#7 in Middle School Series
Middle School Just My Rotten Luck
on Goodreads (2,412)
What’s inside...
In the seventh book of James Patterson's bestselling Middle School series, Rafe Khatchadorian returns to Hills Village Middle School where he's being held back, so it's back to the place where things started going wrong in the first place. While he's repeating the seventh grade, Rafe also finds himself drawn into a rough-and-tumble football league, that turns out to be a great way to blow off steam. Can he keep up his winning streak—or will trouble find him for the final blow?
Character compass
Discussion points
How do you think Rafe dealt with his challenges at school and home throughout the story?
What lessons can you learn from Rafe's experiences with his friends and teachers?
If you were in Rafe's situation, how would you handle the misunderstandings with your peers?
What do you think about Rafe's approach to his art and creative expressions?
How can Rafe's story help us understand and support others who might feel out of place?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use open-ended questions that encourage children to think deeply about the characters and plot, fostering empathy and understanding.
Relate discussions to your child’s personal experiences in school to make the conversation more relevant and engaging.
Encourage your child to express their thoughts and feelings about the book, reinforcing that their opinions are valued.
Discuss the importance of resilience and creativity, as demonstrated by Rafe, to inspire these qualities in your child.
Highlight the moral lessons and positive outcomes from the story to instill confidence and optimism in facing their own school challenges.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Empathy and understanding
Explanation: The protagonist, Rafe Khatchadorian, navigates the complexities of middle school and learns to understand different perspectives, especially when dealing with bullies.
Real-World Application: Children can use this lesson to foster empathy towards their peers, understanding that everyone has their own struggles and stories.
Example Lesson: Importance of perseverance
Explanation: Rafe faces various challenges both in school and in his personal life but learns the importance of not giving up despite failures or setbacks.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the value of persistence in overcoming difficulties in their own lives, encouraging resilience and a never-give-up attitude.
Example Lesson: Creativity as an outlet
Explanation: Throughout the book, Rafe uses his drawing and imagination as a way to cope with his problems and express himself.
Real-World Application: Children learn that creative pursuits can be a healthy emotional outlet and a way to convey feelings and ideas that might be difficult to articulate verbally.
Example Lesson: The power of friendship
Explanation: Rafe learns who his true friends are and the importance of those relationships in helping him cope with the ups and downs of middle school.
Real-World Application: This highlights for children how valuable true friendships are and encourages them to nurture and appreciate their relationships.
Example Lesson: Accepting and learning from mistakes
Explanation: As Rafe encounters various troubles, he learns to accept responsibility for his actions and sees mistakes as opportunities for growth.
Real-World Application: This lesson can help children understand that making mistakes is a part of life and an essential step in learning and improving.