Freaky Monday
The Freaky Joe club Series
on Goodreads (260)
What’s inside...
Fresh, contemporary energy and the zany, humorous premise of the perennially popular Freaky Friday are combined for a new generation of readers. This time, overachieving tween Hadley and her teacher, the hippy-dippy Ms. Pitt, switch lives. Before the day is over, Hadley has solved a crisis, flirted with the physics teacher, chaperoned a dance-and arrived back in her own body in time for her long-awaited first kiss! And you thought Friday was Freaky! Hadley is pretty much the model straight As, perfect attendance, front row in class. So what if she's overstressed and overscheduled. She's got school covered. (Life—not so much.) Ms. Pitt is the kind of teacher who wants you to call her by her first name and puts all the chairs in a circle and tells her students to feel their book reports. Hadley wishes Ms. Pitt would stick to her lesson plan. Ms. Pitt wishes Hadley would lighten up. So when Hadley and Ms. Pitt find themselves switched into each other's bodies, the first thing they want to do is switch right back. It takes a family crisis, a baffled principal, and a (double) first kiss to help them figure out that change can be pretty enlightening. Even if it is a little freaky!
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
8-12
Length
192 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Hadley
Ms. Pitt
Discussion points
How did the main character's perspective on life change after swapping bodies?
What would you do if you found yourself in someone else's shoes for a day?
What are the key differences you noticed between how adults and children view the world in the story?
How did the characters handle challenges differently due to their age?
What did the story teach you about empathy and understanding others?
Tip: Role play these questions
Start by sharing your own thoughts on the book’s themes and ask your child to do the same.
Encourage your child to compare their daily experiences with those of the characters in the book.
Discuss the emotions and motivations driving the characters, linking them to real-life scenarios your child might encounter.
Highlight the importance of understanding and respecting different perspectives through guided questioning.
Create a 'role-reversal' game where you and your child swap roles, making connections to the book’s body swap theme.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Empathy and Understanding
Explanation: In 'Freaky Monday,' the characters experience a body swap, allowing them to literally walk in each other's shoes. This scenario highlights the importance of empathy by showing how understanding others' lives can change perspectives.
Real-World Application: Children can apply empathy in their everyday interactions by considering other people's feelings and viewpoints before reacting in social situations. This can lead to more harmonious relationships with peers and adults.
Example Lesson: Acceptance of Differences
Explanation: The book showcases characters from different backgrounds and personalities learning to accept and appreciate each other's differences through their unique experiences.
Real-World Application: This lesson encourages children to embrace diversity and be open to friendships with peers who may appear different from them, fostering a more inclusive community.
Example Lesson: Problem Solving
Explanation: As the characters in 'Freaky Monday' navigate the challenges of their swapped lives, they develop problem-solving skills that help them adapt to unfamiliar situations.
Real-World Application: Children learn to approach challenges with resilience and creativity, applying problem-solving skills in school projects, family matters, or during playtime with friends.
Example Lesson: Responsibility and Consequences
Explanation: Throughout the story, characters must take responsibility for actions performed in each other's bodies, teaching them about consequences.
Real-World Application: This instills an understanding in children that their actions have impacts, guiding them to act thoughtfully and take responsibility in their daily actions.
Example Lesson: Collaboration and Teamwork
Explanation: To restore their original lives, the characters have to work together, promoting teamwork.
Real-World Application: Emphasizes the value of collaborating with others to achieve common goals in school group tasks or in sports teams.