Discussion Questions Book Review
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Book Review Discussion Questions RR Provided by Focus on the Family magazine Table of Contents R My Name is Rachel . 3 Rocket Blues . 22 Rabbit Hill . 3 Rodrick Rules . 22 Race for Freedom . 4 Rogue Knight . 22 Ragged Dick or Street Life in New York With Roland Wright Future Knight . 23 the Boot-Blacks . 4 Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry . 23 Raiders from the Sea . 4 Romeo and Juliet . 24 The Raider’s Promise . 5 The Root Cellar . 24 The Railway Children . 5 Roughing It! . 24 Ramona and Her Father . 6 Ruffleclaw . 25 Ramona and Her Mother . 6 The Ruins of Gorlan . 25 Ramona Forever . 7 Running from Reality . 26 Ramona Quimby, Age 8 . 7 Rush Revere and the Star-Spangled Banner . 26 Ramona the Brave . 8 Ramona the Pest . 8 Ramona’s World . 9 Ransom’s Mark: A Story Based on the Life of the Pioneer Olive Oatman . 9 Raven’s Gate . 10 Raymie Nightingale . 10 Reached . 11 Ready Player One . 11 The Reclaiming of Shilo Snow . 11 The Red Pyramid . 12 Red Queen . 12 Red Riding Hood . 13 Redshirts . 13 Redwall . 14 Remarkable . 14 Replication: The Jason Experiment . 14 The Reptile Room . 15 Requiem . 15 The Restaurant at the End of the Universe . 15 The Return of Sherlock Holmes . 16 Return to the Isle of the Lost . 16 The Returning . 17 The Reveal . 17 Revenge of the Red Knight . 17 Revolution . 18 Revolutionary War on Wednesday . 18 Rilla of Ingleside . 18 The Ring of Rocamadour . 19 River to Redemption . 19 The Road to Oregon City . 20 The Road to Yesterday . 20 Roadside Assistance . 20 Robopocalypse . 21 Rock Harbor Search and Rescue . 21 Book reviews cover the content, themes and worldviews of fiction books, not their literary merit, and equip parents to decide whether a book is appropriate for their children . A book’s inclusion does not constitute an endorsement by Focus on the Family . You can request a review of a title you can’t find at [email protected] . DISCUSSION TOPICS R My Name is Rachel were in need? What would make you reluctant to ask for help from This historical some people? juvenile fiction Rabbit Hill This picture book, by Patricia Reilly 5 . The apostle Paul wrote in Giff is published adventure by Philippians 3:13-14: “But one Robert Lawson by Wendy Lamb thing I do: Forgetting what is Books, an imprint is published by behind and straining toward Viking, a division of Random House what is ahead, I press on toward Children’s Books. of Penguin Books the goal to win the prize for USA. This book R My Name is Rachel is written for which God has called me heav- ages 9 and up. is written for kids enward in Christ Jesus ”. How ages 9 to 12. does this compare to the advice Search for a review of this book Pop and Mr . Appleby give Rachel for parents at pluggedin.com/ Search for a review of this book when they only tell her to “look book-reviews. for parents at pluggedin.com/ forward” as a means of giving her book-reviews. hope for the future? From where If your children have read this book, does our hope come? In whom consider talking about the story If your children have read this book, can we best place our trust? using these discussion questions: consider talking about the story using these discussion questions: 1 . How does Rachel feel when she 6 . While Rachel’s father is away, she learns she has to leave the fami- finds and reads a letter he had 1 . What does Uncle Analdas tell ly’s apartment in the city? What started to Miss Mitzi . Later she Little Georgie about new folks is most devastating to her? What shows it to Miss Mitzi . Why is coming? What message do does she come to love about the doing this wrong? What should you get from his speech? Is it a farmhouse? What events shape she have done? sad message or a hopeful one? this change in her attitude? Explain your answer . 7 . Rachel breaks into the closed 2 . How well do you think you’d do schoolhouse and “borrows” a few 2 . How do the new folks make if you were left on your own for a books to read, but later returns friends with the animals? How long time? How might you take them . Is it really “borrowing” do the animals repay their kind- care of younger siblings if you when someone takes some- ness? When have you done had money? How might you take thing without asking the owner? something kind for someone care of them if you didn’t have What did Rachel really do? What else? When have you done some- money? should she have done? thing to thank someone for *their* kindness? 3 . How do the drawings Rachel sees 8 . An ongoing sibling rivalry exists in the house, barn and on rocks between Rachel and Cassie . They 3 . What kinds of things happened encourage her? Why did Anton generally manage to make things during the time bad folks lived draw them? What kinds of pic- right with each other, though in the house? How do you think tures inspire you? some mean thoughts and words this impacted the animals as occur . How do you and your sib- they prepared for new people 4 . Why does Rachel believe she lings treat each other? How can to come? When have bad past can’t ask for help? Who does you keep from competing with experiences made you feel ner- help her? What would have hap- each other? How can you treat vous about what the future might pened if Mrs . Freeman hadn’t each other with respect if you hold? helped Rachel? Is Cassie right to disagree with each other? ask Miss Mitzi for help? Whom 4 . What are some of the things might you ask for help if you Mother worries about? Which of The age range reflects readability and not necessarily content appropriateness . Search for a review of this book for parents at PluggedIn .com/book-reviews . 3 her concerns actually happen? so that you can be thought of If your children have read this book, How we should handle our fears? having a good name? consider talking about the story using these discussion questions: 5 . Who was St . Francis of Assisi? 3 . What does Pa tell Libby about Why do the new folks put this courage? Where does it come 1 . Name some of the people who statue in their yard? What are from? In what areas of your life help Ragged Dick . How do they some symbols, items or bumper do you need to be more coura- help him? If you were older, how stickers you see in the world geous? What do you need to do would you have helped him? around you that might help you to be more courageous in these What things can you do now to determine what the people who areas? help those less fortunate than own them think or believe? yourself? 4 . Why do Libby’s feelings of friend- 6 . How does this story about ani- ship for Elsa change? Who have 2 . How do you think Mr . Whitney mals differ from animals in the you been jealous of? How has and Frank’s friendship and advice real world? What is idealis- jealousy hurt you or someone helped Dick to see he might have tic about this fictitious world? you know? a better future? What jobs do you How do animals feed in the real like and could see yourself doing world? What would this family 5 . Think about Jordan, Elsa and as an adult? Has anyone inspired need to do to keep their garden Libby . How do people treat each you to do that kind of work? safe in the real world? Have you of them differently based on their How? race or wealth? How are people ever had a garden? How did you 3 . What good qualities does Dick keep animals from it? from different races and social classes looked upon in our soci- have that make him able to sur- ety today? How does God feel vive alone on the streets? What about people of different skin col- qualities do others see in him ors or social classes? that cause them to trust and Race for Freedom encourage him? How do these This historical fic- qualities help Dick to improve tion novel by Lois himself? What strengths do you Walfrid Johnson Ragged Dick or Street have that will help you in life? is the second in How do these qualities help you the “Freedom Life in New York With to improve yourself? Seekers” series pub- lished by Moody the Boot-Blacks 4 . Dick has very little, but is thank- Publishers, River This historical ful for what he has . Name 10 North Division. This book is written drama book is first things you are thankful for . How for kids ages 9 to 16. in the “Ragged are your things different than or Dick” series by the same as Dick’s? Search for a review of this book Horatio Alger for parents at pluggedin.com/ Jr. It Originally 5 . What are the steps Dick takes to book-reviews. appeared in improve himself? What things Student and can you do to improve yourself? If your children have read this book, Schoolmate mag- consider talking about the story azine in 1867; first published as using these discussion questions: a book in 1868 by A.K. Loring. 1 . What are some historical facts or It is now published by Penguin Raiders from the Sea Publishing, as well as others.