Meeting+1-+Keeping+the+Moon-+HandS

back

Book Meeting #1: 3/4/11 Hyein Won Shannon Rodenberg

Snack: Muffins


 * Questions about Keeping The Moon- pages 1-76**


 * 1) Under what circumstances is Colie sent to stay with Aunt Mira?
 * 2) Would you want your mom to be Kiki Sparks? What would be the advantages and disadvantages?
 * 3) Colie has an unfair reputation of being "easy. " How does she deal with that?
 * 4) Have you ever known someone who was labeled something and then treated differently because of it?
 * 5) Describe Aunt Mira. What is her philosophy of life? What can Colie learn from her?


 * Question Answers:**


 * 1) Colie is sent to Aunt Mira because her mom Kiki Sparks, a trainer of the masses who is famous for loss-weight products, is leaving home during summer break for another training. Colie wants to be with her mom but lets her leave since she knows that her mom who was once fat and hopeless is now enjoying her life.
 * 2) I would not want my mom to be Kiki Sparks. My mom, even though she had her dream, has stayed at home to take care of my sister and me. She did not want us to grow without mom’s care, so she has been with us all the time. If my mom worked outside like Kiki Sparks does, I would feel freedom of taking responsibilities since I can do anything I want without my mom’s permission. However, I would feel so lonely and have to endure any difficulties that I could face during my lifetime alone as Colie does.
 * 3) Before she lost her weight, Colie had been made fun of being fat, and after she lost her weight, she has been abused for false reputation of being easy. Colie, who has lost confidence and courage, does not resist to those who bully her even though she wants to.
 * 4) I have known someone who had bad reputation of being easy, like Colie does. However, I think her bad reputation was true while Colie’s is not. Most people ignored her and spoke ill of her behind her back.
 * 5) Mira works and lives very freely. She does not seem to be bothered by other people’s remarks about her in contrast of Colie who is hurt easily by others’ reactions to her and concerned about reputation. Colie can learn from Aunt Mira that it is more important to find herself and follow her own belief than to concern about others’ thoughts and fear their reactions.


 * Meeting Summaries:**

- For the first meeting, I had finished the entire book. After discussing what Hyein had read, without giving away too much, we found connections through the book and ourselves. Through the the first 76 pages, you can see the main character, Colie's, home life and how her relationship with her mother is. We decided, we would NOT want to live with her mother or Aunt if the choice was presented. We decided we are going to read a different book for each meeting and in the end, compare the Author's books (all books are by Sarah Dessen.)
 * Shannon's Meeting Summary:**


 * Hyein's Meeting Summary:**
 * -** We have discussed mostly about characters and their background during today’s meeting. First part of the book was about how Colie came to stay with Aunt Mira and how her life in Colby was. I haven’t read the entire book yet, but I am sure that Mira and life in Colby would affect Colie in positive way. Most characters in the book were interesting, but I just couldn’t stand Kiki Sparks who is Colie’s mom. Even though Kiki found her dream and passion about her life, I think she should take care of her daughter, Colie, more. Colie needs her mom’s care and love to recover from mental wound got from false reputation and bullying. I cannot conclude that Kiki is not a good mom to Colie since I have not finished the book, but I hope that Kiki would help her to get over her hardships.