#2 in Middle School Series
Middle School: Big Fat Liar
What’s inside...
In this next installment of the New York Times bestselling Middle School series, Rafe Khatchadorian's hilarious little sister, Georgia, is back for another rollicking adventure! This time, she's vying to be crowned winner of the Battle of the Bands--if she doesn't die of embarrassment first! It's not easy being Rafe Khatchadorian's sister. He's got quite a reputation around school, and Georgia's got it hard enough as the younger sibling of the Family Favorite. But when Rafe's away, Georgia still knows how to play! Her best friend, Nikki, convinces Georgia to skip school and help her film her audition tape for the upcoming Battle of the Bands. But several mishaps and accidental disasters later, Georgia's wondering if being a rock goddess is really all it's cracked up to be...
Discussion points
How did the character's actions make you feel, and why do you think they behaved that way?
What would you have done differently if you were in the main character's shoes?
How do you think honesty impacts your relationships with friends and family?
What did you learn about handling difficult situations from the story?
How can we apply the lessons from the book to our daily lives?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage open-ended responses to foster deeper thinking and understanding of the book’s themes.
Listen actively and validate your child's feelings and perspectives to build trust and encourage more sharing.
Relate the themes of the book to personal experiences or similar situations to make the conversation more relatable.
Ask follow-up questions based on your child’s responses to keep the conversation flowing and to explore thoughts further.
Highlight the importance of morals and decision-making skills discussed in the book to emphasize their relevance in real life.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of honesty
Explanation: The protagonist, Rafe Khatchadorian, faces various challenges due to his tendency to lie, illustrating the complications and consequences that dishonesty can bring.
Real-World Application: Children learn that being truthful helps build trust and simplifies life, avoiding the complexities that lies can cause in relationships and day-to-day interactions.
Example Lesson: Resilience in the face of adversity
Explanation: Throughout the book, Rafe encounters several setbacks both at school and in his personal life, yet he continually strives to overcome these difficulties, demonstrating perseverance.
Real-World Application: This lesson encourages children to persist through their own challenges, whether they are struggling with schoolwork, friendship issues, or personal setbacks.
Example Lesson: The value of self-expression
Explanation: Rafe uses his art to express himself and cope with his problems. This creative outlet is shown as a way for him to deal with his emotions and conflicts.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to find and engage in hobbies or activities that allow them to express their feelings and thoughts, aiding in emotional development and personal identity formation.
Example Lesson: Understanding consequences
Explanation: As Rafe navigates the fallout from his actions, he learns that every choice has consequences. This theme is woven through the narrative as Rafe experiences both the good and bad outcomes of his decisions.
Real-World Application: Teaches children to think about the potential outcomes of their actions and to make more considered decisions, understanding that their choices affect not only themselves but others around them too.
Example Lesson: Empathy and understanding others
Explanation: Throughout the story, Rafe learns more about his classmates and peers, leading him to understand them better and develop empathy.
Real-World Application: This lesson highlights the importance of looking beyond oneself to understand and connect with others, promoting a more inclusive and supportive social environment for children.