Portia's Exclusive and Confidential Rules on True Friendship (mix)
mix Series
on Goodreads (25)
What’s inside...
Seventh-grader Portia finds that practicing being a girl detective is a good way to learn new things and make new friends but keeping old friends can get complicated. Psychoanalytic girl detective Portia Avatar is back on the case! New girl Misty Longfellow, amateur animal rescuer, requests Portia’s help getting to the bottom of why a recently rescued bunny seems so blue. While working with Misty to solve the case of the depressed bunny, Portia unexpectedly gains a new friend and faces drama with her old ones. Portia’s convinced that the biggest mystery is friendship itself and sets out to find some answers, while also still searching for more clues about her missing father, Patch. Anna Hays offers up another sweet, charming story with spirit and heart.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
9-13
Length
224 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think makes someone a good friend?
How did Portia handle situations when she felt her friends were not being supportive?
Can you share a time when a friend helped you like Portia's friends did?
What would you do if you were in Portia's shoes in some of her challenges?
How important is trust in your friendships, and how can you build or maintain it?
Tip: Role play these questions
Start the conversation by sharing a personal story about friendship from your own life to make the dialogue more relatable. Encourage your child to express their feelings and experiences freely without interrupting them. Use follow-up questions based on their responses to deepen the conversation. Reflect together on the story’s outcomes and what can be learned from Portia’s experiences. Emphasize the values of empathy, trust, and support in friendships to reinforce the message of the book.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Importance of Honesty
Explanation: In the story, Portia learns the value of being honest with her friends, even when it's challenging. She discovers that honesty strengthens trust and deepens relationships.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by being truthful in their interactions with friends and family, helping to build a foundation of trust and open communication.
Example Lesson: Value of Empathy
Explanation: Portia navigates complex emotions and situations, learning to understand and share the feelings of others. This helps her to be a supportive friend.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to recognize and respond to the emotions of others, fostering kinder and more understanding relationships in their daily lives.
Example Lesson: The Power of Apologies
Explanation: Throughout the book, Portia learns the importance of apologizing when she makes mistakes, demonstrating accountability and the ability to make amends.
Real-World Application: This lesson can be applied as children interact with peers and adults, teaching them to own their actions and mend relationships proactively.
Example Lesson: Resilience in Adversity
Explanation: Portia faces various challenges but learns to navigate them with resilience, showing determination and growth.
Real-World Application: Children learn the value of perseverance and resilience, understanding that challenges can be overcome with determination and a positive attitude.
Example Lesson: Celebrating Differences
Explanation: Portia's story highlights the importance of accepting and celebrating individual differences, promoting inclusivity.
Real-World Application: This lesson encourages children to embrace and respect diverse perspectives and backgrounds in their community, enhancing social harmony.