RRDiscussion Questions

Book Review

Provided by Focus on the Family magazine

Table of ContentsR My Name is Rachel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Rabbit Hill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Race for Freedom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Ragged Dick or Street Life in New York With

the Boot-Blacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Raiders from the Sea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4The Raider’s Promise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5The Railway Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Ramona and Her Father . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Ramona and Her Mother . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Ramona Forever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Ramona Quimby, Age 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Ramona the Brave . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Ramona the Pest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Ramona’s World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Ransom’s Mark: A Story Based on the Life of

the Pioneer Olive Oatman . . . . . . . . . . . 9Raven’s Gate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Raymie Nightingale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Reached . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Ready Player One . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11The Reclaiming of Shilo Snow . . . . . . . . . 11The Red Pyramid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Red Queen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Red Riding Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Redshirts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Redwall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Remarkable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Replication: The Jason Experiment . . . . . . 14The Reptile Room . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Requiem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15The Restaurant at the End of the Universe . . 15The Return of Sherlock Holmes . . . . . . . . 16Return to the Isle of the Lost . . . . . . . . . 16The Returning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17The Reveal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Revenge of the Red Knight . . . . . . . . . . . 17Revolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18Revolutionary War on Wednesday . . . . . . . 18Rilla of Ingleside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18The Ring of Rocamadour . . . . . . . . . . . 19River to Redemption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19The Road to Oregon City . . . . . . . . . . . 20The Road to Yesterday . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20Roadside Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20Robopocalypse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21Rock Harbor Search and Rescue . . . . . . . . 21

Rocket Blues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22Rodrick Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22Rogue Knight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22Roland Wright Future Knight . . . . . . . . . 23Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry . . . . . . . . . 23Romeo and Juliet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24The Root Cellar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24Roughing It! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24Ruffleclaw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25The Ruins of Gorlan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25Running from Reality . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26Rush Revere and the Star-Spangled Banner . . 26

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 reviewrequests@family.org .

The age range reflects readability and not necessarily content appropriateness . Search for a review of this book for parents at PluggedIn .com/book-reviews .

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R My Name is Rachel

This historical juvenile fiction by Patricia Reilly Giff is published by Wendy Lamb Books, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books.

R My Name is Rachel is written for ages 9 and up.

Search for a review of this book for parents at pluggedin.com/book-reviews.

If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . How does Rachel feel when she learns she has to leave the fami-ly’s apartment in the city? What is most devastating to her? What does she come to love about the farmhouse? What events shape this change in her attitude?

2 . How well do you think you’d do if you were left on your own for a long time? How might you take care of younger siblings if you had money? How might you take care of them if you didn’t have money?

3 . How do the drawings Rachel sees in the house, barn and on rocks encourage her? Why did Anton draw them? What kinds of pic-tures inspire you?

4 . Why does Rachel believe she can’t ask for help? Who does help her? What would have hap-pened if Mrs . Freeman hadn’t helped Rachel? Is Cassie right to ask Miss Mitzi for help? Whom might you ask for help if you

DISCUSSION TOPICSwere in need? What would make you reluctant to ask for help from some people?

5 . The apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 3:13-14: “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heav-enward in Christ Jesus .” How does this compare to the advice Pop and Mr . Appleby give Rachel when they only tell her to “look forward” as a means of giving her hope for the future? From where does our hope come? In whom can we best place our trust?

6 . While Rachel’s father is away, she finds and reads a letter he had started to Miss Mitzi . Later she shows it to Miss Mitzi . Why is doing this wrong? What should she have done?

7 . Rachel breaks into the closed schoolhouse and “borrows” a few books to read, but later returns them . Is it really “borrowing” when someone takes some-thing without asking the owner? What did Rachel really do? What should she have done?

8 . An ongoing sibling rivalry exists between Rachel and Cassie . They generally manage to make things right with each other, though some mean thoughts and words occur . How do you and your sib-lings treat each other? How can you keep from competing with each other? How can you treat each other with respect if you disagree with each other?

Rabbit Hill

This picture book, adventure by Robert Lawson is published by Viking, a division of Penguin Books USA. This book is written for kids ages 9 to 12.

Search for a review of this book for parents at pluggedin.com/book-reviews.

If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . What does Uncle Analdas tell Little Georgie about new folks coming? What message do you get from his speech? Is it a sad message or a hopeful one? Explain your answer .

2 . How do the new folks make friends with the animals? How do the animals repay their kind-ness? When have you done something kind for someone else? When have you done some-thing to thank someone for

*their* kindness?

3 . What kinds of things happened during the time bad folks lived in the house? How do you think this impacted the animals as they prepared for new people to come? When have bad past experiences made you feel ner-vous about what the future might hold?

4 . What are some of the things 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 .

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her concerns actually happen? How we should handle our fears?

5 . Who was St . Francis of Assisi? Why do the new folks put this statue in their yard? What are some symbols, items or bumper stickers you see in the world around you that might help you determine what the people who own them think or believe?

6 . How does this story about ani-mals differ from animals in the real world? What is idealis-tic about this fictitious world? How do animals feed in the real world? What would this family need to do to keep their garden safe in the real world? Have you ever had a garden? How did you keep animals from it?

Race for Freedom

This historical fic-tion novel by Lois Walfrid Johnson is the second in the “Freedom Seekers” series pub-lished by Moody Publishers, River

North Division. This book is written for kids ages 9 to 16.

Search for a review of this book for parents at pluggedin.com/book-reviews.

If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . What are some historical facts or places you learned about in this story? What was the most inter-esting to you?

2 . What does Caleb mean when he tells Libby her pa has a good name? What does it take to have a good name? How can you live

so that you can be thought of having a good name?

3 . What does Pa tell Libby about courage? Where does it come from? In what areas of your life do you need to be more coura-geous? What do you need to do to be more courageous in these areas?

4 . Why do Libby’s feelings of friend-ship for Elsa change? Who have you been jealous of? How has jealousy hurt you or someone you know?

5 . Think about Jordan, Elsa and Libby . How do people treat each of them differently based on their race or wealth? How are people from different races and social classes looked upon in our soci-ety today? How does God feel about people of different skin col-ors or social classes?

Ragged Dick or Street Life in New York With the Boot-Blacks

This historical drama book is first in the “Ragged Dick” series by Horatio Alger Jr. It Originally appeared in Student and Schoolmate mag-

azine in 1867; first published as a book in 1868 by A.K. Loring. It is now published by Penguin Publishing, as well as others. Ragged Dick is written for kids ages 10 and up.

Search for a review of this book for parents at pluggedin.com/book-reviews.

If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . Name some of the people who help Ragged Dick . How do they help him? If you were older, how would you have helped him? What things can you do now to help those less fortunate than yourself?

2 . How do you think Mr . Whitney and Frank’s friendship and advice helped Dick to see he might have a better future? What jobs do you like and could see yourself doing as an adult? Has anyone inspired you to do that kind of work? How?

3 . What good qualities does Dick have that make him able to sur-vive alone on the streets? What qualities do others see in him that cause them to trust and encourage him? How do these qualities help Dick to improve himself? What strengths do you have that will help you in life? How do these qualities help you to improve yourself?

4 . Dick has very little, but is thank-ful for what he has . Name 10 things you are thankful for . How are your things different than or the same as Dick’s?

5 . What are the steps Dick takes to improve himself? What things can you do to improve yourself?

Raiders from the Sea

This first histori-cal fiction book in the “Viking Quest” series by Lois Walfrid Johnson is published by Moody Publishers. Raiders From the Sea is writ-

ten for kids ages 10 to 14.

The age range reflects readability and not necessarily content appropriateness . Search for a review of this book for parents at PluggedIn .com/book-reviews .

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Search for a review of this book for parents at pluggedin.com/book-reviews.

If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1. Raiders from the Sea gives a wonderful example of how the choices of one person affect oth-ers . Mikkel’s desire for fortune is greater than his empathy for others . Several times in the story, Bree makes a remark about miss-ing her home and her family . These comments seem to take Mikkel by surprise, as if it never occurred to him that his prisoner had a life and family . Discuss how your decisions affect others .

2 . Another theme throughout the book is that God is always with you, regardless of your situation . If God were a physical being and you truly believed He was with you day and night, how might you act differently?

3 . Discuss how easy it is to think that you are alone or that no one is watching . What kinds of things can you do to remind yourself of God’s presence?

4 . The O’Toole family makes prepa-rations for the Viking attack . They had to think ahead about what might happen . How can Christians be spiritually prepared for an attack from the Enemy?

5 . What types of preparations can you do to make sure that you are ready?

The Raider’s Promise

This historical fic-tion book is the fifth in the “Viking Quest” series by Lois Walfrid Johnson and is published by Moody Publishers. The Raider’s

Promise is written for kids ages 10 to 14.

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If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . Mikkel has found a new free-dom in his walk with God . Why does Mikkel want a new begin-ning with Bree? What does he do to prove this to her? How does Bree react? How do you react when someone you know is try-ing to change for the good? Why is it difficult to change your views about those you know who say they have changed? What can you do to help instead of hinder people in their Christian growth?

2 . With his newfound faith, how does Mikkel view his sinful past? Even though God forgave him, what does he need to do from those he has wronged?

3 . When Brother Cronan forgives him on behalf of the Irish peo-ple, how does Mikkel feel? Have you ever felt that type of forgive-ness? How does Mikkel want to make things right? How does he plan to undo the evil he has done? What have you ever been forgiven for? Is there anything in your life for which you need to make restitution?

4 . What have Aiden and Mam O’Toole been praying for since Mikkel raided their country-side? How can you trust that God knows His plans for you? Are you willing to submit your life to Him even when things do not go your way?

5 . How difficult is it for Bree’s par-ents to pray for the man who has caused the hurt in their family? Are you willing to pray for your enemies? Are you willing to trust that God is in control even when you do not see a happy ending today?

The Railway Children

This drama, his-torical book by Edith Nesbit was originally writ-ten as a serial story for The London Magazine in 1905, it was published in England in 1906.

The edition reviewed was published in 2017 by MacMillan Collector’s Library, a division of MacMillan Publishing. The Railway Children is written for kids ages 8 to 14.

Search for a review of this book for parents at pluggedin.com/book-reviews.

If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . What kind of lifestyle do the kids and their parents have before Father’s imprisonment? How does that change after Father leaves? What would it be like to go from your current life to pov-erty? What do you think you’d miss the most?

2 . In what ways do the kids con-nect with the people in their

The age range reflects readability and not necessarily content appropriateness . Search for a review of this book for parents at PluggedIn .com/book-reviews .

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town? What is community, and why is it important? When have you helped others in your church, school or town? When have peo-ple helped you?

3 . Why doesn’t Mother tell the chil-dren where their father has gone? When have we kept a secret from you? Why do adults some-times decide not to tell their kids everything?

4 . Why does Mother become angry when people give her things for free? Why can it be hard to accept help from others? When is it important to accept help from others, even if it feels strange or difficult?

5 . What are some of the brave things the children do to help out their friends and family? When have you done something brave? How did you feel after you did it?

Ramona and Her Father

This humor-ous book is not in a series but is the fourth book in a collection of eight that fea-ture Ramona Quimby as the main charac-

ter. Written by Beverly Cleary, the Ramona Collection is published by HarperTrophy, which is an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. Ramona and Her Father is written for kids ages 8 to 12.

Search for a review of this book for parents at pluggedin.com/book-reviews.

If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . Do you agree with Ramona’s father that the Quimbys are a happy family? How can you be a happy family even when you have problems? How would you describe “a happy family”?

2 . Why does Ramona change the items on her Christmas wish list after her father loses his job? What, if anything, has caused you to stop and think about how much something costs? What, if anything, has made you change your mind about something you wanted because it cost too much?

3 . Ramona has lots of ideas about what she would do with a mil-lion dollars—buying a cuckoo clock for every room in the house and going to Disneyland . What would you do if you had a million dollars? Do you think having more money makes peo-ple happier?

4 . Why do Ramona and Beezus try to get their father to stop smok-ing? What have others tried to stop you from doing for your own good? What have you tried to stop others from doing for their own good?

5 . How does Ramona feel when she comes home from school and finds the house locked? Tell about a time when you were locked out of your house . Did you feel the same way Ramona did? What did you do while you were waiting for someone to come home and let you in?

6 . Why is Ramona surprised when her sister is chosen to play the part of Mary in the Christmas pageant? Does she feel different when she sees Beezus dressed as Mary? What kind of play have you been in at school or church? How did it feel to dress up like someone or something else?

Would you ever want to do this again?

Ramona and Her Mother

This humorous book is not in a series but is the fifth in a collection of eight books that feature Ramona Quimby as the main character. Written by Beverly

Cleary, the Ramona Collection is published by HarperTrophy, which is an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. Ramona and Her Mother is written for kids ages 8 to 12.

Search for a review of this book for parents at pluggedin.com/book-reviews.

If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . What does Willa Jean do that reminds one of the guests of Ramona? How does Ramona feel when she hears this? Does her mother agree or disagree?

2 . Why does Ramona get frustrated when she is sewing with her mother? Tell about a time when you spent time with one of us [your mother or father] . Was that time ever interrupted? How did the interruption make you feel?

3 . Why is Ramona confused when Mrs . Rudge says there is no such word as can’t? Is Mrs . Rudge right or wrong? What did Mrs . Rudge mean?

4 . Why isn’t the stew ready when the Quimby family comes home from their long day? Who is responsible for making dinner at

The age range reflects readability and not necessarily content appropriateness . Search for a review of this book for parents at PluggedIn .com/book-reviews .

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our house? What was the worst dinner our family has ever had?

5 . Ramona thinks parents should be cheerful and loving all the time, never sick and never tired . Is this possible? Is it true that people are grumpier when they are tired? Are you? Tell about a time when you were grumpy because you were tired .

6 . How does Beezus feel when she spends her own allowance to get her hair cut at a salon? Have you ever bought something with your own money and wish you hadn’t afterward?

7 . What does Mr . Quimby mean when he says the world doesn’t revolve around Ramona? What does he want her to learn?

8 . Why does Ramona’s mother help pack a suitcase when Ramona decides to run away? Have you ever wanted to run away from our home? Why? What made you change your mind?

9 . What kinds of things does Ramona remember when she realizes how much her mother loves her? What are some things that I do [or your mother does] for you that make you feel loved?

Ramona Forever

This humorous book is not in a series but is in a collection of eight books that feature Ramona Quimby as the main char-acter. Written by Beverly Cleary,

the Ramona Collection is pub-lished by HarperTrophy, which is an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. Ramona Forever is written for kids ages 8 to 12.

Search for a review of this book for parents at pluggedin.com/book-reviews.

If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . When Ramona touches her mother’s belly and feels the baby kick, she calls it a miracle . Why do you think she uses that word? Are you as curious as Ramona is about babies?

2 . Why does Ramona ask her sis-ter to put their dead cat into a cardboard box instead of doing it herself? Have you ever had a pet die? Did you have a funeral after-ward, like Ramona and Beezus, or did you do something else to remember your pet?

3 . Why are Ramona and her sis-ter worried when their father can’t find a teaching job? Have you ever had to move to another city because one of your parents changed jobs?

4 . Did Ramona do the right thing when she disobeyed Mrs . Kemp and crawled under Aunt Beatrice’s dress to retrieve the wedding ring? What would you have done if you were Ramona?

5 . How does Ramona feel when she isn’t allowed into the hospital to see her baby sister? What are some things that you aren’t old enough to do?

Ramona Quimby, Age 8

This humorous book is not in a series but is in a collection of eight books with Ramona Quimby as the main char-acter. Written by Beverly Cleary,

the Ramona Collection is pub-lished by HarperTrophy, which is an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. Ramona Quimby, Age 8 is written for kids ages 8 to 12.

Search for a review of this book for parents at pluggedin.com/book-reviews.

If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . Ramona finds forgiveness difficult when her mother acci-dentally puts a raw egg instead of a hardboiled one in her lunch . Has your mother (or I) ever done something that you needed to forgive her (or me) for? Was for-giving easy or hard to do?

2 . Why did Mrs . Quimby serve tongue instead of roast beef to the family? Have you ever been served something that you didn’t like? What is the worst thing you were ever served? What is the best thing? How do you handle both situations?

3 . Why do Mr . and Mrs . Quimby ask Ramona and her sister to cook dinner for the family? Is this a fair consequence for the way they were acting? What do they learn from cooking dinner together?

4 . How does Ramona feel when she overhears Miss Whaley call her a

The age range reflects readability and not necessarily content appropriateness . Search for a review of this book for parents at PluggedIn .com/book-reviews .

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nuisance and a show-off? Should teachers talk with each other about their students? How does Ramona feel after she tells her teacher what she heard?

5 . How does Ramona know that her parents are concerned about their family’s future? Have you ever heard your mother and father talking about grown-up things when they think you’re not listening?

6 . Why did the mysterious stranger pay for the Quimbys’ meal? Have you ever done something nice for someone you didn’t know? How did you feel afterward?

Ramona the Brave

This humorous book is not in a series but is the second in a col-lection of eight books that fea-ture Ramona Quimby as the main charac-

ter. Written by Beverly Cleary, the Ramona Collection is published by HarperTrophy, which is an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. Ramona the Brave is written for kids ages 8 to 12.

Search for a review of this book for parents at pluggedin.com/book-reviews.

If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . Why did the author title this book Ramona the Brave? Can you remember some of the brave things that Ramona does at home and at school? When was the last time you felt brave?

2 . When the boys on the play-ground are teasing Beezus, why does Ramona tell them not to take the Lord’s name in vain? What does that mean? Have you ever tried to do something nice for someone and have been misunderstood?

3 . Why are Ramona and her sis-ter so glad that their parents are building an extra bedroom onto the house? What is the best thing about sharing? What is the hard-est thing?

4 . Why is Ramona angry with Susan as they are making paper owls? Have you ever felt that someone was copying your ideas? What did you do?

5 . On the first night that Ramona sleeps in her new bedroom, how does she feel? Have you ever got-ten something that you asked for and then were surprised that it wasn’t what you thought it would be?

6 . Why does Ramona hide her progress report in a drawer? How does Mrs . Quimby respond when Ramona says that her parents love Beezus more than they love her? Have you ever felt this way?

Ramona the Pest

This humorous book is not in a series but is the first in a collec-tion of eight books with Ramona Quimby as the main character. Written by Beverly

Cleary, the Ramona Collection is published by HarperTrophy, which is an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. Ramona the Pest is writ-ten for kids ages 8 to 12.

Search for a review of this book for parents at pluggedin.com/book-reviews.

If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . Why does Ramona’s sister call her a “pest”? Has anyone ever called you a name? How did it make you feel?

2 . Why does Ramona think Miss Binney is going to give her a present? Can you remember a time that you were expecting something to happen and were disappointed when it didn’t?

3 . How does Ramona feel when the children laugh at her during show-and-tell? Why do they stop laughing when Miss Binney tells them to say “Chevrolet”? Has your teacher ever said or done something that made you feel that she really understood you?

4 . Why does Ramona want to pull on Susan’s curls? Is Miss Binney being fair when she sends Ramona home after pulling Susan’s curls?

5 . Why does Ramona hide behind the trashcans? Have you ever had a substitute teacher? How was she different from your regular teacher?

6 . How do the boys feel when Ramona wraps the worm around her finger and says she is engaged? Do you think she will marry Henry Huggins?

7 . Why is Ramona afraid behind her Halloween mask? Will any-one know she is behind it? Have you ever worn a mask? How did it make you feel?

The age range reflects readability and not necessarily content appropriateness . Search for a review of this book for parents at PluggedIn .com/book-reviews .

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Ramona’s World

This humorous book is not in a series but is the eighth in a col-lection of eight books that feature Ramona Quimby as the main char-

acter. Written by Beverly Cleary, the Ramona Collection is pub-lished by HarperTrophy, which is an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. Ramona’s World is written for kids ages 8 to 12.

Search for a review of this book for parents at pluggedin.com/book-reviews.

If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . Sometimes Ramona feels that everyone gets more attention than she does . Have you ever felt that way? What helped you understand that you don’t have to compete for your parents’ or teacher’s attention? What helped Ramona understand this?

2 . What surprises Ramona about Daisy’s family? Whose house have you spent time at? How are your friend’s family, house and rules different from ours? What is similar about your friend’s family and ours?

3 . What does Ramona do to look nice for her school picture? What went wrong? Think about a time you had your picture taken at school . How did you decide what to wear? Were you happy with the way the photo turned out? Explain .

4 . How does Ramona feel when Yard Ape writes a note to her on Valentine’s Day? What do you

and your friends do in school to celebrate Valentine’s Day? How do you let your friends know that they are special to you?

5 . Why do Ramona and Daisy write a letter to the owner of the ad in the newspaper? Have you ever written a letter to, emailed or texted someone you didn’t know? Explain . Did you receive a response, as Ramona did?

6 . Why does Ramona want to take care of Clawed? Have you ever been paid to take care of some-one else’s pet? How was watching a pet easy? How was it difficult?

Ransom’s Mark: A Story Based on the Life of the Pioneer Olive Oatman

This book is in the “Daughters of Faith” series by Wendy Lawton and is published by Moody Publishers. Ransom’s Mark is written for kids

ages 8 to 12. Note: If parents pursue addi-tional study, they will learn that the Oatmans were a Mormon family.

Search for a review of this book for parents at pluggedin.com/book-reviews.

If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . Topeka and Olive talk about their views on God, and Olive is sur-prised that God was able to use Topeka to rescue her and her sis-ter . Romans 1:20 says that God makes Himself known so that no

man has an excuse . How does this relate to Topeka and her con-viction to find the Oatman girls?

2 . Read Proverbs 31 and compare this woman to Mrs . Oatman . Now consider Olive at the end of the story . In what ways is she like—and not like—her mother? Is Olive on her way to becoming a Proverbs 31 woman?

3 . Mr . Oatman and Lorenzo are strong men in the family, but they have different personalities . What are their godly qualities? Would you want them in your family?

4 . In I Corinthians 12 and 14, we can read about spiritual gifts . Mr . Oatman seems to have had the gift of discernment; Mrs . Oatman seems to have had the gift of exhortation . What gift or gifts do you see in Olive by the end of the story?

5 . When her faith is shaken, Olive is encouraged by Topeka to recall all of God’s protection over her in the past . By remembering spe-cific times when God revealed His faithfulness, Olive is able to grow her faith in the pres-ent . What experiences in your past do you need to remember to help you be more faithful in the present?

6 . When Olive’s fate is in the hands of the Mojave leaders, who must decide if she can return to the white men, she prays for them to come to the right decision . Do you sometimes rely too much on trying to talk someone into your way of thinking, or do you make it a matter of prayer and ask God to guide the wisdom of those in authority over you?

7 . During the drought and famine among the Mojave people, Olive prays for God to help her find

The age range reflects readability and not necessarily content appropriateness . Search for a review of this book for parents at PluggedIn .com/book-reviews .

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berries, which He does . Others consider her find to be a mira-cle . Later, the chief ’s wife entrusts a plot of land to Olive and Mary Ann to tend for food . Think about the story of Joseph, who was also used to help feed people who took him captive . What par-allels can you draw between the two, and how do their stories glo-rify God?

8 . The Bible tells us to feed the hun-gry, clothe the poor and bring water to the thirsty . List the peo-ple in the story who did those things . Are you surprised by the diversity of their backgrounds? What can you learn from this?

9 . At the end of the story, Topeka encourages Olive to remember God’s love for her every time she sees her tattoo—the mark of her ransom . Is there a visual cue you can use during your everyday life to remind you that God loves you and sent His son to be your substitution and your ransom?

10 . Psalm 18 is close to Olive’s heart . Read it all the way through and note the comments and imagery about being a captive who has been delivered from strong ene-mies . Is Olive’s story one of exile? Why, or why not? How might she find strength in the stories of bib-lical captives?

Raven’s Gate

This science fic-tion/fantasy suspense thriller book is the first in

“The Gatekeepers” series by Anthony Horowitz and is published by Scholastic

Publishing. Raven’s Gate is written for ages 10 and up.

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If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . If you somehow knew that peo-ple you loved were going to be in a terrible accident, what would you do? Why didn’t Matt try to stop his parents from attending the wedding? How does he feel now about the fact that he didn’t tell them about his vision?

2 . What (or who) was the source of ultimate evil in this book? What did the bishop from the Nexus say the church believed about evil? What does the Bible tell us about the origins of evil? What do you believe?

3 . Why does the Nexus feel the need to cover up Raven’s Gate? Why does Fabian say uncer-tainty is the one thing people in the twenty-first century can’t live with? Do you agree that we live in a time where, as Fabian says, there is no room for the impos-sible? Do you think humankind will ever reach a point where we feel totally secure, healthy and prosperous because of human accomplishments? Why or why not? How can you explain God to a society that expects certainty, science and proof?

4 . What do you believe about black magic and witchcraft? Do rituals and spells have any real power? Is there such a thing as ESP or precognitive abilities? Is there anything wrong with playing around with witchcraft, listen-ing to dark music or playing with a Ouija board, if you’re doing it just for fun? How does the Bible say we should treat magic, spells, etc .?

Raymie Nightingale

This drama, com-ing-of-age book is written by Kate DiCamillo and is published by Candlewick Press. Raymie Nightingale is writ-ten for ages 10 and

older.

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If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . In what ways does each girl feel like absolutely everything depends on her? When have you felt this kind of pressure in your life, as though it was up to you to make sure things worked out OK? What does the Bible say about how God will help you in times of trouble?

2 . Why do Raymie’s feelings often shift back and forth from hope to hopelessness? Why is Raymie afraid to wish for good things? When have you wished for some-thing that didn’t turn out the way you hoped? How did you feel? What gave you hope again?

3 . How does Raymie feel when her dad finally calls her? How are her attitude and feelings toward him different than at the start of the book? When has a person you loved disappointed you? How did you respond to the person’s behavior?

4 . How would you respond to Raymie’s questions about why the world exists? Do you agree with her that the only way to deal with your questions and struggles is

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to just keep moving? What does the Bible say about how you can find answers and rest when life is hard?

5 . How does the friendship between The Three Rancheros change their lives? When have you had a friend who supported you in a difficult time? How can you sup-port someone, especially a person whose life may be hard?

Reached

This dystopian romance trilogy is the third in the

“Matched” series written by Ally Condie and is pub-lished by Dutton Books, a division of

Penguin Group. Reached is written for ages 12 and up.

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If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . Indie and Ky hear from the Pilot that the Rising chose them, even before they joined . Look up John 15:16 in the Bible . Talk about how the Lord chose us and the mission He has given us .

2 . Xander realizes that Cassia’s love will mean more if she were to choose to love him rather than have the Society choose him for her . How is this like the kind of love God desires from us? How does free will factor into our love for God?

3 . Ky mistakenly says that pray-ing was when people would say aloud what they wanted and hope someone would hear them .

Do you agree or disagree with Ky? Explain . How would you define prayer?

4 . What definition would you give for the Pilot? What character traits make a good leader? How do you determine whom you can trust as a leader?

Ready Player One

This dystopian, suspense/thriller book by Ernest Cline is pub-lished by Crown Publishers, a divi-sion of Random House Inc. Ready Player One is writ-

ten for kids ages 14 and up.

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If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . Wade and his friends create ava-tars to mask their identities . What do the characters’ avatars tell us about their desires and their insecurities? How do you use clothes, make-up and other devices to hide your insecuri-ties? What thoughts or problems do you try to keep others from knowing about you? Is there any-one you can be honest with, and if so, what makes him or her trustworthy?

2 . The book’s premise begins with the idea that global warm-ing created a huge deficit in our energy reserves . What have you been taught about this the-ory? Where do you stand on this issue? Regardless, it’s appropriate to be a good steward of all God has created . What can you do

to steward the resources you’ve been given well?

3 . Halliday helped to rectify the overcrowded public school sys-tem by creating virtual schools . How do you think our society would benefit (or not benefit) from Halliday’s type of virtual schools? How are they different from the virtual schools we cur-rently have? What would you enjoy about attending a virtual school? What do you enjoy about the school you attend?

4 . What is Wade’s cynical view of Christianity? In what ways do you agree or disagree with him? How do you think his views were influenced by his admiration of Halliday? Who influences your faith? Is this a good influence? Explain .

The Reclaiming of Shilo Snow

This Christian fiction, science fic-tion, dystopian book by Mary Christine Weber is a sequel to The Evaporation of Sofi Snow and is pub-lished by Thomas

Nelson, a registered trademark of Harper Collins Christian Publishing Inc. The Reclaiming of Shilo Snow is written for kids ages 15 and up.

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If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . Why did Inola make her origi-nal agreement with the Delonese? Would you have made the same choice? What effect does Inola’s

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job have on Sofi and Shilo? What sacrifices would you make for your family? Would you be will-ing to make the same sacrifices for strangers?

2 . What would be the benefit of being able to communicate tele-pathically with someone? Who would you like to have that con-nection with? Why? What would be the downside of someone being able to read your mind? Without having the ability of telepathy, what are some things you can do to become a better lis-tener and communicator with your friends and family?

3 . Why was the black market cre-ated in this story? Can you think of ways people are trafficked today? What ways can you pro-tect yourself from being a victim of sexual predators?

4 . In what ways are the Fan Fight Games like the ancient games played in the Roman coliseum? How are they like our present day video games? Why might people enjoy watching others in competitions or in danger? How can you prevent yourself from becoming desensitized to the violence you see in video games, movies or social media?

5 . What events occur to help Sofi forgive Miguel? Her mother? Does forgiveness come easy to you or is it difficult? What helps you forgive others?

The Red Pyramid

This fantasy book by Rick Riordan is the first in the “Kane Chronicles” series and is published by Disney-Hyperion, a division of the Disney Book Group.

The Red Pyramid is written for kids ages 10 and up.

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If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . Why does Sadie feel aban-doned by her father? How does this affect her relationship with Carter? What misconceptions do Sadie and Carter hold about each other’s lives, and how do they resolve these issues? Have you ever been treated differently than one of your siblings? How did this make you feel?

2 . Uncle Amos says that Egyptian gods don’t represent the forces of good and evil, but of order and chaos . How does this differ from the God of the Bible? How would Christianity be different if we believed that order were the highest good? When have you experienced circumstances that were orderly but not good? When have you been in a chaotic environment that wasn’t evil?

3 . Throughout the story, Egyptian gods possess animals and people . How is this possession similar to demon possession as described in the Bible?

4 . Sadie and Carter meet their par-ents in the Hall of Judgment . There, Anubis weighs the hearts of the deceased . Ammit the Devourer eats the hearts of the wicked . Compare the Egyptian vision of the afterlife to what the Bible teaches .

5 . Sadie’s parents make choices that lead to their deaths . How would you feel if your parents sacrificed their lives for something they believed to be necessary? When Sadie pronounces Set’s name, the

red pyramid collapses and her father is killed . Is Sadie respon-sible for her father’s death? How would it affect you if your actions led to the death of someone else?

Red Queen

This fantasy book by Victoria Aveyard is pub-lished by Harper Teen, a division of Harper Collins Publishers. Red Queen is written

for kids ages 11 and up.

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If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . Compare Mare’s world with ours . In what ways do you think peo-ple today treat people who are different? Do you think there are people in our society who are treated as inferiors? How might that be changed?

2 . Why might Prince Cal have given Mare coins and a job? How can you tell that Prince Cal didn’t believe in the current form of government? Why might he defend a system of government that he doesn’t truly believe in? What parts of our government bother you? How can you defend our system of government while still working toward change in it?

3 . The Scarlet Guard believes the only way to change the govern-ment is through violence . What are some other ways Mare and the Scarlet Guard might be able to influence the government rather than using violence?

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4 . Throughout the book, Mare is warned not to trust people . How does her failure to heed that advice hurt her? What are some choices she could have made that may have stopped Prince Maven’s betrayal? Without becoming too cynical, what are some ways you can guard your heart from betrayal but keep it open to lov-ing others?

5 . Mare must assume a false iden-tity in order to save herself and her family . To what lengths would you go to protect your family? Would you betray what you believed in, if you thought it would keep them alive? What beliefs wouldn’t you betray?

Red Riding Hood

This fairy tale, drama book by Sarah Blakley-Cartwright is published by Poppy, an imprint of Little, Brown and Company. Red Riding Hood is

written for kids ages 12 and up.

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If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . Why are Valerie, her grand-mother and Claude are all viewed with suspicion? Should looking or acting differently be seen as evil? Explain . Why might people react in this way to what is dif-ferent? How does God want us to treat others, no matter how they look?

2 . How does Henry demonstrate the qualities of love mentioned in

1 Corinthians 13:4-7? How does Peter? Which do you feel is the better man for Valerie? Explain .

3 . Does Father Solomon act like a man of God? How does he use God’s Word to justify evil acts? How can you keep from defending your wrong actions by misusing God’s Word?

Redshirts

This science fiction, comedy book by John Scalzi is pub-lished by Tor and is written for kids ages 12 and up.

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book for parents at pluggedin.com/book-reviews.

If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . What kind of incident caused Finn to be assigned to the Intrepid? Were any of his actions technically illegal? Is it OK to do something you believe is immoral, if it doesn’t break laws? What are some legal substances that are easily be abused today? What will help you choose to not use legal substances that can harm you, when you’re old enough for these substances to be legal?

2 . Why don’t Dahl’s fellow lab mates tell him about the strange events onboard the Intrepid when he first arrives? What makes Hanson question the truth of their state-ments? If you know helpful information about a problem, should you always share it? What if sharing that information could harm you in some way or cause you to miss out on opportunities?

What duty do you owe to your friends, acquaintances and neigh-bors to let them know what you have learned?

3 . Why does Lieutenant Collins transfer Dahl from the Xenobiology Lab to the bridge crew? What dangers will Dahl be forced to face as a bridge crew-member? Have you ever been in a situation where someone resented you and intentionally tried to make life harder for you? How could you respond to this kind of person in love, even if they dislike you? How can you build goodwill with those around you and create mutually helpful relationships?

4 . What happens to Dahl as he and Kerensky run down the corridor to the sick bay to help Hester? Why does Dahl think his fate is a fair trade-off? What sacrifices have people in your life made for you? What makes selflessness such an admirable trait? How can you cultivate an attitude of self-lessness in your daily life?

5 . What message does Hester leave for Matthew? How does Matthew feel after hearing the recording? Have you ever met someone who seemed to be drifting through life with no real goal or purpose? What kinds of things provide your life with purpose and mean-ing? How does knowing your identity as a child of God and a believer in Christ help you find direction when you don’t know which path to take in life?

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Redwall

This first adven-ture book in the

“Redwall” series by Brian Jacques is published by Puffin Books, an imprint of Penguin Group and is written for

kids ages 8 to 12.

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If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . Matthias believes he was born to fulfill a purpose . What is your purpose, or how can you dis-cover it?

2 . How is Redwall like the story of David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17)?

3 . Cluny seems to have no regard for the lives of others . Where do you see that sort of behavior in our society?

4 . In what ways does Cluny’s unkind behavior toward others end up hurting him?

Remarkable

This contemporary fantasy is written by Lizzie K. Foley and published by Dial Books for Young Readers, a division of Penguin Group. Remarkable is writ-

ten for ages 9 to 12.

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If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . How would you feel if you were the only ordinary person in a family or town of remarkable people? What are Jane’s talents and gifts? What talents or gifts do you have?

2 . Would you rather be around Jane or another character from this book? Explain why . How should gifts and talents be used? What is one good thing about using your gifts to help others? What happens when people use their talents only for their own good? Do you like being around peo-ple who are only concerned about how well they do a partic-ular thing? Explain . How can you use your gifts and talents to serve others?

3 . Why does Ysquibel hide his true identity? Do you think he was happier being a pirate at sea or being a great composer? What do you think would make him happy in the future?

4 . What would you do if you uncov-ered a secret about somebody famous? What would you do if someone promised to reward you for the information?

Replication: The Jason Experiment

This science fiction book by Jill Williamson is published by ZonderKids, a division of Zondervan, a HarperCollins company, and is

written for kids ages 13 to 18.

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If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . Why does Abby have a prob-lem with human cloning? Why is embryonic stem cell research such a hot issue for characters in this book? What do various char-acters believe about this type of testing? What is your opinion of these practices, and why?

2 . If this story were true, should the Jasons be considered human? Explain your answer .

3 . What happens that makes Abby concerned she is not setting a good Christian example for her father? Do you think her argu-mentative behavior toward her father is justified, or does it harm her Christian witness? Explain your answer . In what ways does your behavior toward friends, teachers, siblings or parents demonstrate (or fail to convey) your beliefs?

4 . Why is Martyr’s name so appro-priate for him? What are some of the sacrificial things he does? What does Abby learn from him about how to behave like Jesus? To whom does Martyr show compassion?

5 . What are Abby’s views on dating? Are her methods (wearing lit-tle make-up, not studying alone with a boy, etc .) wise or sim-ply old-fashioned? Explain your answer . What safeguards do you have in place to keep yourself out of compromising situations with members of the opposite sex?

6 . What role does “purpose” play in this book? Do you agree with Abby that God has a purpose for

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each of us? What do you think your purpose might be?

The Reptile Room

This humor, horror, adventure book by Lemony Snicket (real name Daniel Handler) is the second book in the “A Series of Unfortunate Events” series

published by Harper Trophy, a trademark of HarperCollins Publishers The Reptile Room is written for kids ages 8 to 12.

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If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . Why might the adults not believe the Baudelaire kids when they say they are in danger from Count Olaf? When have you felt like adults didn’t listen to you or believe you, even though you were telling the truth?

2 . What special skills or interests does each of the Baudelaire chil-dren have? What are some of your special abilities and inter-ests? How might those skills come in handy if you are ever in a difficult situation?

3 . How do you feel when you read about Count Olaf? What would you do if someone was trying to hurt or kidnap you? Talk about some things you could do to get away from a scary stranger . Where could you go to get help?

4 . What are some of the regrets Violet and Klaus have as they look back on the unfortunate

events that have taken place? When have you regretted some-thing you said or didn’t say? How might the situation have been different if you had acted in a dif-ferent way?

5 . In what ways do the Baudelaire children work together and pro-tect one another? How well do you and your siblings work together and get along? What are some ways you can be kind, lov-ing and helpful to your siblings?

Requiem

This science fiction/romance book by Lauren Oliver is the third in the

“Delirium” series and is published by HarperCollins. Requiem is written

for kids ages 14 and up.

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If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . At the end of the story, Lena advises readers to take down the walls in their lives . She infers that behind the safety of a wall, peo-ple may never know bad things, but they won’t find heaven, either . What does that statement mean to you? Have you built any “walls” in your life? Should they be torn down? Explain .

2 . Hana’s jealousy led her to turn her friends over to the regula-tors . How has jealously affected your friendships? How could the situation have been handled differently?

3 . After Alex leaves, Lena realizes that he sacrificed himself to keep her safe . Lena also realizes the sacrifices her mother made for her . Have you ever sacrificed for someone else? Has anyone ever sacrificed for you? What was the situation? What does the Bible say about true sacrifice?

4 . Fred is abusive to Hana . What does the Bible say about how a husband should treat his wife?

The Restaurant at the End of the Universe

This science fiction, fantasy, humor book is second in the “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” series by Douglas Adams and is published by Pan Books Ltd.

(1980); the 1995 book reviewed was published by Ballantine Books. The Restaurant at the End of the Universe is written for ages 14 to 18.

Search for a review of this book for parents at pluggedin.com/book-reviews.

If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . What is satire? How is it used in this novel? Is it OK to joke about serious topics? Are there things we shouldn’t joke about? Why is it important to think crit-ically about a joke’s purpose and meaning?

2 . What is Ford’s and Arthur’s dis-covery about the Question to the Ultimate Answer at the end of the book? What does their discovery mean? What do you think the meaning of life is? Why is important to have hope

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and purpose in life? How does God give your life meaning and purpose?

3 . How is power portrayed? How is the Ruler of the Universe immune from the corruption of power? Is the Ruler’s worldview healthy? Explain . Would it work in our world today? Why is it important to know what is real?

4 . When Ford and Arthur discuss the Garden of Eden, what does Ford say about it? Read Genesis 3 . Does Ford’s account line up with the Bible? Why is it important to know the Bible and think criti-cally about what people say about it? If you don’t know the Bible story, how might you be swayed by what books say about the Garden of Eden or how he world began?

The Return of Sherlock Holmes

This mystery, suspense, his-torical book by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was originally pub-lished in 1905 by McClure, Phillips & Co., the Readers

Digest Association Inc., edition was published in 1991. The Return of Sherlock Holmes is written for ages 16 and up.

Search for a review of this book for parents at pluggedin.com/book-reviews.

If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . How do you feel about Holmes’ contention that some crimes, which can’t be touched by the law, require personal revenge? What does the Bible say about revenge

and how a believer is to seek justice?

2 . What are the two most common motivations of the perpetrators in these stories? What do they think they will gain by commit-ting these crimes? When have you done something wrong out of a desire to gain someone’s attention or money?

3 . In which stories does Holmes allow perpetrators to go free, and why? Does justice always require that a person who has done something wrong be punished by the law? Explain your answer .

4 . Which of these stories demon-strate the dangers of alcohol abuse? How do the characters harm others because of their alcoholism? What does Watson say about Holmes and his former cocaine use? What helps you stay away from alcohol and drugs?

5 . How is Holmes able to discover clues and scenarios others can-not? If you had Holmes’ keen abilities to notice and discern, how would you use these skills?

Return to the Isle of the Lost

This adventure, fairy tale, super-natural realism book is second in the “Descendants” series by Melissa De La Cruz and is published by Disney-Hyperion,

an imprint of Disney Book Group. Return to the Isle of the Lost is writ-ten for ages 9 to 12.

Search for a review of this book for parents at pluggedin.com/book-reviews.

If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . While Yen Sid teaches that a vil-lain needs a talisman for power, what do you think makes a vil-lain in our world? What kind of things do villains do in our world? What can you do to pro-tect yourself from them?

2 . Why does the magic mirror try to convince Evie that her friends had deserted her? Have you ever felt like you had no friends? What did you do to help yourself to feel better?

3 . How does the Golden Cobra try to trick Jay? What would keep you from giving in to the temp-tation of betraying someone for riches? What are some things that other kids do to get money or become popular? Which are good ways, and which are poor choices? How can you keep your-self from temptations like that?

4 . Why is it scary for the villains to learn that the power of good is stronger than the power of evil? How is that true in our world as well? Read James 1:17 . Where do all good things come from? Can there be good in the world with-out God?

5 . Why does Mad Maddy betray Mal and try to feed her to the crocodiles? Have you ever done something to hurt a friend’s feel-ings (like when Mal cut off the heads of Maddy’s dolls)? What could you do to show those you hurt that you were sorry? Can you think of a time when a friend hurt your feelings? What can you do to keep yourself from being upset with them? How might forgiveness free you and your friend?

The age range reflects readability and not necessarily content appropriateness . Search for a review of this book for parents at PluggedIn .com/book-reviews .

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The Returning

This Christian fic-tion, dystopian, science fiction book is third in the “Seer” series by Rachelle Dekker and is pub-lished by Tyndale House Publishers.

The Returning is written for ages 18 and up.

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If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . Even though Elise is immune to the Genesis Serum, what some-times causes her to lose her true sense of identity? When has fear caused you to forget the power and identity you have in Christ? How can you have confidence that God’s power and presence are alive in you even at the times you don’t *feel* Him?

2 . What do Elise and the Seven believe is the key to restoring the people of Authority City? In our real world, are all people children of light who simply need to be reminded of their true identities? Explain your answer .

3 . How do Remko and the others in Trylin City respond when they know they’re under attack? Why does this passivity bother Nicolas so much? When have you been in a situation where it seemed wiser to submit than fight? What happened?

4 . What similarities and differ-ences did you see between life in Authority City and in our soci-ety? In what tangible ways are

Christ followers today called to share God’s light with others?

5 . What are some of the sacri-fices different characters make to follow the light? What sort of sacrifices have you made, or might you be called to make, as a follower of Christ in your society?

The Reveal

This coming-of-age book is the fourth in the

“Becoming Beka” series by Sarah Anne Sumpolec and is published by Moody Publishers.

The Reveal is written for kids ages 13 to 18.

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If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . Mark, Beka and Josh have differ-ent ideas about what is physically appropriate . What does Mark believe? What does Beka believe? What does Josh believe? What do you believe?

2 . Do you know people who think like Mark? Beka? Josh? What were the consequences of their actions?

3 . Why did Gretchen decide to kill herself? Have you ever felt that way? Who is someone you could talk to if you ever feel that way?

4 . What does David, Lori’s dad, struggle with? How does the world view pornography? What do you believe about pornogra-phy? Is it something you struggle with? How does pornography

change the way people see things?

Revenge of the Red Knight

This histori-cal, adventure, Christian fic-tion is written by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker and published by Focus on the

Family in association with Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Revenge of the Red Knight is written for ages 7 and up.

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If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . What happens when James first meets Patrick and Beth? How could James have reacted differ-ently? Why is it important not to jump to conclusions? Have you ever made assumptions about someone and found out later you were wrong? What happened?

2 . How is Hugh disloyal to Lord Darkthorn? What is loyalty? Who are you loyal to? How can you show your loyalty?

3 . What does Sir Andrew do when Hugh tries to lock the children in the tower? How does this show his faith in God? Have you ever been in a situation where doing the right thing was difficult or even dangerous? Were you able to trust God anyway?

4 . How does the red knight break the code of honor during the

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joust? What should he have done? Can you think of examples of rules and laws in your own life? Why is it important to fol-low them?

5 . What is Hugh’s job in the cas-tle? What does it mean to be a steward? Is Hugh a good stew-ard or a bad steward? Explain . How are we supposed to stew-ard the things that God has given us? How can you and I be better stewards?

Revolution

This mix of a con-temporary and historical drama is written by Jennifer Donnelly and pub-lished by Delacorte Press. Revolution is written for ages 14 and up.

Search for a review of this book for parents at pluggedin.com/book-reviews.

If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . Andi has difficulty letting anyone close to her . How might the death of Truman have contributed to this? How might her home life before his death have contributed to it? What might her relation-ship have been with her parents if Truman had lived?

2 . What have you done that has made you feel guilty? Were you able to find some way to allevi-ate your guilt? If so, what? If not, perhaps reading Psalm 103:8-12 would help . Describe the nega-tive effect guilt had on Andi . She jokes about Jesus healing bro-ken people . How could He have helped her?

3 . Both Alex and Andi were drawn to risk their own lives to bring comfort to a dying child . Is there any social injustice you feel par-ticularly moved by? What things could you do to show God’s love to the world?

4 . Andi’s guilt led her to con-template suicide on several occasions . What would you do if you thought a friend was think-ing about killing herself? Whom could you call for help?

Revolutionary War on Wednesday

This fantasy adven-ture novel by Mary Pope Osborne is the 22nd book in the “Magic Tree House” series and is published by Random House.

Revolutionary This book is written for kids ages 5 to 8.

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If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . On which special holiday does the patriot’s secret mission take place? Why don’t the soldiers give up fighting for freedom, even though they want to be home for Christmas? Talk about a time when doing the right thing was difficult for you . Was it worth doing the right thing, even when it was hard to do?

2 . Why doesn’t Annie want to leave the soldiers? Is there someone you wish you could help? How can you help someone, even if you’re not physically near them?

3 . What does Morgan ask the kids to find and why? How can words be powerful? How have someone else’s words helped you or hurt you? How can your words help or hurt someone?

Rilla of Ingleside

This histori-cal novel is the eighth book in the

“Anne of Green Gables” series by L. M. Montgomery and is pub-lished by Starfire, an imprint of

Random House Children’s Books. This book is written for kids ages 12 and up.

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If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . How does responsibility for another life help Rilla mature? What responsibilities and experi-ences have helped you grow up?

2 . What world events impacted Rilla’s life? What world events impact your life?

3 . How can you honor soldiers? How can you honor wounded soldiers? How did Rilla honor them?

4 . Who are some of the people in this story who were afraid? How did they overcome their fears? What helps you overcome your fears?

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The Ring of Rocamadour

This mystery by Michael D. Beil is the first book in “The Red Blazer Girls” series and is published by Knopf Books for Young Readers,

an imprint of Random House Children’s Books. This book is writ-ten for kids ages 8 to 12.

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If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . If you had a ring that could grant you any wish, what would you wish for? Why?

2 . What conclusions does Sophie jump to regarding Leigh Ann? How does she treat Leigh Ann and Raf as a result? Have you ever been sad or angry about something, only to learn later that you had misjudged the situa-tion? What happened?

3 . How much do Sophie and her friends know about their faith? What are some ways people’s lives can show their commitment to Christ?

4 . How often do the girls use God’s name in vain? Why do they do this? Why do people use pro-fanity? What does the Bible say about God’s name and how it should be used?

5 . Which adult characters are the best role models for the girls? Why? Which are the worst? What makes them the worst? Which choices made by the adults in this

book might not be the best? In what way is a young person in this book a role model? How is she a good or poor example?

6 . How does the author incorporate literature, math and other sub-jects into the plot of this book? What lesson does Margaret learn, partly because of the Great Expectations scene the girls act out, that helps her develop a closer relationship with her grandmother? In what ways can literature and math help you out-side of school? How might these subjects help you as you grow older?

7 . In the process of their investi-gation, do the girls play by the rules? What do the girls do that may have been disrespect-ful, dangerous or illegal in their search for the ring? Are there other ways they could have han-dled these situations, instead of lying, breaking into the church, etc .? What would you have done in their place?

River to Redemption

This Christian fic-tion, historical, romance by Ann H. Gabhart is pub-lished by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. This book is writ-

ten for ages 18 and up.

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If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . Why doesn’t Louis leave Springfield during the chol-era epidemic? How does he

exemplify being the Lord’s ser-vant and not a slave? What does the Bible say about serving others?

2 . How does Ruth show she is con-cerned by what other people think of her? When have you been more concerned about how others view you than about how God sees you?

3 . How does Ruth prepare Adria for adulthood? What kinds of choices does she expect from Adria? How have I given you the freedom to make your own choices and face your own conse-quences? What kinds of choices do you feel I expect from you?

4 . Why does Adria hesitate to marry Carlton? What do Adria and Carlton disagree on? Why don’t they know how each other thinks, at first? What can we do to improve our communication with our friends?

5 . Should Adria have stolen the petty cash from the store? What should she confess to the store owner? Why should she pay it back? When have you had to confess something that you did wrong? Why does Adria help a 15-year-old escape? How is this different from stealing the store’s money? If a law is unjust, what can you and I do to change it?

6 . How does Will respond to his wife’s death? How does or doesn’t he doubt the power of prayer or the power of God? Can you be a Christian and have doubts about the Christian life? What are some of your doubts?

The age range reflects readability and not necessarily content appropriateness . Search for a review of this book for parents at PluggedIn .com/book-reviews .

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The Road to Oregon City

This adven-ture book is the fourth book in the “Oregon Trail” series by Jesse Wiley and is published by Haughton Mifflin

Harcourt IP Unlimited Company. This book is written for ages 8 to 12.

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If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . What are some of the most dif-ficult losses that your character experiences in this book? When have you lost a family member or a beloved pet? How did you han-dle your grief?

1 . Based on your experiences in this book, what items did the pioneers need most? What were they able to do without? What do you need most as you journey through your life? What happens when you put too much focus on the things you don’t really need?

1 . How does it feel to know your character’s survival depends on the choices you make? What are some of the tough decisions you face in real life? What kinds of choices will keep your life on a positive path? Where can you turn for wisdom when you don’t know what to choose?

1 . If you had been alive in the 1800s, how would you have felt about going west and leaving your com-fortable life behind? When does it seem easier to stay where you

are than to take a brave step into something new? What new thing would you try right now if you knew there was no way you could fail?

1 . Why is it so vital for the pioneers to travel in wagon trains? What is community, and why is it so important to be surrounded by others you can trust? How do you form your own community today?

The Road to Yesterday

This historical, drama book by L.M. Montgomery is published by McGraw-Hill Ryerson in Canada. These short sto-ries are related to

the community found in the “Anne of Green Gables” series. This book is written for ages 18 and up.

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If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . In “A Dream Come True,” what does Anthony realize? How does his infatuation with Caroline hurt his marriage with Clara? How does he get over his infat-uation? What does “the grass is greener on the other side” mean? How does this describe Anthony? In what way have you though the grass was greener somewhere else but learned otherwise?

2 . In “Fancy’s Fool,” what are Esme’s observations about Aunt Hester? Why doesn’t anyone believe her? Tell about a time when you had important information to share but people didn’t believe you .

3 . In “A Commonplace Woman,” everyone thinks they know all about the dying woman . Describe how they are wrong . Can you describe a time when you thought you knew a person but were wrong about him or her? Share a time when someone thought he or she knew you but was wrong .

4 . In “A Dream Come True,” what is one thing that bothers Anthony about Clara? What should they have done to reach a better con-clusion about bedclothes? How are they both being stubborn and not listening to the other? Name something you have refused to do out of being stubborn . How did that situation turn out?

Roadside Assistance

This contemporary Christian, com-ing-of-age book by Amy Clipston is published by Zondervan. This book is written for ages 13 to 16.

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If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . How Emily experiences grief is different from how her father processes his grief . What are some of these differences? Have you known anyone who has had a profound loss? What are some things you might do to help someone through this difficult time?

2 . This story is partly about a teen-age girl who feels alone and as if she doesn’t fit in with her new

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environment . How have you experienced the feeling of being on the outside? How did you adjust?

3 . Many times, appearances are what validate a person’s worth . Chelsea tells Emily that Zander won’t be able to resist her when he sees her dressed up and wear-ing makeup . From where does our worth come?

4 . Emily misjudged her cousin Whitney, thinking she was not a true friend . What led Emily to think that Whitney was shallow? What could Whitney have done differently that would have better conveyed her concern for Emily?

5 . Zander doesn’t want to be a doc-tor . How does he cope with his father’s unwillingness to recog-nize their differences? Do you think he respectfully manages his relationship with his father? What were Zander’s goals regard-ing studies beyond high school? Was his father’s assessment of auto mechanics an accurate one (“a good hobby but not some-thing to pursue full time”)? What would you like to do as a career? What are the obstacles in your path?

6 . Would you be comfortable talking with your pastor or youth leader about your problems?

7 . Talk about some blessings in your life that perhaps you had not considered earlier as blessings .

Robopocalypse

This science fiction book by Daniel H. Wilson was orig-inally published by Doubleday, a division of Random House Inc. Robopocalypse

is written for adults but attracts the interest of kids ages 14 years and up.

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If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . Why is Archos intent on destroy-ing humanity when he says that living things are incredibly valu-able? Archos is unable to recreate another version of himself; why is he frustrated by his inability to create life? In the real world, how does God create new life? Can human beings invent life from machines?

2 . Why do the members of the Osage Nation decide to let in ref-ugees from the robots? What problems arise within the Grey Horse reservation because of the refugees they harbor? How does Lonnie Wayne Blanton deal with Lark Iron Cloud, a young man accused of stealing food from the community? What difficul-ties would arise if Lonnie Wayne simply imprisoned Lark, and what would happen if he failed to punish Lark in any way? Why does Lonnie Wayne say that Lark is not a warrior but a gangster? How does Lonnie Wayne’s guid-ance help Lark become a tribal leader?

3 . Initially, Lurker is completely self-absorbed with his pranks

and his computer-hacking abil-ities . What incident contributes to Lurker becoming less self-ish? Why does Lurker say that his time as a prankster made him owe a debt to other people? How does Lurker ultimately serve humanity with his talents?

4 . Why does Cormac Wallace try to keep his older brother, Jack, from helping people during the chaos of the Zero Hour attacks? How do the brothers’ ideas about her-oism differ? When robots slowly kill Tiberius, why does Cormac warn Jack against helping their fellow soldier? What reason does Jack give for helping Tiberius, even knowing that offering aid could result in his own death?

5 . Why does Cormac say that human beings have become a better species for having fought the robot war? In what ways can struggling against adversity improve a person’s life? After the war is over, what is Cormac’s out-look on life?

Rock Harbor Search and Rescue

This mystery adven-ture book by Colleen Coble is the first in the “Rock Harbor” series for kids and is pub-lished by Thomas Nelson. Rock

Harbor Search and Rescue is written for kids ages 7 to 12.

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If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

The age range reflects readability and not necessarily content appropriateness . Search for a review of this book for parents at PluggedIn .com/book-reviews .

22

1 . How did Mrs . Dancer use Emily to sell more jewelry? Why must Emily forgive Mrs . Dancer? Describe a time when you had to forgive someone who had hurt you . Describe a time when you had to receive forgiveness from someone else .

2 . When Emily discovers Brandon’s secret, she tries to persuade him to tell the truth . How does Brandon respond? Tell about a time when you told the truth, even though it got you or some-one else in trouble .

3 . Bree encourages Emily to make peace with Rachel . What does she tell Emily to do? How does Matthew 5:23-25 relate to Emily’s situation? Describe a time when you had to work or play with someone you didn’t get along with . What did you do?

Rocket Blues

This sports book is part of the

“Rocket” series by David Skuy and is published by Scholastic Canada Ltd. Rocket Blues is written for kids

ages 9 to 12.

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If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . How does Bryan treat his mom? Why doesn’t he see how Maddy is struggling? When have you been so wrapped up in your own prob-lems that you failed to recognize the needs and hurts of friends or family members?

2 . What differences does Bryan see between the Huskies players and the Blues players? In what ways are the Huskies a better team? In what ways are they a worse team? What are some important quali-ties for a team player? When have you experience good team play?

3 . What are some of the nega-tive remarks people make about Bryan’s size? When have you been criticized or teased because of something you can’t help? What did you do in response?

4 . Why does Nigel dislike Bryan? What does Bryan realize about his behavior toward Nigel? When have you discovered you were hurting someone’s feelings unin-tentionally? What did you do about it?

5 . Name a few of the things Bryan learns about himself after the Huskies cut him . When have you found yourself in an unwanted situation but ended up learning valuable life lessons? What did you discover?

Rodrick Rules

This realistic book is the second in the

“Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series by Jeff Kinney and is pub-lished by Amulet Books, an imprint of Harry N. Abrams,

Inc. Rodrick Rules is written for kids ages 8 to 12.

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If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . Why doesn’t Greg care to hear about Rowley’s vacation? If he finds other people’s vacations boring, what should he do when they talk to him about them? What should you do when some-one talks about something that you aren’t interested in hearing?

2 . What was Rowley and Greg’s code? How did it work for them? Have you and your friends ever had a secret code? Did it work?

3 . What word would you use to describe Greg and Rodrick’s rela-tionship? How does their mother try to get them to do more things together? Does it work? What will it take for Greg and Rodrick’s relationship to improve?

4 . What kind of friend is Greg to Rowley? What kind of friend is Rowley to Greg? Are you more like Rowley or Greg when it comes to friendship? Explain .

5 . If you had a new journal, what is the first thing you would write about?

Rogue Knight

This adventure, fantasy story by Brandon Mull is the sec-ond book in the

“Five Kingdoms ” series published by Aladdin, an imprint of Simon

& Schuster. This book is written for kids ages 8 to 12.

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If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

The age range reflects readability and not necessarily content appropriateness . Search for a review of this book for parents at PluggedIn .com/book-reviews .

23

1 . Why does Cole refuse to wager his money in a shell game with a man in East Carthage? What does the man say about things that seem too good to be true? How are gambling games designed to gain and keep your attention? Why is it dangerous to bet money on games? Are there other ways to risk money, while playing games that aren’t neces-sarily gambling, such as putting coins in a claw machine or pay-ing for upgrades to a phone game that you downloaded for free? How can you remain aware of these kinds of schemes?

2 . Why doesn’t Jace tell Mira about his feelings for her? How does his extreme confidence in all other areas of life hurt him as far as Mira is concerned? What makes romantic love seem more fright-ening and risky than friendship to him? What would you do if you were Jace?

3 . What makes Jill hesitate to run away, even when presented with the opportunity for freedom? Why is she trying to make the best of her situation instead of leaving the situation? When has fear held you back from doing something? How might fear keep you from making a wise decision?

4 . What does the Rogue Knight do once he has won a city? Why do people feel his actions are inap-propriate? What happens to the cities he conquers after he gives them money and leaves them without leadership? What are the real-life benefits that cit-izens receive from having a government? Why are laws and governing bodies necessary to help large groups of people live comfortably together? Name some ways that our laws and gov-erning body work .

5 . Why does Trillian the torivor say that all action begins in the mind? In what ways does your attitude shape your reality? What does the Bible advise you do with your thoughts according to 2 Corinthians 10:5? How can you become more aware of your thought processes? How can you take your thoughts captive so even your thoughts will be more obedient to God??

Roland Wright Future Knight

This historical fic-tion story by Tony Davis is the first in the “Roland Wright” series published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s

Books, a division of Random House Inc. This book is written for kids ages 6 to 9.

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If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . Why does Roland want to be a knight? What advice does he get from Sir Gallawood? Give exam-ples of some situations where he follows the knight’s advice . Why is it sometimes difficult for him to do the right thing? Who in your life gives you good advice? Give some examples where you have followed that person’s good advice . Why is it sometimes diffi-cult for you to do the right thing?

2 . How might Sir Gallawood’s advice benefit you in your life? Can you think of a time when you behaved justly and

unselfishly? What happened? What does it mean to be true to yourself?

3 . Which brother would you have picked to become a knight? How does Roland and Shelby’s father decide who to choose? Are his tests fair? If you had to choose one person in your class to be a knight, who would it be? What qualities does this person have that are important or knightly?

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

This historical fiction novel by Mildred D. Taylor is the first in a series about the Logan family pub-lished by Dial Books, a member of Penguin Group,

USA, and is written for kids ages 8 to 12 years.

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If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . How would you feel if people treated you the way they treat Cassie and other black people in this story? How would you want to respond to them? Why do Cassie, Uncle Hammer and oth-ers sometimes hold their tongues rather than lashing out?

2 . What are some of the ways the Logans do fight back against racism? What risks are they tak-ing by doing this? Do you think you would have fought back or kept quiet if you were in their situation?

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3 . Why does Mama take the kids to the Barry home? What does she reveal to them after they leave? When has witnessing something painful helped you learn a valu-able lesson?

4 . What kind of person is T . J .? What happens to him at the end of the story? How does he get himself into this terrible sit-uation? What does his story suggest about the type of people with whom we should surround ourselves?

Romeo and Juliet

This play by William Shakespeare is published by Signet Classic, Penguin Group and is written for adults but is some-

times studied by high school classes.

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If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . What is the difference between true love and attraction? Which do you think Romeo and Juliet had, and why?

2 . What does “Romeo and Juliet” teach us about holding grudges or acting upon our prejudices?

3 . What mistakes were made in “Romeo and Juliet?”

4 . Is a double suicide romantic?

5 . Based on what the Bible says about the treatment of our bodies (Romans 12:1; 1 Corinthians 6:15, 19-20, for example), how do you think God feels about suicide?

The Root Cellar

This fantasy, his-torical book by Janet Lunn was first published in Canada by Lester & Orpen Dennys Limited, 1981; this edition is published by Seal

Books, an imprint of Random House of Canada and is written for kids 10 and up.

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If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . How does Will say the soldiers were treated differently before and after the war? How are American war veterans treated in our day? What difficulties do they face after coming home from battle? What are some ways you can support the troops who have fought for your freedoms?

2 . What kind of a person is Rose when she first arrives in Canada? How does she change over the course of the story? What are the causes of these changes? When have you gone through a diffi-cult situation and grown stronger because of it?

3 . In what ways is Rose’s life differ-ent in Canada than it was with her grandmother in America? What are some aspects of her new life that are difficult for her? When have you had to move, change schools or enter a new, unfamiliar situation? How did you handle it?

4 . Why does Rose decide to give life with her aunt and uncle another

chance? What does she do to help make the situation better? Why is expecting others to change for you not a good idea? What difficult or uncomfortable cir-cumstances are you facing right now? What are some things you can do to help make the situation better?

5 . If you had a root cellar that would take you back in time, where and when would you want to go? Who would you like to meet, and why?

Roughing It!

This autobiog-raphy, historical, humor book by Mark Twain is published by American Publishing Company; Open Road Integrated

Media Inc. and is written for kids 13 and up.

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If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . What is a tall tale? What is an example of a tall tale that Twain tells? How can you tell the story isn’t completely true? Though tall tales are fun to hear, what are some dangers of telling half-truths in day-to-day life? Tell about a time when you exag-gerated the truth . Why did you do this? What were the conse-quences? What do you wish you’d done differently?

2 . What does Twain promise to give up if he survives being lost in a snowstorm? What do his

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25

companions promise to give up? What happens after they survive the storm? Why might they have done this? How do trials bring people closer to God? How did a struggle you have had bring you closer to God?

3 . What is silver fever? How does silver fever affect Mark Twain? What kinds of fevers do peo-ple have today to make money quickly and easily? Are most suc-cessful? Explain . Were most in Mark Twain’s day successful? Explain .

4 . What affect did the missionar-ies have on the Hawaiians? What were some good things that came from the missionaries? What were some bad things? What would you say to someone if they asked about your faith? What would be the most difficult part of your faith to explain?

5 . What practice did both the Mormons and the Hawaiians have in common? What are some of the problems this caused? Why might God want there to be only monogamous (one-man-and-one-woman) relationships? What are some of the benefits of monogamous relationships?

Ruffleclaw

This fan-tasy, humor by Cornelia Funke is published by Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House LLC (origi-

nally published in Germany in 2005). Ruffleclaw is written for kids ages 7 to 10.

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If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . How does Tommy convince his mother to let Ruffleclaw stay? What do you think about the way he demands and threatens in order to get his way? What do you think I would do if you behaved this way?

2 . What kind of guests are Ruffleclaw’s neighbors? How do they behave when they visit Tommy’s house? How would

*you* behave if you were visiting a friend’s or relative’s house?

3 . Why does Tommy lie to his mother when he’s trying to hide Ruffleclaw? When have you lied to a parent, teacher or friend? How did you feel about it? If you were caught, what happened? What does the Bible say about lying?

4 . Why does Tommy want a dog or a monster? Have you ever wanted a pet of your own? If so, what kind and why? How did you imagine this pet would make your life better?

5 . What kind of a friend is Ruffleclaw? Do you think he will be a good houseguest, or will he continue to cause trou-ble for the family? How do you think Tommy’s behavior will change now that he has a mis-chievous monster in the house? When have you had a friend who caused trouble and pulled you into his bad behavior?

The Ruins of Gorlan

This fantasy adventure is the first book in the “Ranger’s Apprentice” series by John Flanagan and is published by Puffin Books, a division of

Penguin Young Readers Group. The Ruins of Gorlan is written for kids ages 12 and up.

Search for a review of this book for parents at pluggedin.com/book-reviews.

If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . Why do you think Holt empha-sizes honesty as he trains Will? Why does he tell Will not to bluff but to be straightforward when he doesn’t know an answer? What does honesty have to do with being a Ranger, or with doing any job well? How might Will have failed in his tasks if he didn’t value honesty? Why is it important for you to practice honesty in your life?

2 . Have you ever been bullied, like Horace was? What did you do? What would you have done in Horace’s situation? Should he have told someone? How did Holt handle the situation? What do you think he should have done? Is violence ever necessary to solve problems? Explain your answer .

3 . Why would you like to be a Ranger? What skills do you have that would make you suitable for the task? What would it be like to train with Holt? Do you think Will chose well when he ultimately picked being a Ranger

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over going to Battleschool? What would you have chosen? Why?

4 . Why is it significant that Will knows very little about his past? Why does that make it diffi-cult for him to determine what he should do as a career choice? How does your past (family his-tory, your experiences, your parents’ careers, etc .) affect what you will become as an adult? Explain your answer .

Running from Reality

This Christian fiction, mystery book by Missy and Mia Robertson, with Jill Osborne is published by Zonderkidz, a trademark of Zondervan.

Running from Reality is written for kids ages 9 to 13.

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If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . What difficulty is Tommy facing in his life? How do Rush and the kids support him? How can you help a friend who is experienc-ing a hard situation, such as the death or illness of a loved one?

Rush Revere and the Star-Spangled Banner

This histori-cal, humor book is the first in the

“The Adventures of Rush Revere” series by Rush Limbaugh and is published by Threshold

Editions, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Inc. Rush Revere and the Star-Spangled Banner is written for kids ages 9 to 13.

Search for a review of this book for parents at pluggedin.com/book-reviews.

If your children have read this book, consider talking about the story using these discussion questions:

1 . What difficulty is Tommy facing in his life? How do Rush and the kids support him? How can you help a friend who is experienc-ing a hard situation, such as the death or illness of a loved one?

2 . Why was it important for the Founding Fathers to create a set of rules? What would happen if there were no rules in our soci-ety? What are some of the rules you have in your home? Why is it important to obey the rules of the nation as well as those made by your parents?

3 . What did you learn about the branches of government from this story? Why did the Founding Fathers want to be sure that no one branch of gov-ernment had too much power? When have you seen one person or group having too much power over others? What happened?

4 . What is the Bill of Rights? What does it do for the people of the

United States? What would our nation be like if we didn’t have freedom of speech? What are some freedoms for which you are grateful as an American?

5 . What kind of a person is Elizabeth, the cheerleader? Why is she so mean to everyone but Tommy? When have you had to deal with a person like this? How did you respond to their rude remarks? How does the Bible say we should handle people who are unkind to us?