Family Book Club - Generosity: Middle School

“The most truly generous persons are those who give silently without hope of praise or reward.” – Carol Ryrie Brink

Generosity is a willingness to give or share… What does generosity look like in reality across the ages and stages of our lifetime? There are many ways it can show up as both thought and action from toddlers, to grade schoolers, to teens, and to adults.

According to Google, here are some other common traits associated with a generous person:

They’re satisfied.
They say “yes” more than they say “no.”
They ask, “What can I do for you?” And mean it.
They don’t talk about “their” possessions.

These traits can be a tall order for the littlest ones, but they can be demonstrated in many ways by the caring adults in their lives, so that a generous perspective becomes woven into the way they do life. Reading about characters who make generous choices, whether on the playground, in the family, or in the complex world of teen relationships, can also help families to have rich conversations with one another about how generosity shows up in their world. Enjoy the rich stories in this theme together and let the talk begin!

Below you’ll find books, conversation launchers and activities that are appropriate for 6th, 7th and 8th Graders around the concept of “Generosity”.

GREAT BOOKS & CONVOS

Planet Earth Is Blue

By Nicole Panteleakos

Why We LOVE This Book

Nova is over the moon excited for the launch of the space shuttle Challenger; and hopes to watch the launch with her sister, Bridget, since they both love astronomy and the space program. Since Bridget disappeared, Nova will not be able to watch the launch with her and will need to go to a new foster home. Many foster families and teachers believe Nova is severely autistic and nonverbal, but Bridget is aware of how bright and special Nova is. With the generosity of various characters throughout the book, others begin to see and understand how beautiful and strong Nova is as well.

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Conversation Launchers

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Walk Toward the Rising Sun: From Child Soldier to Ambassador of Peace

By Ger Duany w/ Garen Thomas

Why We LOVE This Book

Ger Duany wanted to play, make his family proud and maybe get an education like his brother, Oder, suggested when he lived in Sudan in the 1980’s. Everything he knew was turned upside down after his village was attacked by the North Sudanese military. He ended up on a long road to safety and went to America in the 1990’s. Because of the generosity of others, he was able to achieve many of his goals. In return, we wanted to help his home country and became an international peace activist. Not only did Ger Duany want to assist his home country, but also wanted to open others’ eyes to the violence in Sudan and other African countries.

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