It might sound just like the beginning of a good story but it’s more than that! It’s what we talked about in our Book Club this year! Reading “A street cat named Bob: And how he saved my life” by James Bowen and “The Midnight library” by Matt Haig, our teenage bookworms had the chance to reflect on how anyone (or anything) can trigger change for themselves, other people, and even the whole world out there!
A stray cat, Bob, was all that James needed to change his life for ever and the loss of Nora’s cat, Voltaire, was enough to fill her with loneliness and set her thinking about second chances. Upon finishing their reading, our students discussed the relationships between animals & humans, and the valuable role pets can play in our lives. They also reflected on key issues, such as perseverance, loneliness, regret, empathy, bullying and, of course, second chances. “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade” became a motto to live by, to help us correct wrongdoing and never give up in the face of adversity or misfortune. Posters, drawings, collages, trivia quizzes, alternate endings for James’ and Nora’s stories (and Bob’s and Voltaire’s, of course), they all had their place in our students’ works! After all, page one of a book is just the beginning, how (and if) it ends is a decision that rests with the reader!
“Books share their fates with their readers”
‘The Name of the Rose’ - Umberto Eco