The Probability of Everything
on Goodreads (3,207)
What’s inside...
A heart-wrenching middle grade debut about Kemi, an aspiring scientist who loves statistics and facts, as she navigates grief and loss at a moment when life as she knows it changes forever. Eleven-year-old Kemi Carter loves scientific facts, specifically probability. It's how she understands the world and her place in it. Kemi knows her odds of being born were 1 in 5.5 trillion, and that the odds of her having the best family ever were even lower. Yet somehow, Kemi lucked out. But everything Kemi thought she knew changes when she sees an asteroid hover in the sky, casting a purple haze over her world. Amplus-68 has an 84.7% chance of colliding with Earth in four days, and with that collision, Kemi’s life as she knows it will end. But over the course of the four days, even facts don’t feel true to Kemi anymore. The new town she moved to that was supposed to be 'better for her family' isn’t very welcoming. And Amplus-68 is taking over her life, but others are still going to school and eating at their favorite diner like nothing has changed. Is Kemi the only one who feels like the world is ending? With the days numbered, Kemi decides to put together a time capsule that will capture her family’s truth: how creative her mother is, how inquisitive her little sister can be, and how much Kemi's whole world revolves around her father. But no time capsule can change the truth behind all of it, that Kemi must face the most inevitable and hardest part of life: saying goodbye. 'One of the best books I have read this year (maybe ever).'
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
8-12
Length
336 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think is the biggest challenge the characters faced, and how did they handle it?
How do you think the story would change if you were one of the characters?
What lessons did the characters learn by the end of the book?
Can you think of a time when you felt similar to any of the characters?
What would you have done differently if you were in the same situation as the protagonists?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use pauses after each question to give your child time to think and express their thoughts freely.
Relate the characters' experiences to real-life scenarios your child might face to make the discussion more relatable.
Encourage your child to ask their own questions about the story to foster curiosity.
Highlight key moments or decisions in the book to discuss moral and ethical implications, aiding in deeper understanding and critical thinking.
Acknowledge all responses to assure your child that their thoughts and opinions are valued.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Embracing Uncertainty
Explanation: The story showcases characters who navigate through unpredictable circumstances, teaching children to remain adaptable and open-minded.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this by learning to remain calm and flexible when plans change or unexpected events occur in their daily routines.
Example Lesson: Importance of Probability and Decision Making
Explanation: The narrative integrates elements of probability, guiding children on how to make informed choices based on likely outcomes.
Real-World Application: This can be transferred to real life by encouraging children to think ahead and consider the consequences before making decisions, such as choosing activities or managing their time.
Example Lesson: Value of Teamwork
Explanation: Characters in the book often collaborate to solve problems, illustrating the power of working together.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to seek help from siblings, friends or adults when facing difficulties, and appreciate the benefits of collective effort in school projects or family tasks.
Example Lesson: Learning from Mistakes
Explanation: As characters encounter setbacks, they learn and grow, showing that mistakes are a natural part of the learning process.
Real-World Application: This lesson encourages children to not fear making mistakes, but see them as opportunities to learn and improve in their academics and personal life.