The Stone Child
on Goodreads (3,138)
What’s inside...
Eddie Fennicks moves to the small town of Gatesweed and discovers a never-before-seen book by his favorite author, Nathaniel Olmstead, who mysteriously disappeared thirteen years ago. The book is written in code, and Eddie, along with his new friends Harris and Maggie, must decode it to banish the frightening creatures from Olmstead's books that begin appearing in real life. They need to solve the mystery of the missing author and stop Eddie's mom from writing a tale that could bring to life the scariest creature of all.
Age
9-12
Length
288 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Eddie Fennicks
Harris
Maggie
Discussion points
How did the characters' actions influence the story's outcome?
What emotions did you feel while reading about the challenges faced by the characters?
If you were in the story, what would you have done differently?
Which character did you relate to the most and why?
Can you think of a real-life situation that reminds you of something in the book?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their thoughts and feelings about the story, reinforcing that all views are valid.
Ask your child to draw a scene from the book to deepen their connection and understanding of the narrative.
Create a comfortable and distraction-free reading environment to help maintain focus on the discussion.
Connect the themes or moral lessons of the book to personal experiences or current events to make the conversation more relatable.
Praise your child’s insights and curiosity throughout the conversation to boost their confidence and engagement.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of courage
Explanation: In 'The Stone Child', the characters often face frightening and uncertain situations, showing bravery despite their fears.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to face their own fears and understand that being brave doesn't mean not being scared, but rather acting in spite of fear.
Example Lesson: Value of friendship
Explanation: The story highlights the strength of friendship as the characters support each other through challenging adventures.
Real-World Application: This can teach children the importance of helping and relying on friends in tough times, reinforcing the value of building strong, supportive relationships.
Example Lesson: The power of curiosity and knowledge
Explanation: The protagonist’s quest for understanding the mysteries around the titular Stone Child demonstrates the importance of curiosity and learning.
Real-World Application: Encourages children to seek knowledge and ask questions about the world around them, promoting lifelong learning and intellectual engagement.
Example Lesson: Understanding the consequences of actions
Explanation: Choices made by the characters in the book lead to various consequences, teaching about responsibility.
Real-World Application: This lesson can help children understand that their actions have effects and that they should think about the outcomes before acting.
Example Lesson: Resilience in the face of adversity
Explanation: Throughout the book, characters encounter setbacks but continue to persevere, embodying resilience.
Real-World Application: Teaches children to persevere through their own challenges and setbacks, emphasizing the importance of resilience for overcoming obstacles.