California State University, Bakersfield International Book Club

If it's difficult to get hold of a paper copy of "A Dream Called Home," it may be easier to get its e-book ( Kindle ) edition.  You don't have to have a Kindle reader to read it.  You can read it on your computer on Kindle Cloud Reader and on your smartphone and tablet by uploading Kindle app.  Amazon Kindle  (US$12.99) Book information from the publisher - Simon & Schuster

 Here is the link to the biography of the author, Reyna Grande, who wrote "A Dream Called Home."  http://www.reynagrande.com/biography/

Here is the short interview of the author, Reyna Grande.  Reyna talks about the reason why she wanted to write this memoir.   Here are other interviews of Reyna Grande. Reyna Grande - Good Books Radio interview on "A Dream Called Home" Reyna Grande -Beyond Borders: Immigration, Trauma, and the American Dream Reyna Grande on Immigration and Writing

The One Book Project is a community-wide reading and discussion project inviting everyone to read and discuss the themes of innovation and aspiration.  "A Dream Called Home" by Reyna Grande is the primary book title for Fall 2021 One Book, One Bakersfield, One Kern (One Book Project).   Here is the book summary from Kern County Library website .   As an immigrant in an unfamiliar country, with an indifferent mother and abusive father, Reyna had few resources at her disposal, but she is determined to make the impossible possible, going from undocumented immigrant of little means to “a fierce, smart, shimmering light of a writer” (Cheryl Strayed, author of Wild); a National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist whose “power is growing with every book” (Luis Alberto Urrea, Pultizer Prize finalist); and a proud mother of two beautiful children who will never have to know the pain of poverty and neglect. Told in Reyna’s exquisite, heartfelt prose, A Dream Called Home demonst...

Doris mentioned in her self-introduction that she likes to find music that goes with a story she reads.  I think that is a fun idea!  The Giver was made into a movie in 2014 and it has a soundtrack.  These are the list of songs if you want to check them out. If you have other songs that may talk about the book themes, please feel free to post the titles.  I included the youtube links to the first three songs.  Which songs speak to you? “The Giver” Soundtrack Tracklist 1. Ordinary Human – OneRepublic 2. One Minute More – Capital Cities 3. Silent – Tori Kelly 4. Feel What’s Good – Jake Bugg 5. Children – Bruno Major 6. Whole – Rixton 7. Here Today – Aloe Blacc 8. Shine My Way – Sheppard 9. Difference Maker – Needtobreathe 10. I Lived – One Republic

 This is the interview of Lois Lowry about the novel, The Giver. This was done in August of 2014.  Lois Lowry interview

Keep these questions in mind as you read the chapters.  If you couldn't find the answers, we can talk about them in the meeting! Chapters 1-2  1. Who is the protagonist of the Giver?  2. What is important about the month of December?  3. What is the name of the protagonist’s best friend?  4. What 3 people does the protagonist live with?  5. What is the name of the baby that the father brought home?  6. Why is it very hard for a rule to be changed in this community?  7. Who is the most important Elder?  8. What ceremony is the last in this community?  9. What happens at this ceremony?  10. What do you imagine it means to be released?  Bonus: 1. When is a child’s comfort object taken away?  2. When do all children receive bicycles?   Chapter 3-4  1. What physical feature of Jonas is different from everyone else in the community? a)hair b)eyes c)skin color d) complexion  2. Why did Lily’s mom say she shoul...