Return of Skeleton Man

MVM Book Club has enjoyed reading Skeleton Man by Joseph Bruchac.  Our next book will be "Return of Skeleton Man."  Write a comment with your thoughts about how Skeleton Man will return and whether or not Molly will be able to escape again.

Olivia's Question about Skeleton Man

Why is Molly's uncle being so mysterious? Do you think the food that he gave Molly was really poisen?  Do you think that Molly's teacher was really helping her?

The Skeleton Man by Joseph Bruchac

Welcome MVM Bookclub members.  Here are some questions to think about as you read the first four chapters.  You can respond to any of the questions using the Comment button.

Chapter 1 - Why do you think Molly's parents told her the scary Skeleton Man story when she was little?  Did your parents tell you scary stories?  What event on page 10 should alert Molly to the idea that her parents didn't plan their absence?  How do you think the school found out that Molly's parents weren't home?  Does Molly's father's story about the death of all his relatives sound believable, or do you think he made that up?  How did Uncle get Molly's father's wallet?

Chapter 2 -  Why doesn't Uncle take Molly back to her own house?  Why does Uncle lock Molly in at night?  Could it be for a good reason?

Chapter 3 -  What does the dream mean?  How do you think the rabbit might help Molly?  Do you think that dreams have meaning?  Have you ever received a message from someone through a dream?

The Maze of Bones - 39 Clues

Dan and Amy Cahill are in a race against time and against their shifty, not-trust-worthy relatives which include the spy Irina Spasky, pop star Jonah Wizard, the overly athletic Holt family, rich snobs Ian & Natalie Kabra, and quiet Uncle Alistair Oh.  They are all on the hunt for the 39 clues which their relative and grandmother, Grace Cahill, left behind.  Their choices were to inherit one million dollars OR follow the clues to an even greater reward.  Many of the Cahill clan choose the million dollars but the rest are in a world-wide race to find the clues and solve the mystery.  Each book in this exciting series is written by a different author of popular fiction for middle-school kids, including Rick Riordan, Gordon Korman, and Patrick Carmen.   

City of Bones

The first installment in The Mortal Instruments trilogy by Cassandra Clare opens as Carly and her good friend Simon visit a club to hear some music.  When Carly witnesses one young man being followed by others into a dark storage area, she makes a bold decision to investigate the situation.  What she finds leads her into an amazing world of adventure and an introduction to a new life as a powerful, supernatural girl whose past remains a mystery.    The trilogy continues with City of Ashes and City of Glass. 

Malice by Chris Wooding

If you like graphic novels, this book is definitely for you!  Seth and Kady have heard about the world of Malice.  Some kids have talked about it - others have whispered about it - but no one's ever really been there.  Or have they?  When Luke disappears from his home, and then turns up as a character in the next issue of Malice, Seth and Kady begin to suspect that the rumors about Malice being a real place might not be just rumors after all.  Similar in format to The Invention of Hugo Cabret - but much, much scarier -  this novel is part text, part graphic.

Catching Fire

If Suzanne Collin's Hunger Games kept you on the edge of your seat, you'll definitely want to read the sequel.  After Katniss and Peeta win the Hunger Games, Katniss hopes to bring prosperity to her district and her family.   More than anything, she'd like to return to a private life far away from the prying eyes of the Capitol.  But those days are gone.  Katniss and Peeta have become famous not only for their victory but for their act of defiance.  As the Capitol unfolds its new plans for the Hunger Games winners, Katniss realizes the government has more control over her than ever before.  

When You Reach Me

Miranda found the first note in her library book as she was about to put it in her backpack. It didn’t make any sense. Something about someone coming to save a friend’s life. The closing line was “I will not be myself when I reach you.” And it wasn’t even signed. The next note wasn’t signed either, but it was addressed to Miranda. She found it in a bag of bakery rolls. So the note-sender knew where she went for lunch every day.   The third note seemed to predict the future with dates and events listed. Set in New York City, Miranda’s story unfolds quietly as she goes about her daily routine of school, hanging out with friends and family, avoiding bullies, and trying to solve the mystery of the notes. Who is trying to reach Miranda, and what does this person want her to do? When You Reach Me, the 2010 Newbery Award winner, is an amazing book.

A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth Bunch

The legend of Rumplestiltskin comes alive again in this gripping family saga of the Millers of Stirwaters.  The hard-working Miller family has run the wollen mill which provides the village's livelihood for generations, barely managing to pay expenses and earn a living for the family.  The superstitions of the local folk hint at a curse on the mill which causes one disaster after another.  When Charlotte and her sister Rosellen inherit the mill after their father's death, they discover the mill was secretly mortgaged to a local bank, and only the late night miracle from a man who turns straw into gold can save them from closing the mill or selling out to competitors. 

Night Wings by Joseph Bruchac

"Suddenly something drops down with a whomp of wings that blot out the stars.  Two red eyes stare at me from the inhuman face of the one who guards this place."  It was only a dream, but it was a dream so powerful that Paul could not shake it from his memory.  He knew the story of Pmola, a winged creature who hid a treasure on the mountain, and his ancestor, the brave hunter,  whose live was spared by Pmola.  While Paul had great respect for his elders, he surely had a hard time believing such a story and such a creature was real.  But when modern treasure hunters kidnap him and his grandfather and force them to lead the way to Pmola's hidden treasure, Paul begins to believe that only the wisdom and the spirits of the ancients can save them.