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Sahara Special by Esme Raji Codell

Summary

Fifth grader Sahara Jones was placed in special education when her teacher discovered the letters she had written to her father hidden in her desk at school. Sahara's mom pulls her out of special education when she hears about the antics of Darrell Sikes, the other "special needs" child. Sahara returns to the regular classroom but doesn't see the point in working hard when her work will just end up in the counselor's office and be used against her. When Sahara shows up for her second year of fifth grade, there is a new teacher. Her name is Madame Poitier, but the kids call her Miss Pointy. Miss Pointy is like no teacher Sahara has ever known. "She looked less like a teacher and more like one of those burnt-out punk-rocker teenagers who hang out in front of the Dunkin' Donuts." The subjects they study include puzzling, time travel and mad science. When she passes out writing journals to the class, Sahara begins to have fresh hope for the school year. Through Miss Pointy's unusual teaching, storytelling, and quiet support, Sahara finds the courage to overcome her fears and begin to care about school again.

175 pages, 4th grade and up

Discussion questions

Warning! Some of the questions contain key elements of the plot. Do not read if you don't want to know what happens!

  1. Was it fair for the principal to keep Sahara's letters to her father in her school file?
  2. Sahara was put in "special services" because she quit doing her homework after her letters were taken from her. Have you ever had the experience of being misunderstood and labeled as something you are not?
  3. What does Sahara mean when she says, "I'd sooner not try than fail" (p. 12.) Have you ever felt like that?
  4. Have you ever had a teacher like Miss Pointy? If not, would you like to?
  5. Sometimes Sahara sneaked a peak at Darrell's journal. Why was she so interested in what he was writing? Do you think it was okay for her to look at what he had written?
  6. Do you have a journal? Do you like to write in it? What kinds of things do you write?
  7. Why did Miss Pointy tell the story about why teachers get apples? Did you like the story? What would you wish for?
  8. Sahara says that inside each person is a secret person. Who is the secret person inside Sahara? Do you have a secret person inside you?
  9. When Sahara's mom asks her what they did at school and she tells her that kids read aloud from their journals, her mom says, "Lord, they sure waste your time at school, don't they?" Do you think Sahara agrees or disagrees that her time is being wasted at school? Do you think they are wasting their time?
  10. Who is your favorite character?
  11. According to Miss Pointy, the main character of a story is the one who changes the most. Who is the main character in Sahara Special? What kind of changes does the character go through?

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Snacks: Apples (with peanut butter, carmel and/or slices of cheese)

Created in part with funds granted by the Oregon State Library under the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the Oregon State Library. Send feedback to Katie O'Dell, School-age Services Manager