Book Discussion: Little Bee by Chris Cleave

Discussion Questions:

Little Bee tells the reader, “We must see all scars as beauty. Okay? This will be our secret. Because take it from me, a scar does not form on the dying. A scar means, I survived” (p. 9). Which characters in the story are left with physical scars? Emotional scars? Do they embrace them as beautiful? Do you have any scars you’ve come to embrace? Did you feel more connected to Little Bee as a narrator after this pact?

How did it affect your reading experience to have two narrators? Did you trust one woman more than the other? Did you prefer the voice of one above the other?

Why do readers react so strongly to Sarah? Why don't some readers like her very much? How do you feel about her?

Little Bee begins her story talking about what life would be like for her once
she learned the Queen’s English or if she were a pound note. How is language
currency? Why does language come to represent hope for Little Bee?

Little Bee credits a small bottle of nail polish for “saving her life” while she was in the detention center (p. 7). Is there any object or act that helps you feel alive and beautiful, even when everything else seems to be falling apart?

 Little Bee says of horror films, “Horror in your country is something you take a dose of to remind yourself that you are not suffering from it” (p. 45). Do you agree? Was reading this novel in any way a dose of horror for you? How did it help you reflect on the presence or lack of horror in your own life?

Little Bee figures out the best way to kill herself in any given situation, just in case “the men come suddenly.” How do these plans help Little Bee reclaim some power? Were you disturbed by this, or were you able to find the humor in some of the scenarios she imagines? How do you think she "killed herself back to life."

What do you think happens to the characters at the end of the novel? Do you like that the ending is open, or wish the loose ends were more neatly tied up?

Why does Sarah’s four-year-old son, Charlie, need his Batman costume? What
are the deeper meanings around costumes and masks in this novel?

Why does Lawrence feel threatened by Sarah’s relationship with Little Bee?

Little Bee says, “I do not think I have left my country. I think it has traveled with
me.” How do the places we come from shape us and what does it mean to
belong?

Why did the author call this book Little Bee? What do you think of its original
title, The Other Hand?

Why does the novel close with this Nigerian proverb: “If your face is swollen
from the severe beatings of life, smile and pretend to be a fat man”? How
does the proverb relate to the book as a whole?

Poem in Your Pocket Day

Every April, on Poem in Your Pocket Day, people celebrate by selecting a poem, carrying it with them, and sharing it with others throughout the day at schools, bookstores, libraries, parks, workplaces, and on Twitter using the hashtag #pocketpoem.  Poem in Your Pocket Day was originally initiated in 2002 by the Office of the Mayor, in partnership with the New York City Departments of Cultural Affairs and Education, as part of the city’s National Poetry Month celebration. In 2008, the Academy of American Poets made the initiative national, encouraging individuals across the country to join in and channel their inner bard. 

This is the third year in a row I have used the Poem in Your Pocket to do a display. I cut out the tiny poems and roll them up into scrolls as pictured above. I put them out in a cute bowl with a sign and patron take one home to enjoy and pass on.

I also post the poems one a day leading up to Poem in Your Pocket Day on our Facebook page. Since it's National Poetry Month this is a great little way to make poetry come alive.

Poem in Your Pocket Day Website

These poems come from the Poets.org listing made curated for Poem in Your Pocket day. I copied selected ones and made them into pocket sized poems that you can print out and roll up.

2018 Poems 

2017 Poems

2016 Poems

2015 Poems

Doctor Who Adult Trivia Night

I did a Doctor Who themed adult trivia night at my library. While I was hoping for more attendees (had 35, but have done similar programs in neighboring towns and draw more like 65 people) I was pleased with the great group I got.

Teams of 2-6 adults ages 14+ registered in advance. I actually had several teams with kids show up not knowing and I let them in. One of the teams comprised a father and his two girls actually took third place.

Teams all came up with some great team names: my personal favorite was the Ood couple. We had 5 rounds and finished up in 1 hour 40 minutes. The teams seemed to really love the questions and everyone had a great time. We even had a Dr. Who Meet-up.com group come.

Four people came in costume and the best one got a weeping angels coffee mug.

I made clusters of three prizes and the top 3 teams could choose their prize packages (1st place chooses first and so on.) The prizes were all Doctor Who merchandise.

After each round is over and the teams have turned in their sheets to the grading table I have my assistant grade as we go over the answers. Let the group yell out the answers. I only give team scores at halftime and of course at the end of the night.

Here is the blank template for keeping score 

Cool background you can use for your posters

As you go through and download the templates below please note some formatting may have changed from being uploaded to Google Drive. 

Round 1: Companions & Villains 
For this round show each slide on the screen one by one and have the participants write on their answer sheets the correct answer. Each correct answer is worth 1 point. No points are deducted for incorrect answers. When team is done have them bring it up to the grading table.

• Powerpoint Questions
• Blank Sheet for particpants 
• Answer Key

Round 2: Missing Words

For this round participants will complete one worksheet per team. Each correct answer is worth 1 point. No points are deducted for incorrect answers. When team is done have them bring it up to the grading table.

• Blank sheet for participants 
• Answer Key

Round 3: Who Dat?

For this round participants will have to write on their answer sheets which two characters are speaking in the dialog. At the beginning of trivia night have volunteers write their name on a piece of paper if they wish to volunteer to read the dialog. Each person gets one bonus point for their team. Pull two names out, hand each a script and tell them if they are reader A or B. Only one person from each team can read in each scene. Have them read twice aloud and then they can sit with their teams. Each correct answer is worth 1 point. No points are deducted for incorrect answers. When team is done have them bring it up to the grading table.

• Scripts for readers
• Blank sheet for participants
• Answer Key 

Round 4: Trivia

For this round participants will answer all questions. Read aloud the questions twice each. Each correct answer is worth 1 point. No points are deducted for incorrect answers. When team is done have them bring it up to the grading table.

• Trivia questions
• Blank sheet for participants
• Answer Key

Round 5: Where in the Universe

For this round show each slide on the screen one by one and have the participants write on their answer sheets the correct answer. Each correct answer is worth 1 point. No points are deducted for incorrect answers. When team is done have them bring it up to the grading table.

• Powerpoint Questions
• Blank sheet for participants
• Answer key