Nutmeg Children's Book Award - 2005

Joshua’s Song
by Joan Hiatt Harlow

Aladdin Paperbacks
Simon & Schuster c. 2003
0-689-85542-7

Discussion format

Ages: 4th-6th grades
Time: Summer: 5:00-5:50 p.m. weekday
September-May: Saturdays 10:30-11:00 a.m.
Location: Private room such as meeting or conference room
Snacks: chips and soda in afternoon; juice and donuts in morning
Setting: relaxed, informal, non-academic

Booktalk

Joshua’s Song is the story of 13 year old Joshua who lives in Boston in 1919. As background, the reader is given a brief account of Joshua’s life. He comes from an affluent family and lives in a world of privilege. His entire world, as he knows it, changes when his successful and loving father dies in the influenza pandemic of 1918-1919. We are also told that Joshua, until his father’s death, sang with a boy’s choir. He has not been able to sing since the loss of his father. His mother takes in boarders to make ends meet. Joshua’s circumstances force him to quit his private school and go out to find work. Since his mother is so concerned with what other people will think, Joshua keeps his new job a secret from her, since he knows she would never approve.

Joshua’s new job places him in a new world. He suddenly finds himself working with other children from the poverty-stricken end of town. As he builds friendships in this new world, he begins to have a broader and more compassionate view of the world.

Towards the end of the book, another tragedy occurs in the city of Boston. Joshua is again put to a test of character. Is he strong enough to pass all of these tests?

Questions for discussion

1) Have you ever had your life changed in a big way?
2) Have you ever found yourself in a new situation where everything and everybody is new and unfamiliar?
3) Have you ever been very good at something and suddenly decided not to pursue it? Why?
4) Have you ever found yourself in an emergency situation? How did you react? How were you (or not) prepared to face that emergency?
5) Have you ever been in a situation with a bully? What are some ways to handle a bully situation?
6) Do any of you have a job? How did you find it? What kind of a job would you look for, if you had to look?

For fun

1) Name a favorite (or least favorite) character from the book. Why?
Joshua
Mrs. Harper (mom) Mrs. Fryor (Aunt Caroline)
Charlestown Charlie Angelina
Maria Billy Boot McGillicuddy
Mayor Fitzgerald Frankie
Henry Mrs. DiPietro
Officer McManus Anthony di Stasio
Shawn Marc Muggeridge

resources

Joan Hiatt Harlow website:
http://www.joanhiattharlow.com/

Book Reviews:
http://www.amazon.com
http://www.kidsreads.com/reviews/0689841191.asp

Historical-Influenza Pandemic:
http://www.stanford.edu/group/virus/uda/
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/influenza/

Submitted by: Deborah White, Pequot Library

Last updated on: 18 September, 2008

Webmoiselle: Caitlin > webmoiselle [@] nutmegaward [dot] org

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