- Atheneum Books for Young Readers |
- 128 pages |
- ISBN 9781416995258 |
- May 2010 |
- Grades 5 - 9 |
- Lexile GN230L
Reading Group Guide
A Discussion Guide
1. Although she thought it was boring, Vita sat through her brother Pablo’s graduation ceremony at the beginning of the book. Tanya goes to see Kyle’s JV soccer game as a date, even though they can’t really talk while he’s playing. And Pablo tells Vita that he would sit through a “one-note” conference if she was performing. Have you ever had anybody sit through a long performance, ceremony, or game to support you? How did that make you feel? Would you do the same for someone else? Who?
2. In Chapter 3: Cause and Effect, we find out that Tanya is sick and has to spend a lot of time in the hospital getting tests and treatments that cause her to be nauseated. Later in the book we find out that Tanya is suffering from leukemia, a blood and bone marrow disease. Have you ever known someone who was seriously sick? What do you think you would say if a friend told you he or she had cancer?
3. Tanya is an activist, always standing up for a cause like saving the pandas or the rain forest. In fact, she writes a song about saving the pandas for Zebrafish called “1,000 Pandas.” Do you consider yourself an activist? Is there a special cause you feel passionate about? How did you learn about this cause and why is it important to you?
4. Vita, as the see more