HOW TO START YOUR OWN BOOK CLUB

Think it would be hard to start your own book club? Think again! DISCUSSION GUIDE
All you need is a little bit of organization
and some friends who are as excited about the books they read as you are. “Extraordinary . . . [A] moving and insightful masterpiece.”
Here are a few tips to get you started: —Publishers Weekly

The best way to find people to be in your reading group is to ask your friends.
Think of all the people you know who like to read, and ask them to join. If you still
don’t feel like you have enough people, ask each of your friends to bring someone
else. You can usually get a good discussion going with six to eight people, but
PR F N L Q JELUG
any number that is comfortable for you will work. If you’re having trouble finding
enough cool people to form your reading group, check with your school, local
library, or bookstore to see if there’s a group that you can join.

Figure out when and where you want to meet.

Some groups meet once a month, some meet every other month. You could get
together at someone’s house, in a park, on the beach, or in your school’s library. If
it sounds too official and overwhelming to decide all the “wheres” and “whens”
right now, don’t worry! It’s your group and so you get to make all the decisions.
All you have to do is get together once, and you can work out the rest of the
details later.

Decide how you will choose books and how the discussions will be run.
Maybe you have a favorite author that you and your friends would like to focus
on. Or maybe you want to take turns picking your favorite book. Maybe one person
likes to talk and would like to lead the discussion, or maybe you would rather just
all get together and talk about the books you are reading. If you get stuck, you
can often find discussion questions online (try the publisher’s website) or at your
local library or bookstore.

The most important thing to remember is that there’s no right or wrong way to
have a reading group. Do what you’re comfortable with and always have fun, and
your group will be a success!

For more discussion guides to get your group going,

visit www.penguin.com/teachersandlibrarians.

Philomel Books • Puffin Books

Divisions of Penguin Young Readers Group
www.penguin.com/teachersandlibrarians
This discussion guide has been provided by Penguin Young Readers Group for classroom,
K AT HRYN ER SKINE
library, and book club use. It may be reproduced in its entirety or excerpted for these purposes.
 ABOUT THE BOOK DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
In Caitlin’s world, everything is black or • In what ways is Devon’s unfinished chest symbolic of the loss of Devon?
white. Things are good or bad. Anything How has it has impacted the rest of Caitlin’s family? Although her father
in between is confusing. That’s the stuff has covered the chest with a sheet, why do you think he chooses to keep
Caitlin’s older brother, Devon, has always it in their home?
explained. But now Devon’s dead, and their
• Caitlin’s father tells her that, “The whole town is upset by what happened.
father cries a lot. Caitlin wants to get over
They want to help. They want to help you deal with life, Caitlin…without
it, but as an eleven-year-old girl with
Devon.”(p.5) How do readers know Caitlin isn’t dealing with the loss of
Asperger’s, she doesn’t know how. When
her brother? What are some of the behaviors she displays that verify how
she reads the definition of “closure” in the
she’s doing?
dictionary, she realizes that is what she and
her father need. In her search for closure, Caitlin discovers that not every- • Devon served as a navigator to Caitlin as he helped her understand
thing is black and white—the world is full of colors—messy and beautiful, and explore the world; how does his absence make it significantly more
and it is through this discovery that she embarks on a road which leads her difficult for her to deal with others? What are some of the specific kinds
to find both healing and closure. of things Devon did to help his sister? What was his motivation in doing
these things? Did he stand to gain anything for assisting her?
• Do you believe Caitlin’s father is providing her the support she needs?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Why or why not?

• Mockingbird is told in first person; how would the story be different if
As a resident of Virginia, KATHRYN ERSKINE was someone besides Caitlin were telling it? Do you thinking changing the
devastated by the 2007 shootings at Virginia Tech. point of view would make the story better or worse? Why?
In the aftermath of this tragedy, she was driven to
• Based on instructions on how to act, Caitlin reminds herself to “Look At
understand how community and family—particularly
The Person.” Why do you think this is particularly difficult for her? Why
families with special-needs children—dealt with this
is each word in that phrase capitalized? What other phrases have that
violent event, and how our lives might be different if we
same treatment? What function do they serve to the reader as well as
understood each other better. In writing Mockingbird and telling the story of
to Caitlin?
Caitlin, a young girl with Asperger’s syndrome, she walked into the fragile
world herself, and like Caitlin, offers us something “good and strong and • Why is Mrs. Brook important to Caitlin? Why does Caitlin trust her and not
beautiful.” some of the other adults she encounters at school? What does her absence
at school mean to Caitlin?
Kathryn was a lawyer for fifteen years before turning to her first love,
writing. Her debut novel, Quaking, was one of YALSA’s Top Ten Quick Picks • Asperger’s and autism often exhibit ritualistic behaviors; what are some
for Reluctant Young Adult Readers. She lives in Virginia with her husband, of Caitlin’s? How do these actions make her feel? Discuss whether you
two children, and her dog, Maxine. believe she should be allowed to engage in these activities or if she would
be better served by being forbidden or stopped.
Visit her on her website at www.kathyerskine.com.
• What are the reasons Caitlin dislikes recess? How does recess for older
kids compare to recess for younger kids?
• Describe Josh. What motivates him to behave the way he does? Do you
think he has a valid reason for being so angry? How does Caitlin feel about
Josh? Why might she feel so strongly about him? Why might others?
• When considering her passion for books, Caitlin states, “You can open and RESEARCH AND ACTIVITIES
close books a million times and they stay the same. They look the same.
• Author Kathryn Erskine created a playlist of the music she listened to as
They say the same words. The charts and pictures are the same colors.
she wrote Mockingbird, which you can find below. Consider the story and
Books are not like people. Books are safe.” (p.34) What can we infer about
create a CD with an original playlist for the novel. Create original art for
her statement? Do you agree with Caitlin? Provide some examples from the
the jewel case and on the interior, and after including appropriate artist
story to validate her point.
information, offer an explanation for the selection of each song.
• When Josh and Caitlin have an altercation on the playground, their
classmates come to Caitlin’s defense and even team up against Josh,
but later, some of these same students laugh and tease Caitlin about her Kathryn Erskine’s Mockingbird Music Playlist
behavior—why would they chose to behave this way and what do we learn Elmer Bernstein,
from this contradictory behavior? Main Title from movie “To Kill a Mockingbird”
Elmer Bernstein, “Footsteps in the Dark”
• Caitlin’s friendship with Michael sends her down a path where she learns
Cathy Bollinger, “Everyone has Strengths to be Proud of”
what it means to want a friend and be a friend. Why is she so threatened
Rolf Harris, “You Ride Your Way and I’ll Ride Mine”
by his friendship with Josh? What can Josh gain from this relationship?
Judy Kuhn, “Colors of the Wind”
Consider your friendships—how do these relationships affect you? Can
Martina McBride, “Through Your Eyes”
they make you a better person? If so, in what ways?
John McCutcheon, “Kindergarten Wall”
• One of the ways Devon and Caitlin connected was through their shared The Mosaic Project, “Empathy Song”
appreciation for the movie, To Kill a Mockingbird. Why was this particular
Randy Newman, “You’ve got a Friend in Me”
movie so special to them? In what ways were they similar to the characters
Raffi, “Sharing Song”
in the film?
Carly Simon & James Taylor, “Mockingbird”
• Throughout the course of the novel, Caitlin tries to understand the meaning Steve Miller Band, “Fly like an Eagle”
of closure. What are some of the events that help her achieve closure? How
does her understanding of the concept of closure change?
• Why is Caitlin so insistent that she and her father finish Devon’s chest? • Though many schools have anti-bullying programs which include
What does she hope to accomplish by completing this project? What conversations about acceptance of differences, little formal instruction
happens during the course of finishing the chest and how does that affect is offered to “typical” students about their peers who fall on the Autism
both Caitlin and her father? Spectrum. Working in small groups, draft a plan for a school wide
program which helps define ASD’s (Autism Spectrum Disorders) and shares
• Though she is a gifted artist, Caitlin is fearful of using color in her work common behavior patterns and rationalizations for those behaviors. Be
and her work doesn’t involve human subjects. Why do these things make sure to include ways program ideas which allow “typical” students to serve
her uncomfortable? How is this indicative of her disability? as social models and buddies.
• As her father shares his struggles with his sister, Caitlin remarks, “I try
not to listen to Dad because I’ve had all the empathy I can take right • Throughout the novel, Josh struggles greatly because he feels that
now. Empathy can make you feel really sad.” (p.128) What does Caitlin’s others blame him for being related to one of the school shooters. Using
statement tell us about her level of understanding concepts like empathy Josh’s voice, write a journal entry in which you detail the playground
and finesse? Do you think she is changing? Why or why not? event and the altercation with Caitlin. To prepare, create an outline using
the five W’s (who, what, when, where, and why). Remember to write in first
• Using the phrase, “This is a story about…” supply five words to describe person and give special attention to sensory imagery (what you saw,
Mockingbird. Explain your choices. smelled, heard, etc.)
• How has Caitlin matured from dealing with the loss of her brother? What
has she learned? How have the people to whom Caitlin is closest learned
from her as well?
 QUESTION AND ANSWER MOCKINGBIRD
WITH KATHRYN ERSKINE by Kathryn Erskine

Q: What inspired you to write Mockingbird in first person? Did you ever con-
sider telling the story from a different perspective?
A: I wanted to use first person to really get inside Caitlin’s head and have
readers see the world the way she sees it. If they could live in her shoes,
I felt they could better understand why she talks and behaves the way
she does.
Q: The issue of dealing with loss manifests itself throughout Mockingbird.
What inspired you to use this as a major theme throughout the novel?
A: Overcoming losses, having hope that things will be better, is a major HC: 978-0-399-25264-8 • $15.99 PB: 978-0-14-241775-1 • $7.99
theme in all my books because I’m a big believer in hope. Despite the Ages 10 up • Grades 5 up
losses we suffer, we can still gain something -- it may not be the same,
but it can still be good. Sometimes, a person you don’t expect, a person • National Book Award Winner
who’s not exactly great with people, a person like Caitlin, can pave the way
for great healing. “No one should miss this remarkable and moving experience”
–Andrew Clements, author of the bestselling Frindle and Things Not Seen
Q: On your website, you include a music playlist for each of your books; can
you tell us why you built these playlists and what inspired you to include “Mockingbird is a lovely, perceptive, and poignant story”
these specific selections for Mockingbird? –Sharon Creech, author of the Newbery Medal-winning Walk Two Moons
A: For Mockingbird, the obvious songs were themes from “To Kill a
Mockingbird” because Caitlin makes me think of Scout in the movie, and “This will grab you by the heart and throat, give you a good shake,
the wonderful James Taylor / Carly Simon version of “Mockingbird”. The and then set you cheering for the human spirit”
line from the song that kept running through my head was, “Hear me –Jim Trelease, author of the preeminent The Read-Aloud Handbook
now and understand.” Most of the other songs on my list are for kids
Also by Kathryn Erskine
and they’re about issues Caitlin has to deal with, such as empathy
and sharing. QUAKING
HC: 978-0-399-24774-3 • $16.99
Q: Aspiring writers are often told to write what they know; how have you
PB: 978-0-14-241476-7 • $7.99
followed that sage advice? Ages 11 up • Grades 6 up
A: My daughter was diagnosed with Asperger’s in 2nd grade. It explained a
lot. I do believe that there’s much we can do to help those on the autism After years of moving to new foster homes, fourteen year old
spectrum learn about and understand our world. At the same time, I think Matt has learned to rely on herself at school and everywhere.
we can learn much of value from people who see the world differently. But she moves in with peaceful Quakers Sam and Jessica and starts to find
herself getting involved despite her best efforts—especially when conflict
Q: What influences your writing?
arises in town and at school over the war in the Middle East.
A: Life. That may sound silly, but I’m influenced by everything around
me all the time. Suffering of any kind speaks to me very loudly which
• A Virginia Readers Choice Selection
is why, I suppose, my books tend to have heavy themes. But the focus
• An ALA Quick Pick Top Ten
is on handling the suffering, dealing with the problems and, in the end,
• A VOYA “Top Shelf Fiction for Middle School Readers” Selection
triumphing. That’s how I like to write my world, both in books and
real life.