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Whales on Stilts by M.T. Anderson

Summary

Racing against the clock, shy middle-school student Lily and her best friends, Katie and Jasper, must foil the plot of her father's conniving boss to conquer the world using an army of whales.

Booktalk

On Career Day Lily visited her dad's work with him and discovered he worked for a mad scientist who wanted to rule the earth through destruction and desolation. Up until then life hadn't been very interesting for Lily. There had not been very many mad scientists. She lived in a small town called Pelt. There was a supermarket and a library, and several mini-malls with discount clothing outlets. The highway went through, and people were pulled over by the police if they drove more than five miles above the speed limit. It was that kind of town.

…” I don't even know where you work,” said Lily. Her father gestured with his toast. “Edge of town,” he said, “Abandoned warehouse.”

… She asked, “What do you do?”

“Very complicated,” he said. “Very.”

The abandoned warehouse sat near the bay between a business called Nullco and a factory that made industrial filling. There was a big spray-painted wooden sign that said: “Abandin Warehouse. Stay Out!!! There are probly scorpions!”

Lily knows she must ask her two friends Katie and Jasper for help. Katie lives in a haunted housing development and regularly fights zombies, vampires and werewolves. Katie even has a book series about her adventures. Jasper is a boy technonaut who doesn't go to school and likes to invent things. He also has a book series about him and his adventures fighting yeti, and stunning crooks. Jasper even had a breakfast drink for his fan club but it caused seizures in lab rats. With friends like this you can see why Lily might not think she had an exciting life. It's up to Lily, Katie and Jasper to save the day.

188 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. Lily is surprised to find her Dad works in an abandoned warehouse. Have you ever learned something surprising about one of your friends or family? Does anyone in your family work in an abandoned warehouse or have a boss who wants to take over the world?
  2. Why does Larry walk around with a bag on his head and pour brine over his head? Have you ever thought adults behave strangely? Give examples if you like.
  3. Katie Mulligan and Jasper Dash are Lily's friends. Who is most likely to wake up and find a zombie in their bedroom? Who has a huge supply of Gargletine? Should you drink Gargletine for breakfast? Who likes to blow on their bangs diagonally out the side of their mouth? Can you do this?
  4. Katie and Jasper have lots of adventures. Who would you rather accompany on an adventure, Katie or Jasper? Would you spend the night at Katie's? Would you rather have a book written about you or a TV show? Would you like to eat at the Aero-bistro? What would you order?
  5. Who makes noises but doesn't have any vocal chords? Who walks around on stilts with laser beam eyes? Was Larry's mother a fish or a mammal? What is Larry?
  6. Who lives in Decentville? Does anyone believe Lily when she tries to warn them about Larry and the whales? How does Lily stop the whales? What happens to Larry at the end of the story? Who gets a book written about them at the end of this adventure?
  7. Do you think Pelt is an average little town? Who is Ann Mowbray Dixon-Clarke? Should we care?

If you liked this book, try

Snacks: goldfish crackers, sushi, fish sticks, Ovaltine instead of Gargletine, hard ribbon candy like Lily's grandmother eats.

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