Kaitlin McKillop

Ishmael faced the loss of his childhood really early on, forced to grow up in a way of solitude as a child. One aspect that has had a large affect on him, as it would any child, is the loss of his brother, not to death, but to the world they had been subjected to. #285WLU10

@PhTerrence I think that the duality shown within that context is very important, especially for impressionable tween readers, to see both sides of the story, and understand some of the rationale behind a situation like child soldiers, and the hardships other must endure.

The duality of war is portrayed through Beah's experiences both as the terrorized and the terrorizer. At first, Beah lived each day in fear and hopelessness of his lost family. As a soldier, he became the harbinger of the very things that had caused him so much anguish. #285WLU10

@ChrisXu_ I think that is a really interesting interpretation! When looking individually, it could be chalked up to simple grammar choices, but when viewed as a whole within the context like you have done, it has much more of a significant impact!

One of my favourite poems was "the garden" 48, because while the book focuses on heavy topics and a lot surrounding the civil rights movement and the "marching," the small poems in between, like "the garden," show the little things that made their everyday lives hopeful. #285WLU9

I find it interesting Bod’s education & will to learn is so prominent. Bod discovers the drive to learn new things about the world and new opportunities to expand his knowledge. As a child, Silas seemed to know everything, I believe this to be a driving factor for Bod. #285WLU8

@ilonkam5445 I liked this as well! I really enjoyed the way Gaiman allows for his protagonists to reach for what they want by allowing them to grow in a natural way. The children in the novels aren’t dumbed down and the plot spoof the stories aren’t either.

It’s interesting how Gaiman writes Bod & Scarlett so maturely although they are so young. Bod himself understands a very complex part of life (death), which most people struggle to accept. This understanding helps him when encountering the “indigo man” and having no fear #285WLU7

I really enjoyed reading about the differences between Silas and Miss Lupescu & what they taught Bod. I believe that both of them were very important & that having only one of them teach Bod would have needed in very differing results. Each lesson was important for Bod to develop

@Setarehkhaniza3 I agree! I think Scarlett is a very important person in Bod’s life as she is able to aid Bod in learning about the world and what it means to have a true friend.

#285WLU7 Scarlett plays a very important role in Bod's development as she portrays friendship qualities that he needs in order to develop many skills. Scarlett and Bod go to one another when they feel alone and want to play, and these are key skills to understand.

I really enjoyed that Ella Enchanted wasn’t your typical fairytale. The prince didn’t save her, her fairy godmother didn’t save her, Ella saved herself. She used her wits and knowledge to her advantage throughout the entirety of the book and I believe she is a great role model.

@AlexiaGalloro I loved this aspect as well! I think it is especially important for readers if the tween age group to understand that you aren’t going to be saved in every situation, that everyone needs to learn to be their own person and believe in their own capabilities.

@Courtney_D_Reid I agree! I think it shows the more extreme version of a child rebelling, but can also serve as a gateway. When Ella causes herself physical pain in order to rebel, she may be hoping that she will get used to the pain, and the could become dependent on it as a coping mechanism.

I think it is really interesting that Ella describes her rebellious nature as a side effect of Lucinda’s “gift”. Most tweens and teens have a rebellious phase at some point but Ella believe she only acts this way as a result of her gift, that she wouldn’t have had one without it.

@BrooklynEn285 I also loved this! It also wasn't just the normal, typical definitions for words every time, it was often a separate, contextual definition that may have been confusing for tweens.

I liked how Lemony Snicket included definitions for the difficult terms throughout the novel such as standoffish, incentive, pandemonium, nuptial, revulsion, insipid, posthaste and fitfully. The definitions didn’t take away from the storyline as they were…. (1/2) #285WLU3

“You and I, of course, would never do this to any of our grieving acquaintances, but it is a sad truth in life that when someone has lost a loved one, friends sometimes avoid the person, just when the presence of friends is most needed” (Snicket 30-1).

“Sometimes, just saying that you hate something, and having someone agree with you, can make you feel better about a terrible situation” (Snicket 29).

My favourite part of the book is when the narrator speaks directly to the reader about how the children are feeling and the moral lessons that you can take away. Some of my favourites below! (And many more!) #285WLU3

@AlexiaGalloro I agree with you Alexia, I think that Mrs. Welsch needed to step up and be the mother that Harriet needed her to be. Harriet felt so lost and alone, and I believe her parents should have been there for her.