School Story
Book Discussion/Review

Author: Andrew Clements

Leader: All
(4th Grade)

Average Rating [1 (don't suggest) -5 (highly suggest)]: 4.3125

KLB's Rating: - 4 3/4 - I thought the book was VERY good. I loved the characters and thought that EVERYONE should read it.

HP's Rating: - 4 - I liked the book because it kept me wondering what would happen to the story.

LA's Rating: - 3 1/2 - This book was pretty good. The only problem I had with it was that it was a little boring. I still recommend the book to anyone.

KA's Rating: - 5 - I liked the book because it drew me by mystery and suspense. The book was my favorite book club book and I wanted to rate it an one-hundred.

Another hour long discussion. The book had a less depth so the discussion had less depth. However, the girls loved it and had a good time. Snacks were strawberries, apples, oranges, carmel dip and crackers. They stayed for dinner with cookies for dessert. The girls picked pen names.

When the mothers got there we picked the next round of books and found working dates and hostess houses. This was remarkably easy with a voting system. We borrowed part of our list from the books the Reading Maniac's had chosen in the past. They are another book club that has a site on-line. We decided to have every 5th meeting (approximately) as a mother/daughter meeting where we all read a book and have a mother/daughter discussion. Our first will be a potluck in June.

    Discussion Questions:  

  1. How did Zoe think of being Natalie's agent?
  2. How did Natalie think of writing her book?
  3. Why didn't Ms. Colayton use Zoe's money for the office?
  4. Why did Natalie write a story about a girls dad instead of mom?
  5. Why did people like the book so much?
  6. How did Natalie and Zoe think of a publishing club?
  7. Why does Natalie like writing so much?
  8. Natalie's mother lists the kinds of books the publishing company thinks people want to buy: series books, adventure books and school stories. Do you agree that those are the kinds of books you want to read?
  9. If you could sit down with the editors of a publishing company, what would you tell them you'd like to see published?
  10. Natalie's mother and Zoe really notice the character of the father in Natalie's story. Zoe thinks of the story as a goodbye poem from Natalie to her father. Why do you think she describes it that way?
  11. Zoe did a lot of research, planning and persuading to get Natalie's book published. Did it seem realistic for two 12-year-olds to accomplish what they did on their own? Why or why not?
  12. Zoe says, "Remember, Natalie, she's not just your mom. She's your editor." After turning in her manuscript, Natalie understands what Zoe means. How will Natalie see her mother differently now?
  13. With the help of her editor, Natalie rewrites parts of her book so it will be even better. Have you ever had to rewrite a paper for your teacher?
  14. How do you think rewriting for an editor and rewriting for a teacher are the same? How might they be different?
  15. "The School Story" describes a lot about the process of how a book is published. What interesting things did you find out about book publishing?
  16. Discuss pseudonyms, pen names and internet handles. What do you think you might choose for a pen name? Why?
  17. What nickname would you choose for yourself? Like "Billy the Kid" or "Sundance".
  18. Discuss the story Natalie wrote, "The Cheater". Why don't we know more of the story? How does it end? Will Andrew Clements ever publish that story for us?

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