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                Pearl of Baxter Grove

                                                        Middle Grade Novel   -  for ages 8-12

       Casey is eleven when her mother is killed in a terrible accident. Her father is ill-equipped to help his grieving daughter, but Casey clearly needs some mothering.  Her two choices, though, aren't very promising: a nasty shop owner who hates kids or an African American newcomer who greets her with a shotgun! Slowly, Casey discovers the loving, tender person beneath the prickly exterior.

REVIEWS:

What a Gem!  by M. O'Reilly
You'll be thinking about eleven-year-old Casey long after you've finished reading this book and uncovering the many layers of her riveting and heartfelt story. Casey's spunk and unexpected reactions keep you wanting more, page after page. If you liked Because of Winn-Dixie, you'll love Pearl of Baxter Grove.

A Refreshing Coming-of-Age Tale by Angela Frame
Pearl of Baxter Grove is a refreshing coming-of-age tale for any child who is learning to navigate life's choppy waters. The main character, Casey, is at that precarious stage in life--not quite a child, not quite a teenager, yet she's precocious and wise. Life through her eyes is immediate. You feel her pain and her loneliness. But you also grow with her and feel her strength. Mary Kay Abbott has woven a unique life-affirming story filled with well-developed characters and a rich setting that any child will relate to.



Questions for Discussion:

Have you ever had someone new move into your neighborhood? Did you go right over and introduce yourself? Try to make them feel welcome? If not, why not?

What makes a good neighbor? A good friend?

If you see a family member doing something you know is not good for them, (or anybody else), do you ever feel as though you need to say something? Get them to stop doing it? Recall one time this happened and how it turned out. What happened to you?

What is forgiveness all about, anyway? Have you ever wanted to forgive someone for something they did or said, but haven't yet? Why not? If you did forgive them, were they receptive?

Have you ever remained at odds with someone, no matter how hard you tried to improve that relationship? How do you cope when this happens?

How important is it to just get along?

Have you ever had a loved one, or friend, or pet die? How did you handle your grief? What do you think Casey should have done, and why?

                             Don't Touch, I'll Pop!
                            
                         Picture Book  - for ages 6-9

     Frankie's problem is Wendell! No matter what he does, Wendell seems to find him, and then poke and tease him. Steal his Twinkie! To avoid all this pain and harassment, Frankie comes up with a plan...to wrap himself in Bubble Wrap! Thus begins a hilarious day.

There are three kinds of kids--the Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander.


REVIEWS:

Great book for those who have ever been bullied.   by Carol Ekster
This is a great book for educators or parents to share with children to show that kids don't have to take being bullied. It's well written with fun illustrations and the author even has a bubble popping activity on her website.

Don't Touch is a DO READ! by M. O'Reilly
Who hasn't experienced a bully or seen a bully in action or heard about a bully? We all have. That's why this book is absolutely for everybody. You'll laugh with Frankie, you'll feel for Frankie, and you'll be thunderstruck by his attempt to solve his problem with Wendell, The Bully. It's the most creative book on bullies I've ever read.


Questions for Discussion:

Have you ever been bullied? If so, what did you do first? Second?

Did any of these things help, or make the matter worse?

As a bystander, have you ever witnessed a bully bothering someone? What did you do? Did you remain a bystander, or did you try to help the victim? In what way did you try to help?

In what ways can we avoid having a bully pick on us?

Do you agree with Frankie that telling a grown-up is "snitching"? Why?

Do you think Frankie should tell his mom that a bully is bothering him? Why? Why not?

Have you ever been bullied over the Internet? If so, what did you do about it? Did you tell your parents? Your teacher? Your school principal?