Playing Cupid: A Wish Novel
Wishing Day Series
on Goodreads (493)
What’s inside...
Clara Martinez starts a matchmaking service for a school project and soon discovers she has a secret admirer leaving her notes and gifts. As a self-proclaimed love expert for her friends, Clara is inexperienced with her own love life and finds it daunting. As events unfold, she must find the courage to embrace her own romantic journey and discover who her secret admirer is.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
9-12
Length
256 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Clara Martinez
Discussion points
How do you think Clara felt when she started the Cupid Campaign? Can you relate to her feeling of wanting to help others?
What do you think about Clara and Maisie’s friendship? How do they support or challenge each other throughout the story?
Why do you think Clara was so determined to set up her teacher, even when things didn't go as planned?
What did Clara learn about making assumptions about other people's feelings?
How would you have handled the situations Clara faced? Would you have done anything differently?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their thoughts and feelings about the characters' decisions, particularly Clara’s actions and how they affect those around her.
Discuss the importance of empathy and understanding. Use examples from the book to illustrate how Clara’s understanding of others grows.
Ask your child to draw parallels between their own school experiences and the events in the book, which can provide insights into their thoughts and feelings.
Use the book’s themes of friendship and compassion to guide a conversation about your child’s relationships with their peers.
Highlight Clara’s character development and ask your child how they think she changed from the beginning to the end of the book.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Empathy and understanding
Explanation: In 'Playing Cupid,' the protagonist learns to understand and empathize with the feelings and situations of others around her, which deepens her relationships.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this by being considerate and thoughtful of others' feelings and perspectives, fostering stronger friendships and connections in their daily lives.
Example Lesson: Responsibility and consequence
Explanation: The book illustrates how the main character's actions have direct consequences, teaching the importance of responsibility in decision-making.
Real-World Application: This lesson guides children to think carefully before acting and to understand the impact of their actions on themselves and others.
Example Lesson: Importance of honesty
Explanation: Characters in the story face situations where they must choose to be honest, demonstrating the value and sometimes difficulty of being truthful.
Real-World Application: Children learn that honesty is key in building trust and maintaining integrity in their interactions and relationships.
Example Lesson: Resilience in the face of challenges
Explanation: As the characters confront various challenges, they learn to adapt and persevere, showing resilience.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to remain resilient and persistent, regardless of difficulties they might encounter at school or in personal endeavors.