reading log - Figuring out the Top 4

We read Island of the Blue Dolphins together and talked every week about what was important. You have a page in your reading binder that gives you ideas about how to tell.

For example, if it disappeared from the book, does it "crash" the story?  Or is it about how a character is changing? Or is it about the motives of the characters? Is it something that inspires you? Is it something you could have a great conversation about?

You should ask these same questions no matter what book you are reading.

For example, let's think about this process concerning the first "chunk" we read for How to Steal a Dog. The important things were:

1. Georgina's desperation about living in a car which motivates her to steal a dog for a reward.

2.  Luanne is not sympathetic when she finds out the Georgina lives in a car.

3.  Georgina blaming her mom for their tough situation when it actually is her dad's fault for leaving them.

4. Georgina is worried that it is her fault that her daddy left them.

5.  Georgina knows stealing is wrong but she's so desperate. She's super conflicted.

6. Georgina is so excited when her mom tells her she got a job!!

7. Georgina has ugly thoughts about her daddy abandoning them and she knows she will steal the dog no matter what!

8. Georgina finally finds the perfect dog to steal!

Sometimes something is interesting or funny. Or it creates suspense. Or it helps you feel like you are "in the story."  Or it add details that make you care and understand. These help to make the story something you want to read and makes the book much better. However, they don't count as something which is the MOST  important.

Here are some NOT SUPER important examples so far in How to Steal a Dog. (This doesn't mean they are ridiculous ideas. They help the reader care and feel involved in the story.):

1.  Georgina tells Toby her plan about stealing a dog for the reward.

2.  Luanne's mom clearly thinks Georgina isn't a good friend for Luanne because she is poor.

3. Luanne's mom wipes down everything she touches because she thinks she is dirty.

4. Mr. White, Georgina's teacher, sends a note home to tell her mom that he is worried about her grades.

5.  Georgina writes a careful list about how to choose and actually steal a dog.

6.  Georgina feels jealous of Luanne's "perfect" life.

7. Georgina hates living in the car so much.

So the question is, how do you choose the Top 4? It's not like the second list didn't matter to the story. The point is that those events were not as important as the first list.

HERE IS THE BEST WAY TO DO IT:

For each day (Monday through Wednesday) write a brief jot dot of the 2 things that stand out as being important. Don't try to make a final decision.

(We did this together for Island of the Blue Dolphins.)

By Thursday you should have 8 to 10 ideas.

So the question is, how do you choose the Top 4? 

You have narrowed down the ideas throughout the week.

It's great if you have someone to brainstorm with - this helps a lot. You can discuss this with your book club as you read.

You can start with asking what absolutely HAS to happen. For example, Georgina's friend rejecting her is super awful. But Luanne's mom not liking Georgina because she is poor is not kind but that could disappear from the story and it would be okay. It is an extra detail.

Then start crossing off the things that are not as important. It is like you are ranking them. Don't forget to ask yourself if it is something that would crash the story if it disappeared. If your answer is yes, you should not cross it off.

Finally, ask yourself what is the number one "can't skip" thing in the chunk. This is often something that changes a character or is an "ah ha" moment the character has. It is something people have strong opinions about and leads to meaningful conversations.