This is an Online Internet Book Club on How to Ruin a Summer Vacation by Simone Elkeles. Discuss this book, share your thoughts, make comments, ask questions, offer responses...
Description
YALSA 2007 Teens’ Top Ten
"A breezy read." —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
“Fresh, fun and fabulous! Guaranteed NOT to ruin your summer vacation!” —Mari Mancusi, author of Boys that Bite
How To Ruin a Summer Vacation
Moshav? What’s a moshav? Is it “shopping mall” in Hebrew? I mean, from what Jessica was telling me, Israeli stores have the latest fashions from Europe. That black dress Jessica has is really awesome. I know I’d be selling out if I go with the Sperm Donor to a mall, but I keep thinking about all the great stuff I could bring back home.
Unfortunately for 16-year-old Amy Nelson, “moshav” is not Hebrew for “shopping mall.” Not even close. Think goats, not Gucci.
Going to Israel with her estranged Israeli father is the last thing Amy wants to do this summer. She’s got a serious grudge against her dad, a.k.a. “Sperm Donor,” for showing up so rarely in her life. Now he’s dragging her to a war zone to meet a family she’s never known, where she’ll probably be drafted into the army. At the very least, she’ll be stuck in a house with no AC and only one bathroom for seven people all summer—no best friend, no boyfriend, no shopping, no cell phone…
Goodbye pride—hello Israel.
Book Club Questions for How to Ruin a Summer Vacation (Fiction)
Suggested Book Club Questions for How to Ruin a Summer Vacation (Fiction)
The following book club questions provide a starting point for creating a reading group discussion on How to Ruin a Summer Vacation:
- Did Simone Elkeles emphasize any specific themes throughout How to Ruin a Summer Vacation? What do you think Simone Elkeles is trying to explain with this theme?
- What was unique about the setting of How to Ruin a Summer Vacation and how did it affect the storyline?
- Could you relate to any of the characters? If so, which ones and why?
- How do characters change or learn throughout How to Ruin a Summer Vacation? What events caused these changes? Have you or someone you know experienced the same thing?
- How does How to Ruin a Summer Vacation reveal Simone Elkeles's own perspectives about people and the world? For a lively discussion, describe why you think Simone Elkeles is liberal or conservative.
- Did certain parts of How to Ruin a Summer Vacation affect you emotionally? Why did it evoke those emotions?
- Did Simone Elkeles's point of view on things lend new perspective to your own view of the world?
Book Club Questions for How to Ruin a Summer Vacation (for Non-Fiction)
Suggested Book Club Questions for How to Ruin a Summer Vacation (Non-fiction)
The following book club questions provide a starting point for creating a reading group discussion on How to Ruin a Summer Vacation:
- Did Simone Elkeles make persuasive arguments in How to Ruin a Summer Vacation? Did How to Ruin a Summer Vacation change or reinforce your opinion on the subject?
- What did you learn from How to Ruin a Summer Vacation?
- How does Simone Elkeles present the information and did you enjoy it?
- How is Simone Elkeles biased within How to Ruin a Summer Vacation? Is there a political slant to what is being discussed and how does it impact the book?
- What, if anything, does How to Ruin a Summer Vacation make you want to read next? Why?
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