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Minerva Keen's Detective Club
Last updated Tuesday, September 5, 2023
Author: James Patterson and Keir Graff
Date of Publication: 2023
ISBN: 978-0316412230
Grade Level: 5th (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Sep. 2023
Synopsis:
Living in the luxurious Arcanum building - with its interior balconies perfect for playing tag, an elevator like an iron birdcage, and quirky neighbors behind every apartment door - has always been fun and games for twelve-year-old Minerva Keen … until her neighbors start getting poisoned. Anyone could be next, and everyone is a suspect, including Minerva herself.
To clear her name and help the police crack the case, Minerva starts her own detective club. So what if it has only two other members, one being Minerva's accident-prone daredevil brother and the other being the biggest and quietest kid in school, who happens to be afraid of his own shadow? Minerva knows that with her brainpower, the club's sleuthing skills, and case files full of suspects, they can unmask the poisoner… hopefully before it's too late.
| Note to readers: |
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This book is by James Patterson. He is the principal author of several book series the kids already know including I, Funny that was last month’s 5th grade book.
Encourage the kids to finish the book so they can find out who is causing the people to fall ill. The book will be in the school library after the reading clubs!
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| Discussion topics for before reading: |
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Is being a detective something you might like to do?
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The kids in this book live in a big 12 story apartment building. Would you like to live in a building like that?
Vocabulary:
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Debate: a regulated discussion of a specific topic between two matched sides.
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Endgame: the final stage of a game such as chess.
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Dissertation: a long essay on a particular subject written as a requirement for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
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Strategic: relative to the long-term and overall plan to achieve a goal.
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| Discussion topics for during/after reading: |
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Do you like to play board games like chess, checkers or clue? What kind? What is your favorite?
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Have you ever joined a campus club? If so, what was it?
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| Craft ideas: |
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Draw a picture to what you think the kid’s apartment building looks like, 12 stories with lots of apartments. You make it look any way you want - sleek and modern or old and creepy.
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Included with your book is a list of poisonous things found in nature. The kids can draw things that are poisonous and beautiful, or make those plants, animals, and creepy crawlers freestanding out of construction paper.
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Complete the supplied word search
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*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions.
You can use them, but you don't have to use them.
You can expand upon them, or add your own twist.
Remember, though, that the focus of your time should
not be on the development and execution of a craft;
the focus should be on the read-aloud and the
enjoyment of the book!
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