling the story?

After the reporter shows up at the Applewhites and discovers the artistic dynasty, E.D. is angry at not being mentioned and feels she is the invisible Applewhite. (p. 68) Later, “Jake was beginning to feel he was disappearing altogether.” (p. 85) Why don’t Jake and E.D. feel noticed? Have you ever felt invisible?

Have you ever felt like you didn’t belong?

Would you prefer to be on stage or work behind the scenes on a play?

There is a discussion about E.D.’s father, Randolph, doing color-blind casting, or as he says rainbow casting, for the play (chapter 17, p. 112-117). Do you think he was right to cast the best person for the part or should he remain true to the fact that The Sound of Music is based on a true story and there weren’t any black or Asian people in the Von Trapp family?

Who was your favorite character and why?

Cordelia has a passion for dance, Archie has a passion for creating furniture, and Randolph has a passion for theater. What are E.D.’s and Jake’s passions? What do you have passion for?

What do you prefer—creativity with some chaos or order and predictability? Why?

Why did Jake decide to change his hair back to its original color?

Does Jake survive the Applewhites? Why or why not? Why didn’t he “survive” at other schools? Why did the Creative Academy work for Jake when all the other schools failed? How do you think Jake would fare if he went back to a traditional school?

According to Jake, the students, teachers, and administrators at Traybridge Middle School labeled him a “bad kid.” Why do people label Jake as bad? What effect does this label have on Jake? How can labels affect individuals?

E.D. says she is the only noncreative member of the Applewhite family. How does E.D. feel about this? How does she define creativity? What are E.D.’s strengths and talents?

Describe E.D. and Jake’s relationship. What, if anything, do the two have in common? How does their relationship develop over the course of the story?

“Passion is necessary to all of life. All of life. Meditating, working, cooking, eating. Especially eating!” (p. 142) —Govindaswami to Jake - How does Govindaswami define passion? Why does he feel it is so critical? What is the opposite of the kind of passion Govindaswami describes? What effects do passion, or lack of passion, have on your schoolwork, extracurricular activities, or friendships?

How does Jake feel when Randolph asks him to play the part of Rolf in his production of The Sound of Music? How does participating in the production change Jake? Have you ever had an experience that changes the way you think about yourself?

Do you think that the author had a reason to choose The Sound of Music to be the play that was produced? What was the point(s) she was trying to make? Would another play have worked?