Reading G oup Guide Reading G oup Guide Readi Group Guide Reading Group Guide Reading Group 8. Dinnie observes that “for all our differences Reading Group Guide Reading Group Guide Readi in nationality, in language, in culture, and in Group Guide Reading Group Guide Reading Group personality, we were all more alike than Reading Group Guide Reading Group Guide Readi not” (p. 256). Explain what she means by Group GuideReading Reading GroupGroup Guide Guide Reading Group this. Why is it so important to Dinnie to Reading Group Guide Reading Group Guide Readi have a sense of belonging? Group Guide Reading Group Guide Reading Group Reading Group Guide Reading Group Guide Group 9. What is Dinnie’s relationship with her Reading Group Guide Reading Group Guide Readi parents like? How does this affect her fears Group Guide Reading Group Guide Reading Group about being in a foreign country? Reading Group Guide Reading Group Guide Readi Group Guide Reading Group Guide Reading Group 10. How do Dinnie’s dreams illustrate her Reading GroupReading Group Guide Reading Grou concerns and thoughts? Select some Guide Reading Group Guide Reading Group Guide examples to discuss. Photo by Matthew Self Reading Group Guide Reading Group Guide Readi received the Newbery Group Guide Reading Group Guide Reading Group 11. By the end of the book, Dinnie resolves Medal for . After Reading Group Reading Group Guide Reading Gro that she no longer feels like a stranger, even eighteen years of teaching and writing Guide Reading Group Guide Reading Group Guide while moving from place to place. Like a in Europe, Ms. Creech now lives in Reading Group Guide Reading Group Guide Readi snail, she carries her home on her back. the United States with her husband. Group Guide Reading Group Guide Reading Group What does she discover about the notion Reading Group Guide Reading Group Guide Readi of home? How do her experiences in Also by Sharon Creech, Group Guide Reading Group Guide Reading Group available from HarperCollins: Switzerland lead her to that conclusion Reading Group Guide Reading Group Guide Readi (p. 261)? Pleasing the Ghost Walk Two Moons Group Guide Reading Group Guide Reading Group (Joanna Cotler Books) Reading Group Guide Group Guide Reading Group 12. Why do you think this book is called Try these other great books from HarperCollins: Reading Group Guide Reading Group Guide Readi ? Ella Enchanted Group Guide Reading Group Guide Reading Group By Gail Carson Levine ReadingEnter Group our Bloomability Guide Reading Group Guide Readi writing contest! Girl Goddess #9 Group GuideSee inside Readingfor details. 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Love from Your Friend Hannah Reading Group Guide Reading Group Guide Readi http://www.harperchildrens.com/ By Mindy Warshaw Skolsky Group Guide Reading Group Guide Reading Group Unclaimed Treasures Reading Group Guide Reading Group Guide Readi schoolhouse By Patricia MacLachlan Bloomability Available at your local bookstore or library Group Guide Reading Group Guide Reading Group ¨ Reading GroupBY SHARON Guide Reading CREECH Group Guide Readi 10 East 53rd Street Group Guide Reading Group Guide Reading Group oup Guide Reading Group Guide New York, NY 10022 Reading Group Guide Reading Group Guide Readi Visit us at http://www.harperchildrens.com Reading Group Guide Reading ISBN: 0-06-449336-9 Group Guide Reading Group Guide Reading Group oup Group Guide Reading Group Reading Group Guide Reading Group Guide Readi GGidRdiGGidRdiG ABOUT THIS GUIDE Dinnie arrives in Switzerland homesick, scared, 3. What appeals to Dinnie about struggling? and stubbornly refusing to enjoy herself. How does she use being “full of struggles” Bloomability, the latest novel by Newbery Throughout the course of the year, however, to help her deal with her new life in medalist Sharon Creech, tells the coming-of-age Dinnie not only becomes comfortable in her Switzerland? tale of Dinnie, a thirteen-year-old girl uprooted new surroundings, but also sees the appeal of from her parents’ nomadic lifestyle to spend a the new experiences, struggles, and 4. To Dinnie, Switzerland is a strange and year in Switzerland. Although Dinnie has never opportunities presented to her. unfamiliar place that grows to feel had a strong sense of belonging in her many comfortable. What similarities does she residences, she dreads being taken from her discover between Switzerland and her family, the only constant in her ever-changing CRITICAL ACCLAIM: various homes in America? What surroundings. But Dinnie’s experiences “A deeply felt novel.”—Kirkus Reviews differences? How do both the similarities overseas help her embrace and welcome such and differences help Dinnie appreciate her possibilities, and learn to discover the “A story to stimulate both head and heart.” experiences there? “bloomabilities” that —ALA Booklist such opportunities have 5. After Guthrie is rescued from the avalanche, to offer. The discussion “More than enough to satisfy.” Dinnie has a dream that her bubble is gone questions, suggested —The Bulletin of the Center (pp. 228–29). What does that signify to reading list, and author for Children’s Books Dinnie? How do the preceding events lead up biography in this reading to this revelation? group guide are intended “Fun, interesting, engaging . . . a vicarious to spark discussion about adventure.”—Voice of Youth Advocates Explain the contrasting perspectives of Lila the issues and topics 6. and Guthrie, taking into consideration raised in this charming FOR DISCUSSION Guthrie’s story of the two prisoners. How and provoking book. 1. Why does Dinnie refer to her time with her does Dinnie’s personality complement ABOUT THIS BOOK parents as her “first life,” and her time in theirs? Switzerland as her “second life”? If her Dinnie is used to change, since her whole life “third life” begins at the end of the book, 7. Discuss Uncle Max’s graduation speech has been comprised of moving to a new town how do you think it would differ from the about variety (p. 250). How do variety and every time her father excitedly stumbles upon a first two? acceptance at the international school affect new opportunity. But when Dinnie’s aunt and Dinnie? How is it different from her uncle invite her to stay with them and attend an 2. Dinnie observes that both Lila and Guthrie previous experiences (consider Stella’s American international school in Switzerland, have very strong personalities, and worries advice on moving to a new place and fitting she wants to rebel and stay with her family. about whether she is as interesting as they in, such as “Expect the worst” and “Dress “I was used to moving, used to packing up and are. Toward the end of the book, she is plain the first day”)? How does it make following along like a robot, but I was tired of surprised when Guthrie calls her interesting. Dinnie feel about herself? it. I wanted to stop moving and I wanted to be Why does he think this? Do you think somewhere and stay somewhere and I wanted Dinnie is interesting? Why or why not? my family” (p. 17). g Group Guide Reading Group Guide Reading Group Guide Reading Group Guide Reading Grou Reading Group Guide Reading Group Guide Reading Group Guide Reading Group Guide Readin Guide Reading Group Guide Reading Group Guide Reading Group Guide Reading Group Guide