While not the best book that I’ve ever read, I did think that Wendy Mass’s Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life would prompt an interesting discussion in Tuesday’s 6th grade book group.  But I had not taken into account what it’s like to be a sixth grader half-way through the school year: the questions raised by the book were far too personal and introspective to be answered in a group setting with this age reader.  When I asked the question, “Have any of you ever thought about what the meaning of life is?  About why you’re here on earth?”, I saw flashes of acknowledgement in many eyes around the table, along with every head around the table vigorously shaking “no.”  I gave myself a mental slap on the forehead at that point, as I realized that there is no way my sixth grade self would have ever answered that question in a library book group.  Maybe I would have discussed it with my family or close friends, but not in a vulnerable setting like a book group. 

So from that point on, I steered the conversation towards more general, less personal, easily discussed things, like the characterizations of Lizzie and Jeremy, whether the plot progression was realistic and believable, and why Jeremy’s dad had arranged for this complex quest for his son.  No one in the group, me included, really liked this book, but we were able to see its value and to discuss it in a productive way.  The kids pointed out that Lizzie and Jeremy were flat characters who do not change or grow much after the first chapter; one group member stated that the lack of complexity in the characters is the main reason the book tends to be dull.  And then another kid in the group made an excellent comparison: she compared this book to Ellen Raskin’s The Westing Game (which all the sixth graders have read in school this year), and commented that the characters in The Westing Game reveal themselves bit by bit, so that the reader doesn’t fully know each character until the conclusion of the novel. 

This comment got us all interested in a comparison of these two books, their plots and characters and writing style, and in the end we had quite a productive discussion about what elements make a book great rather than just good.  So the book group meeting ended up being a valuable one, though not at all for the reasons that I had thought it would be.  Once again, I am reminded of why it’s useful to go into a book group meeting with an open mind, not a set agenda and a set list of questions.  Being open makes for a better discussion, and ultimately is more rewarding for all participants.