The 2023 Forest of Reading Books are Here!

By -
Scroll through the blog entries/images below to see the 2023 nominees for the White Pine Award. Each blog has discussion questions to get you thinking as you read. Feel free to respond to any of the prompts on the blog (just be respectful!).

Summaries of the books can be found at the Forest of Reading website:

Comments

Post a Comment

Thank you for engaging in thoughtful & respectful dialogue about what you are reading.

Popular posts from this blog

By -
Image
Thanks for a great meeting!!! So, we decided to trade books. If you were unable to attend and would like to trade in your current book for a new one, please see Mr. Feick. Hopefully by the time we meet again in December, we will have our White Pine books to take home for the Christmas Break. Next meeting: Thursday, December 17 Also, as requested... Hot Mulled Cider 2 L Apple cider, fresh, unseasoned 3/4 - 1 c Brown sugar, packed 1/2 can Frozen orange concentrate 4 Cinnamon sticks 2 heaping T Cloves, loose or in a tea ball or bound in cheesecloth Combine all ingredients in a crock pot and allow to simmer for 2 hours. Once you start drinking the cider the cloves very quickly begin to warm up the mixer, so if you're not over fond of cloves, you may wish to remove them. Cinnamon sticks can be washed, allowed to thoroughly air dry and reused in your next batch. Enjoy! Homemade Caramel Sauce 2 c Brown sugar, packed 1 c Half-n-half, regular or light 1/2 c Butter, salted, chunked 2 pinch...
Read more

YA Fiction: The Summer of Bitter and Sweet by Jen Ferguson

By -
Image
To Think About: 1. Lou, despite facing many challenges in her life, draws on those around her to find strength and joy. Who are these people and how do they support her? What are your sources of strength and joy when times are difficult for you? 2. In her Author’s Note, Jen Ferguson writes, “The most common critique of King from early readers was that he’s too good for a teenage boy. Let me tell you, I have no regrets. King’s goodness, his kindness, his heart, those are his superpowers.” (p. 363). What do you think about this? Do you have anyone in your life with “superpowers”? 3. Much of The Summer of Bitter and Sweet focuses on Lou’s job in the Michif Creamery. How would you describe Lou’s feelings about working there? How do Lou’s feelings compare to yours about your part-time work or volunteer experiences? 4. Lou spends much of The Summer of Bitter and Sweet fretting about losing her family’s farm and land. Why does she value them so much? What connections do you...
Read more

The Devil in the White City - Discussion Questions

By -
Here are some things that we could discuss at our meeting: 1. In what ways does the Chicago World's Fair of 1893 change America? What lasting inventions and ideas did it introduce into American culture? What important figures were critically influenced by the Fair? 2. At the end of the book, Larson suggests that, "exactly what motivated Holmes may never be known" (395). What possible motives are exposed in the story? Why is it important to try to understand the motives a person like Holmes? 3. In what ways is The Devil in the White City like a novel? 4. What is the essential difference between men like Daniel Burnham and Henry H. Holmes? Are they alike in any way?
Read more