05/10/2026
We wrapped up our Lunch Bunch Book Club last week with ice cream floats and movie/book comparison discussions. All 3 books had great themes that we all could learn from. Here is a little recap...
The 6th graders read Stargirl, a book about being yourself. Stargirl is a popular young adult novel by Jerry Spinelli, published in 2000, about a unique and nonconformist high school student who arrives at Mica High and captures the heart of narrator Leo Borlock, but is eventually shunned by her peers for being different, exploring themes of individuality, popularity, and first love. They all loved the book and movie adaptation.
The 7th grade read Out of My Mind. Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper is a middle-grade novel about Melody Brooks, an 11-year-old girl with cerebral palsy and a photographic memory who cannot speak or walk. The story, told from Melody's first-person perspective, follows her struggle for inclusion and self-expression as she navigates a world that underestimates her intelligence due to her disability, eventually finding a voice through a communication device. The book explores themes of perseverance, stereotypes, and the power of communication. The movie adaptation was so good and I recommend everyone watch it. Be sure to have some kleenex handy.
The 8th grade club read Lost on a Mountain in Maine. Lost on a Mountain in Maine is Donn Fendler's true story of his survival after getting lost on Mount Katahdin in 1939 at age 12, detailing his nine days alone in the wilderness, battling hunger, hallucinations, and the elements, and becoming a classic survival tale for young readers. The book, originally published in 1978, recounts his harrowing experience from his own perspective, highlighting his resourcefulness as a Boy Scout and his eventual rescue. The movie adaptation was a big hit.
I have enjoyed talking about books with these students this year! I hope they will always have a desire to read!π