Doppol - Smart Book Recommendations

3.20
on Goodreads (50)

What’s inside...

March has a perfect life: beauty, popularity, a great job, a loving family and a hot boyfriend. So when she discovers that her boyfriend is cheating on her, she is hurt and enraged. When she lashes out at him, he falls and is badly injured. March panics, flees the scene and then watches her perfect life spiral out of control. In a misguided attempt to atone for her crime, March changes her appearance, quits her job and tries to become invisible until an unlikely friendship and a new job force her to re-engage with life.
Age
12-17
Length
121 pages
Text complexity

Character compass

Discussion points

How did the main character's feelings change throughout the story, and what events influenced these changes?
What are some ways the characters show strength and resilience in dealing with challenges?
How can we apply the lessons learned from this book to our own lives?
What does this story teach us about friendship and trust?
If you were in the main character’s shoes, how would you have handled the situations presented in the book?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to relate personal experiences to the book’s events, fostering deeper understanding and empathy.
Highlight key moments in the story where characters face significant choices, and ask your child what they would have done differently.
Discuss the importance of resilience and overcoming adversity, linking these themes to real-life examples your child might encounter.
Use open-ended questions that allow for multiple interpretations to help your child develop critical thinking skills.

Key lessons

Example Lesson: Understanding and empathy
Explanation: In 'Shattered,' the protagonist learns to understand and empathize with peers from different backgrounds. This fosters a sense of community and support.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson in their everyday interactions by seeking to understand their friends' feelings and perspectives, enhancing their social skills and emotional intelligence.
Example Lesson: Resilience in adversity
Explanation: The story showcases characters who face significant challenges but learn to overcome these obstacles through perseverance and determination.
Real-World Application: This lesson teaches children that facing difficulties is part of life, and developing resilience can help them manage stress and recover from setbacks.
Example Lesson: The importance of honesty
Explanation: Characters in 'Shattered' learn valuable lessons about the consequences of deceit and the importance of being honest, even when it is difficult.
Real-World Application: Children learn the value of truthfulness and how honesty builds trust in relationships, which is crucial for forming lasting bonds with others.
Example Lesson: Value of friendship
Explanation: The book emphasizes the importance of friendships and how true friends stand by each other in tough times, highlighting the strength of supportive relationships.
Real-World Application: Kids can learn to cherish and maintain their friendships, understanding that true friends are an important support system in their lives.

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