First Book Club Meeting

For those who were not able to attend the meeting, below are the discussion questions we talked about. I'm sure many did not get to share all of their ideas and thoughts, so whether you were at the meeting or not, please post your comments here! (Tell us which question you are commenting on)

Lemonade War

by Jacqueline Davies

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. In the book Jessie skips second and third grades and goes straight to fourth grade. Skipping causes problems between her and her brother and makes the other kids in her neighborhood think she is strange. Do you think skipping a grade or two is a good thing or a bad thing and why? How would you feel being in class where everyone is one or two years older than you? If there was a much younger student in your class, what would you think about them?

2. Both Evan and Jessie earn more $100 selling lemonade. Evan wants to spend his money on an iPod; Jessie wants to donate hers to charity. What would you do if you had $100? Spend it, save it, give it away? What would you spend it on or to whom would you give it away?

3. When Jessie is upset, reading Charlotte’s Web makes her feel better. Evan playsbasketball with his friends to lift his spirits. Is there something you like to do that makesyou feel better when you need to take your mind off of your problems? How does it help you? Is it relaxing – like taking a nap or reading – or does it take energy, like playing sports or doing a craft?

4. Have you ever felt competitive with someone you are close to, like a sibling or a good friend? How did you react to this competition? What did you do? How was it resolved?

5. Evan is so angry with his sister he can barely stand it! Has Jessie consciously done anything to harm her brother? Explain the root of Evan’s anger.

6. Jacqueline Davies chose to create Evan and Jessie as characters that don’t fit the stereotype of boys and girls, in terms of both their academic strengths and challenges and their social strengths and challenges. Do you think that these stereotypes (girls as intuitive but not good at math, boys as good at math but not so good at reading people’s feelings) get in the way at your school?

7. Even though Jessie and Evan are having a hard time with each other, they don’t want their mom to know. Can you explain why they are so careful not to show her they are quarreling? Have you ever felt like this?

8. Evan is pretty sure that Scott Spencer stole the lemonade money he “borrowed” from Jessie. Why doesn’t Evan confront Scott? Why doesn’t he ask for his money back?

9. How do Evan and Jessie finally resolve the conflict—both their lemonade war and their personal war?

10. Both children have to admit that they’ve done mean things to each other before they can move on. Have you ever done something out of anger that you wish you hadn’t? How did this play out?