Deborah Lytton

Middle Grade and Young Adult Author

Middle Grade Book Club

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I am so excited about my new middle grade series RUBY STARR (Sourcebooks), available in August 2017.

Ruby is a ten year old who loves reading and has a bigger-than-life imagination. Her love for books has led her to start her own book club. Every Tuesday at lunch, Ruby and her friends discuss a new middle grade book. In honor of Ruby, once a month, I will be holding my own book club. Book club discussion questions for middle grade books will be posted here on my blog. There will be some of Ruby’s favorites (which just so happen to be my favorites as well!) and some new releases too.

The first book we will be discussing is ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS by Scott O’Dell. This book won the John Newbery Medal in 1961 and is based on the true story of The Lost Woman of San Nicolas. Ruby and I both love the story because it highlights the courage of a young girl, Karana who is left all alone on an island in the Pacific.

Here are some questions to get your book club discussion started:

  1. Karana’s courage is the trait I admire most about her. What trait do you admire in Karana?
  2. After she gets to know Won-a-nee and her young, Karana decides to stop killing animals and to find other ways to survive. Do you think this is a big sacrifice for her?
  3. Karana has many animal friends throughout the book. Which is your favorite animal and why?
  4. Would you have saved Rontu? Why or why not?
  5. Karana’s friendship with Tutok shows us how lonely Karana is on the island. Have you ever been lonely? What did you do about it?
  6. Nature is like a character in this story because the island and the sea are so important to Karana’s survival. What description of nature in the book stands out to you and why?
  7. Missionaries ask Karana to change out of her cormorant skirt and otter cape into a dress they make for her. What do you think this symbolizes?
  8. When Karana finally leaves the Island of the Blue Dolphins, what do you think she will miss the most? What would you miss the most?

I hope you enjoyed today’s book club! See you next month:)

P.S. If you have suggestions for a book we should read, please send me a message on my contact page.