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Ida B.... and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World.

Title: Ida B . . . and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World

Author: Katherine Hannigan

Publisher: Greenwillow

Grade Level: 3 rd – 5th

ISBN # and cost: 0060730242, $15.99

Synopsis:

Fourth grader Ida B spends happy hours being home-schooled and playing in her family’s apple orchard, until circumstances force her parents to sell part of the orchard and send her to public school.

General Review:

Ida B’s voice comes shining through in this story of an unconventional girl whose idyllic world is shattered when her mother develops cancer. After a life of freedom playing and learning in her family’s apple orchard, the previously home-schooled girl is sent to public school after her mother becomes ill. Ida is miserable at school and must find a way to cope with not only school problems and her mother’s cancer, but also the fact that her family must sell part of the beloved orchard to pay medical bills. We see the extreme ups and downs of Ida’s world, from her carefree days exhibiting her irrepressible zest for life, to her days of despair and anger when she just doesn’t know how to cope. Ida B is an intriguing, exceptionally well-written character who is charming, quirky, honest, and, at times, heartbreaking.

Themes: Family life, School, Nature, Cancer, Orchards

Author Information:

“Katherine Hannigan.” (The Booklist Interview) by Jennifer Mattson. Booklist, Jan 1, 2005 v101 i9-10 p843(1). (available online through free KanEd access to InfoTrac)

Katherine Hannigan: Pippin Properties Authors/Illustrators

Katherine Hannigan Official Web Page (HarperCollins)

http://www.katherinehannigan.com

An interview with the author (BookBrowse)

http://www.bookbrowse.com/author_interviews/full/index.cfm? author_number=1055

Discussion Questions: (Standard 3, Benchmark 3)

How does Ida B deal with her anger? How do you deal with anger? What advice could you give to Ida B on effective anger management techniques?
Ida B loves to talk to trees. What do you think this shows about her?
Ida B is an interesting character with such a unique voice. Reading this book makes you feel as if you know her very well. How would you describe Ida B to someone who had never met or read about her?
Were Ida B’s parents right to sell part of the orchard? Why is Ida so upset about it? If you were Ida B, would you have reacted the same way she did? Why or why not?

Activity Suggestions:

1. Why do some students and parents choose to home school rather than going to public school? Is it something that would work for your family? What are the pros and cons? Check out some of the resources listed below to learn more. (Standard 2, Benchmark 4; Standard 3, Benchmark 3)

The articles listed below are good introductions to home-schooling and are available through free statewide access to SIRS.

HOME IS WHERE THE SCHOOL IS
by Leslie Gorin

HOPSCOTCH
Aug./Sept. 2001, pp. 24-26

FREEDOM TO LEARN
by Nell Roversi-Deal

NEW MOON
Sept./Oct. 2000, pp. 9-11

I DON'T GO TO SCHOOL IN MY PAJAMAS
by Mary M. Bradford – (fiction)

HOPSCOTCH Aug./Sept. 2001, pp. 12-15

2. Find out more about the orchard business and how apples are grown. Locate recipes that include apples and try cooking some of them. Prepare some recipes as a class, or have students prepare food at home to bring to school and share. (Standard 1, Benchmarks 4-5; Standard 3, Benchmark 3)

3. Find out more about cancer. There are a number of good websites and books geared to kids with a family member or friend who has cancer. NOTE: Be sensitive to children with personal or family experiences with cancer. This activity may not be appropriate for everyone. Discuss: What could you do if you found out a friend or a friend’s parent had cancer? How could you support or help them? (Standard 2, Benchmark 4; Standard 3, Benchmark 3)

There are a number of SIRS articles about cancer (there is free statewide access to SIRS). The one listed below is a good basic discussion of the disease that is easy to understand and not too scary or overwhelming. It features an excellent glossary of terms associated with cancer.

“CANCER AND THE FAMILY”

. . . Reprinted from WHEN SOMEONE IN YOUR FAMILY HAS CANCER, (National Cancer Institute), Dec. 1995, pp. 6-9

Web sites for children:

1. CancerSourceKids

http://www.cancersourcekids.com/

Picture books about cancer

Good Luck, Mrs. K! by Louise Borden

Victoria’s Smile by Rita Geller

Kathy’s Hats: a Story of Hope by Trudy Krishner

Follow-Up Books:

If you liked Ida B, you might also want to try these books about kids overcoming obstacles or problems:

All the Way Home by Patricia Reilly Giff