Kicker (Orca Sports)
Orca Sports Series
on Goodreads (80)
What’s inside...
Izzy and Julia have been teammates for years, but tension arises as Izzy becomes frustrated with Julia's cherry-picking and hogging the credit. However, when their team is threatened and their home field sabotaged, the friends must unite to uncover the truth behind the threats. Their investigation leads them to a century-old train robbery and rumors of buried treasure. As they delve deeper into the mystery, Izzy and Julia find themselves in more danger than they ever anticipated, all while trying to keep their team in the playoff race.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
9-12
Length
152 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What challenges does the main character face and how do they overcome them?
How do the relationships between the characters change throughout the story?
What lessons can we learn about teamwork and perseverance from the book?
How do the characters' decisions impact the outcome of the story?
If you could give advice to one of the characters, what would it be and why?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their opinions about the characters and their actions. Ask open-ended questions that prompt deeper thinking about the themes of the book. Share your own thoughts and reactions to the story to model reflective thinking. Link discussions to real-life situations or personal experiences to make the themes more relatable. Praise your child for their insights and encourage them to ask questions about the story.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Overcoming Adversity
Explanation: The protagonist faces significant challenges but demonstrates resilience and determination to overcome them.
Real-World Application: Encourages children to remain determined and persevere through their own challenges, whether in school or in personal endeavors.
Example Lesson: Teamwork and Cooperation
Explanation: Characters in the book work together to solve problems, highlighting the importance of collaboration.
Real-World Application: Teaches children the value of cooperating with others and working as a team in group projects or sports.
Example Lesson: Responsibility and Accountability
Explanation: Throughout the story, characters learn to take responsibility for their actions, which leads to personal growth.
Real-World Application: Helps children understand the importance of being responsible in their actions and being accountable for outcomes in their lives.
Example Lesson: Integrity and Honesty
Explanation: The protagonist faces moral dilemmas and learns the importance of honesty, which ultimately benefits them.
Real-World Application: Promotes the practice of honesty and integrity in a child's day-to-day interactions and decisions.
Example Lesson: Handling Failure
Explanation: Characters experience setbacks and learn to cope with failures, but also view them as opportunities for growth.
Real-World Application: Helps children see failure as a stepping stone to success, teaching them resilience and adaptability in handling school assignments or other tasks.