EDHS & White Pine Book Club

To Think About: 1. How does Mercedes change from the beginning to the end of the novel? 2. Identify three major themes that run like rivers through the text. 3. What does Mercedes learn about love through her three most important relationships: that with her mother Patrice, that with her BFF Sandra, and that with her love interest Ellis? 4. How does art help one express one’s emotions? 5. If art is a reflection of the human experience, how does experiencing art help one grow? 6. On the final page of the novel, author Christy Goerzen concludes with Mercedes Stowell’s bio in a prestigious art magazine. Is her bio fantasy or part of Mercedes’ future?

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...

To Think About: 1. Twice as Perfect deals with the question of self and who we are. How does Ada describe herself? How does her view of herself change as the story progresses? 2. In the book, Nigerian kids are expected to choose one of three career paths. What are they? 3. Genny and Sam chose different paths than those expected. Why was one accepted and the other not? 4.Why does Ada feel like she needs to be twice as perfect? 5. The character of Sam is a mystery throughout the book as we hear of him but never see him. How does that move the story forward? What did you think of the character of Sam and the choices he made? 6. What are your thoughts surrounding the ending of the book? Was it realistic? Do you feel that things were wrapped up well?

To Think About: 1. Why, do you think, did H.N. Khan call this book The Wrong Side of the Court ? 2. Fawad and his friends are torn between their desire for revenge and their desire to see violence end in their neighbourhood. In your mind, is pursuing revenge (either violent or non-violent) ever an acceptable response? What is the best way to address past wrongs? 3. Fawad has many role models, ranging from Steph Curry to coaches to people in his family. How do they serve to guide him? Who are the people in your life that you consider to be role models? What inspiration do you draw from them? 4. Fawad is very self-conscious about being labeled a “boy from Regent Park” because of people’s negative stereotypes of the neighbourhood and its residents. What were the good and bad parts about living in that community? Describe a situation where you felt driven to surpass people’s expectations of you. What was the source of your motivation? 5. Fawad often struggles to live for h...

  Kid and Teen Committee Applications Are Open! The Forest of Reading releases summer reading lists for kids and teens that  our Kid and Teen Committees  put together every spring. We invite avid readers in Grades 4 to 6, Grades 7 and 8, and high school to join three separate committees and help build summer reading lists for Canadian kids and teens. Each committee will run virtually through Zoom. If you have an avid reader who is interested in participating, please fill out the application form. Dates for these virtual committee meetings: May 2 – Silver Birch May 3 – Red Maple May 5 – White Pine Apply today!

Hey there!  I'm processing the White Pine book order from the board and should have them ready for tomorrow afternoon. If you'd like to borrow a White Pine book, please email me at rfeick@ugcloud.ca and I will deliver the book to you via your afternoon class (I don't arrive until 10:40).  And now that we're back, please return the books you're finished with. See you tomorrow at 11:30, online. See the EDHS & White Pine Bookclub Google classroom for the link.

The Wild Pick Your Dream Team When Dawn is taken to Out of the Wild, she isn’t able to choose the pack that she is  part of. Imagine you had the chance to bring your own seven or eight person team to  the program. Describe your team.  Who would you bring?  Why would you choose them? What colour would you assign each of them? To Think About... 1. The author talks directly to the reader throughout the novel. What are your thoughts about this as a narrative style? 2. Of the eight pack members in the story, who would you choose to befriend? What influenced  your decision? 3.  What do you think makes a society cohesive? Do you think the bear pack is actually  cohesive?