Spoiler Alert - The Goose Girl

It's time! I hope some of you were able to read the book, and that you found it interesting. I'm sorry I'm a little late in putting up this post. We were in conference for the weekend, and I just got back this afternoon. I would like to hear from all of you who read the book. You can write what you want in your comments, but here are some ideas to get you started.

1. Did you like the book overall? Why or why not? What did you like? What didn't you like?
2. Did you feel like you connected with any of the characters?
3. Were there any specific passages that stood out to you?
4. Ani's mother, the queen, tells her, "a crown princess, like a queen, can succeed only by staying apart. Separation, elevation, delegation" (p. 25). Is this true? How?
5. Do you think Ani's mother will treat Ani any differently now?
6. Fairy tales often share common characteristics --- the use of the number three, magical elements, transformations, misleading appearances, and the conquest of good over evil. Additionally, the hero or heroine is often infallible. Which elements did Shannon Hale decide to incorporate into THE GOOSE GIRL? Which ones did she omit? Why do you think so? Should she have done it differenlty? What makes a fairy tale different from other types of stories?
7. How does the story and Shannon Hale's writing compare with other young adult novels you hae read? Do you like her writing style?
8. If you were to produce a movie of THE GOOSE GIRL, whom would you cast in each role? Why would you pick these particular actors? Do you think it would be good as a movie? Would you change any of the story?
9. Would you recommend this book to someone else? Why or why not? Would you recommend this book to a teenager? Why or why not?

Again, these are just ideas if you're not sure what you want to say. Just post a comment with your thoughts. I hope you enjoyed the book!

And for next month . . . our book is The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. I thought this would be a good month for October because although it isn't scary, it is a mystery, which fits with the Halloween spirit. My eighth graders always read this book in October. As before, you can click on the book to be connected to amazon.com. Here is a review by one reader:

"The game is "Who Killed Sam Westing" and the winner receives his estate, worth millions. Sixteen people, all residents of Sunset Towers --- an apartment building on Lake Michigan --- are named as heirs to the fortune. They are split into eight unusual pairs and given clues to solving the murder. Through snowstorms, power failures and bombs they play the game, leading to deception and intrigue. Everyone is a suspect, no one is ever who he or she seems to be, and no one except the reader has all the answers (and sometimes not even then). Don't forget Sam Westing's most important instruction to the heirs: "It's not what you have, but what you don't have, that counts."After twenty-five years, THE WESTING GAME --- written by the late beloved author Ellen Raskin and winner of the 1978 Newbery Award --- is still remarkable for its diverse, interesting characters, its plot twists, and an ending that no one inside or outside the novel could predict. Woven into the mystery are insights into family relations, dishonesty, courage and finding a sense of self. The absurdities of plot lend a humorous air but never distract from the story. There is something new to be found with every reading, from clues to connections between characters.Whether you're revisiting this old favorite or discovering the madness and brilliance of Sam Westing for the first time, you won't be disappointed. " ---Reviewed by Carlie Webber

The one thing that does get a little tricky about this book is the characters. It can get a little confusing to keep track of all 16 characters, so you may want to have a notebook nearby with the characters' names and some brief information about them, especially if you are trying to solve the mystery of who murdered Samuel Westing! Good luck with your detective work!