Manulife Book Club

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Love reading? You’re in the right place!

Want to discover a great new read and talk about it with other kids? Join us! The kids’ book club is all about enjoying a good book together and getting inspired to read...for fun! For English speakers/readers, we will be reading One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia and The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan.

For French speakers/readers, we will be reading Fish In A Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt and The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan.

Join whichever group interests you more, read the assigned chapters, keep a reading journal, and we’ll meet up virtually every other week for a live, 45-minute discussion.

All books are readily available at local libraries, bookstores and online as paper, digital and audiobooks...enjoy reading in whatever format you like. Every two weeks over the eight-week session, we will post the chapters you should read for our next meeting – along with a reading guide with questions to think about as you read.

Book Club schedule

Participants are encouraged to order a printed or digital version of the book they choose and plan to begin on/around January 14th. Audible versions are also available for the chosen books for children who prefer to listen or have learning differences. These books have been chosen because they’re fun, interesting and age-appropriate. We hope kids will enjoy reading these books – and not see it as a chore or “homework.”

The group will be assigned a number of chapters for every two-week period, as well as an activity that can be done during the “off-week.” Each member is encouraged to keep a Reading Journal (paper or digital) to write down observations or questions as they read and note page and chapter to help them during discussions.

We will meet every two weeks to discuss the books, what has happened in the assigned chapters and share Reading Journal notes.

Bi-weekly discussions are only available to children of John Hancock and Manulife employees. Links to the “off-week” activity and bi-weekly discussions will be included in your weekly email.

Choose a book option

What you'll need

The book (print, digital or audio – both books are available on Audible for members who prefer to listen or have learning differences.)

A Reading Journal (it can be a physical notebook or a digital document).

This book is at least 216 pages, written for ages 8 -12, with 33 chapters (depending on what format you choose). The reading pace will be about 4 chapters a week (depending on what format you choose).

Book Description

In One Crazy Summer, eleven-year-old Delphine is like a mother to her two younger sisters, Vonetta and Fern. She's had to be, ever since their mother, Cecile, left them seven years ago for a radical new life in California. But when the sisters arrive from Brooklyn to spend the summer with their mother, Cecile is nothing like they imagined.

While the girls hope to go to Disneyland and meet Tinker Bell, their mother sends them to a day camp run by the Black Panthers. Unexpectedly, Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern learn much about their family, their country, and themselves during one truly crazy summer.

This novel was the first featured title for Marley D’s Reading Party, launched after the success of #1000BlackGirlBooks. Maria Russo, in a New York Times list of "great kids' books with diverse characters," called it "witty and original."

This middle grade novel is an excellent choice for tween readers in grades 5 to 6, especially during homeschooling. It’s a fun way to keep your child entertained and engaged while not in the classroom.

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams Garcia Published January 26th 2010 by Quill Tree Books

One Crazy Summer: Reading and Discussion Schedule

Week One (January 14):

Chapters:

Cassius Clay Clouds

Golden Gate Bridge

Secret Agent Mother

Green Stucco House

Meeting #1 on January 21st: 3:15PM-4:00PM

Check your weekly email for this week’s Zoom login information and don’t forget to bring your Reading Journal!

Here are your discussions questions to prep for our meeting [PDF]

Week Two (January 21):

Chapters:

Mean Lady Ming

Collect Call

For The People

Glass of Water

Inseparable

Week Two Activity

Download this fun activity to support your reading this week [PDF]

Week Three (January 28):

Chapters:

Breakfast Program

Even the Earth Is a Revolutionary

Crazy Mother Mountain

Everyone Knows The King of The Sea

Coloring and La-La

Meeting #2 on February 4th: 3:15PM-4:00PM

Here are your discussions questions to prep for our meeting [PDF]

Check your weekly email for this week’s Zoom login information and don’t forget to bring your Reading Journal!

Week Four (February 4):

Chapters:

Counting and Skimming

Big Red S

China Who

Expert Colored Counting

Civic Pride

Week Four Activity

Download this fun activity to support your reading this week

Week Five (February 11):

Chapters:

Rally for Bobby

Eating Crow

Itsy Bitsy Spider

Movable Type

San Fransisco Treat

Meeting #3 on February 18th: 3:15PM-4:00PM

Here are your discussions questions to prep for our meeting

Check your weekly email for this week’s Zoom login information and don’t forget to bring your Reading Journal!

Week Six (February 18):

Chapters:

Wish We Had A Camera

The Clark Sisters

I Birthed A Nation

Stories of the No Sayers

Glorious Hill

Week Six Activity

Download this fun activity to support your reading this week

Week Seven (February 25):

Chapters:

The Third Thing

Be Eleven

Afua

Meeting#4 on March 4^th: 3:15PM-4:00PM

Here are your discussion questions to prep for our meeting

Check your weekly email for this week’s Zoom login information and don’t forget to bring your Reading Journal!

Week Eight (February):

Week Eight: Meeting #4 on March 4th: 3:15PM-4:00PM

Here are your discussions questions to prep for our meeting

This book is at least 396 pages, written for ages 10-14, with 22 chapters (depending on what format you choose). The reading pace will be about 3 chapters a week (depending on what format you choose).

Book Description

In The Lightning Thief, Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can't seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse - Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. When Percy's mom finds out, she knows it's time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he'll be safe.

She sends Percy to Camp Half Blood, a summer camp for demigods, where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends -- one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena -- Percy sets out on a quest to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods.

Best suited for voracious readers between sixth and ninth grade, this fast-paced and engaging book will teach kids about learning differences and Greek mythology with a lot of excitement! ”

Riordan's fast-paced adventure is fresh, dangerous, and funny. Percy is an appealing, but reluctant hero, the modernized gods are hilarious, and the parallels to Harry Potter are frequent and obvious. Because Riordan is faithful to the original myths, librarians should be prepared for a rush of readers wanting the classic stories. - Chris Sherman
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