Notes on a Near-Life Experience
on Goodreads (349)
What’s inside...
Mia never thought she'd be the child of a broken home. Yet when she's 15 years old, one day her father just up and moves out. As her family life crumbles, her love life is finally coming together. Julian, her brother Allen's best friend and her longtime crush, has finally noticed her—and being with Julian makes her happier than she can put into words. Meanwhile, her mother has disappeared into work, her brother is skipping school and acting weird, and her father is cohabitating with a frighteningly sexy Peruvian woman named Paloma. Mia wishes the divorce would just go away so she could focus on Julian, but she can't ignore her problems forever. In this honest, witty, utterly accessible winner of the Delacorte Press Contest, first-time author Olivia Birdsall creates an authentic and lovable teenager in Mia Day.
Age
0-15
Length
272 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Mia
Mia's Father
Allen
Mia's Mother
Discussion points
How do you think Mia felt when her family life began to change, and how would you feel in her situation?
What do you think the title 'Notes on a Near-Life Experience' suggests about Mia's journey throughout the book?
Mia interacts with many different characters in the story. Who was your favorite character, and why?
How do Mia's friends and school experiences affect her view on her family issues?
What are some ways that Mia tries to cope with the challenges she faces? Do you think these methods are effective?
Tip: Role play these questions
Start by sharing your own thoughts on Mia’s situation and her reactions to it. This openness can encourage your child to express their thoughts more freely.
Ask your child to compare their own experiences with friendships and school to Mia’s. Discussing familiar situations can make the themes more relatable.
Encourage your child to think about how each character contributes to the story, potentially drawing parallels to people in their own life.
Highlight the importance of resilience and coping mechanisms discussed in the book, asking your child how they might handle similar challenges.
Use the book’s themes as an opportunity to discuss broader life lessons, such as empathy, understanding, and the complexities of family dynamics.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Understanding and managing emotions
Explanation: The protagonist grapples with complex emotions as her family undergoes significant changes. Her journey provides a narrative on identifying and expressing feelings in healthy ways.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to recognize their own emotions and communicate them effectively, helping them navigate their feelings during family transitions or conflicts.
Example Lesson: Empathy and perspective-taking
Explanation: As the protagonist interacts with different characters, she learns to see situations from multiple viewpoints, fostering a deep sense of empathy.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to understand and consider the feelings of others, promoting empathetic interactions in their day-to-day relationships.
Example Lesson: Resilience in the face of adversity
Explanation: Challenges are constant in the protagonist's life, yet she shows resilience and growth. This portrayal can help children understand that difficulties can lead to personal development.
Real-World Application: Kids can apply this lesson by adopting a resilient mindset when dealing with their own challenges, whether at school or in social settings.
Example Lesson: Importance of family and communication
Explanation: The book highlights the dynamics within a changing family structure, emphasizing the crucial role of open communication.
Real-World Application: It teaches children the value of communicating with family members to resolve conflicts and build stronger bonds.
Example Lesson: Acceptance and personal growth
Explanation: Throughout her experiences, the protagonist learns to accept the changes in her life, which contributes to her personal growth.
Real-World Application: Children can learn the importance of accepting changes and growing from them, which can be particularly useful during transitions such as moving to a new school or city.