#1 in Olive's Ocean Series
Sweeping Up the Heart
on Goodreads (1,694)
What’s inside...
Amelia Albright dreams about going to Florida for spring break like everyone else in her class, but her father—a cranky and stubborn English professor—has decided Florida is too much adventure. Amelia Albright dreams of a lot of things. But most of all, she dreams of a life beyond her father's silence.
Character compass
Discussion points
Why do you think Amelia felt lonely in the story? How did she try to cope with her feelings?
What role do the clay animals play in the story? What do they symbolize for Amelia?
How does the friendship between Amelia and Casey change throughout the book?
What did you learn about handling sadness and loneliness from Amelia's experiences?
What do you think happens after the book ends? How do you imagine Amelia's future?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their own feelings about loneliness and friendship as discussed in the book. Use Amelia's story as a way to connect with your child’s personal experiences. Highlight the importance of empathy and understanding in friendships, just like Amelia and Casey’s. Ask your child to draw their own clay animal and explain its significance, mirroring Amelia's use of art to express herself.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Coping with Change
Explanation: The protagonist, Amelia, navigates new emotional landscapes as she deals with her mother's death and shifting relationships during her spring break. This exploration helps convey the theme of managing emotional transitions.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this by understanding that it's normal to feel unstable during changes in life and learning healthy ways to adapt, such as talking about their feelings or engaging in creative outlets.
Example Lesson: Empathy and Understanding
Explanation: Throughout the book, interactions between Amelia and new acquaintances reveal the power of empathy. The characters learn to understand each other's backgrounds and feelings, fostering a deeper connection.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to be considerate of others' emotions and situations, helping them build stronger and more understanding relationships with their peers.
Example Lesson: Valuing Unlikely Friendships
Explanation: Amelia forms an unlikely friendship with an older woman and a peer. These relationships, which cross generational and social boundaries, highlight the importance of unexpected friendships.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to appreciate and seek friendships in unexpected places, promoting inclusivity and social openness in their own lives.
Example Lesson: Creativity as Expression
Explanation: Art plays a significant role in 'Sweeping Up the Heart', serving as a therapeutic outlet for Amelia. Her clay modeling becomes a form of self-expression and coping mechanism.
Real-World Application: This lesson can inspire children to explore their own feelings through creative activities like drawing, writing, or playing music, which can be vital for emotional health.
Example Lesson: Dealing with Grief
Explanation: The story delicately handles the theme of grief through Amelia's reflections and memories of her deceased mother, providing a subtle yet profound perspective on loss.
Real-World Application: It helps children understand that grief is a natural process and that it's okay to miss someone while also finding ways to remember and honor them.