Discussion Topics - The Parker Inheritance

• where would you hide a treasure?
• was James Parker right to go back to being Reggie?
• what would you miss most about your home, school, town?
• favorite character? why?
• who would you recommend this book to?

Review - The Parker Inheritance

The Parker Inheritance is a suspenseful book with great characters. If you like word puzzles/riddles, then this is the book for you.

Twelve-year-old Candice finds a letter that her grandmother left in the attic of her old house where Candice is living for the summer. Candice is sure that she was meant to find it. But she's not sure who she can trust with its contents. She soon enlists the help of Brandon , the 11-year-old boy across the street.

Against a backdrop of the history of racism in the south, the two children struggle to find answers to the puzzle in the letter and puzzles in their lives. But not all puzzles get solved and not all endings are happy. It's a fascinating ride to see if these two kids can solve the grandmother's puzzle.

Meeting Schedule - Howl's Moving Castle

Try this book group meeting for Howl's Moving Castle. It will be a lot of fun.
• Review
• Discussion Topics
• "Cookie" Recipe - Tunnel of Fudge Cake
• Craft Project

Project - Howl's Moving Castle

We didn't do a project for Howl's Moving Castle. But here are some ideas for your book group project.
Make a wizard hat - http://familycrafts.about.com/od/costumeacces/a/wizardhat.htm
Make a magic wand - http://www.pacon.com/projects/MagicWandCraftProject.htm

Conjure up your own spell. Make a list of interesting items that would go into a spell and then try to make it rhyme. For example:
      What a wonderful spell this would be
      If I mixed sugar and a bit of tea
      Add some water and lemon drops too
      And let's find something that will make it blue

You get the idea...

Review - Howl's Moving Castle

Wow! What a ride. From the start, Howl's Moving Castlegrabs you and takes you on a wild ride of magic, adventure, mystery and love.

At the beginning of the story, we meet Sophie, a plain young hat-maker. For some reason, the Witch of the Waste casts a spell on her and Sophie is instantaneously an old woman. She can't tell anyone about the spell and ironically sees the spell as an opportunity to set out on her own.

Tired and weary from a day of walking, Sophie must seek refuge in Howl's moving castle. Inside, she finds an unholy mess. She then meets the fire demon Calcifer, Howl's apprentice Michael, and eventually Howl.

Despite his reputation for evil-doing, Howl is not one to turn out someone in need. When Sophie tells him that she is the new cleaning lady, he allows her to be that and she sets to the task (barring a few limits which Howl has placed upon her cleaning.) The ragtag team of people in this 'household' become close.

Sophie learns about the ties that bind Howl and Calcifer. She learns much of the magic of the house and even comes to find out she has some magic herself. To no avail, she tries to help Howl elude the responsibility of finding the Prince and the Wizard of Suliman. She roots for Howl in his fight with the Witch of the Waste but she is still concerned over his womanizing and the inevitable heartbreak which will befall her sister Lettie.

So much happens in so many interesting places, I would do a disservice to say that this is a summary of the book. Suffice it to say, that I recommend that you read this book. Howl's Moving Castleis a fun-filled adventure that will leave you breathless.

Please note that the movie and the book are very different from each other. While we love Miyazaki movies, we thought the story in the book was better than the one told in the movie.


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