Little Falls High School Reads discussion

Rather than a "BookTalk" in front of the class, please discuss your books here.

Some discussion topics include:
1. Are the characters in your book realistic and if so how? Can you relate to them or do they remind you of teens you know? Would you be friends with any of the characters in your book? Explain. NO REAL names mentioned in responses.

2. What have you learned from your book or has your opinion about the topic changed from reading this book?

See where the discussion takes you. Stay on topic, but feel free to have an organic discussion about the book. Read the other discussions on GoodReads for ideas about what else to discuss.Scrawl

1. I would say the characters in the book are realistic, because they deal with realistic situations about poverty, or less wealthy teens. I can relate because there are many not wealthy kids in Little Falls. I probably woudn't be friends with the kids in my book, because we don't have anything in common. So I wouldn't know what to talk about. Maybe if the characters were more outgoing, but they all seem to be confined to the couple of friends they have.

2. I learned that you shouldn't discrimate against people who are less fortunate then yourself. Everyone deserves to be treated and viewed as the same, no matter your finacial income.

1.) No, I don't believe Tod, the main character, is realistic because most low income family members could care less about helping other people. I feel most people like this only care about themselves. My friends are not in the low income category so I don't really know anybody that could be related to Tod. Yes, I would be friends with Tod because he is a good kid and has a positive outlook on life.

2.) From reading this book, I realized that you need to not sterotype people and to actually give them a chance.

1.) No, the characters in my book are not realistic. Contrary to what other people think, most unfortunate people with bad home lives don't care to leave. The main character in the book came off as if he wanted to leave his social status, but in reality, not many people do. They usually don't have the work ethic to. No, I would not be friends with anyone in the book. Tod Munn, the main character, has a negative outlook on life and causes problems. Actually, I'd probably hate him if he went to out school.

2.) I have learned that I shouldn't prejudge people, and that poor people can be smart, not all of them enjoy causing a ruckus and where they are from. Even though I already partially knew this, the book emphasized that I can't prejudge and stereotype people of less economic status.

Thank you for joining the conversation, Derek, Andy and Eddie!

You each make a good point that people should not be prejudged or stereotyped because of their economic status.

I'm concerned, though, about some of your own judgement of the characters in your book.

Andy writes, "most low income family members could care less about helping other people. I feel most people like this only care about themselves." And Eddie writes, "The main character in the book came off as if he wanted to leave his social status, but in reality, not many people do. They usually don't have the work ethic to."

What do you mean by this? I disagree with you because I have seen many examples of exactly the opposite in my life - individuals that do not have much often going out of their way to volunteer at church, or donate what little food they have to the food pantry. I have also seen students in my classes that would love to be in a different social status, but just don't have anyone to help them get beyond where they are. What can we do to help these students? Or their parents to be motivated or driven in life?

I hope you will want to become part of the solution to what you see as a problem. "You're either part of the problem or you are part of the solution." I hope that it will only become easier for you to see life through others' eyes.

With my recollection of events in my limited experiences in Little Falls, the amount of students who are in lower income homes always follow in their footsteps of their parents, leading to generations of welfare. There are only a few of lower economic status people I have met that try to get their grades up and persevere to do good in their life (to them I say, good for you and God bless). And being one of their peers, I can see this, and even with the help of the generous teachers, many do not take the resources they have seriously.

Eddie wrote: "And being one of their peers, I can see this, and even with the help of the generous teachers, many do not take the resources they have seriously."

I can see where this would cause you frustration, Eddie. As you are one to appreciate the resources you do have. I hope you continue to be a role model for your peers who might not take be taking advantage of the opportunities they have as students, opportunities to learn and prosper in society. As a school community, we must continue to support our peers no matter what their parents' economic status may be.