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This is a discussion topic for the March 2024 Book of the Month, "SandPeople: An Across Time Mystery" by Cheryl Kerr

What lessons did you learn from the book?

The book shows how history and the past influence the present. It inspired me to look deeper into the history of my own communities.

Lea navigates complicated emotions about family and learns to forgive. Lea's curiosity drives the mystery forward and encourages me to ask questions about the world around them.

I learnt about how to preserve an archaeological dig site, where to look for old records, don’t dismiss paranormal claims, and just respect others. It’s a good book for young teenagers.

Rebecca De Figueiredo wrote: ↑04 Mar 2024, 12:12 I learnt about how to preserve an archaeological dig site, where to look for old records, don’t dismiss paranormal claims, and just respect others. It’s a good book for young teenagers.

All of the things you mention: learning how to preserve an archeological dig site, where to look for old records, and paranormal claims sound very interesting. I’m going to find out more about this book.

Lea’s aunt doesn’t believe the ghost story, and she doesn’t take time to listen to her. I’m afraid that sounds a lot like my personality, especially when I am busy. I suppose, if anything, there is a lesson here about taking time to let kids talk about whatever is bothering them. Otherwise, they will take it to someone else.

That didn’t really dawn on me until her aunt recognized it in herself. She drove Lea away, and Lea told her story to Mrs. Simon and to anyone else who would listen. Yes, that is a lesson I learned in this simple little story.

I’d just like to add something else about what this book taught me: children and young teens need to be listened to, it’s always a mistake to dismiss their claims without listening to them properly.

"SandPeople" by Cheryl Kerr promises an intriguing tale where Lea's entanglement in the enigmatic legend of the sand people unveils a captivating mystery blending reality and folklore, ensuring a thrilling and immersive reading experience.

Both Lea and Aunt Meg learn things and grow from getting to know each other better. I especially liked how Aunt Meg learned how to listen and encourage Lea even though she thought what she was telling her was ridiculous. Meg was also reminded how nice it can be to have someone else around and how she can use that in her work. Lea learned that her parents are human beings in their own right and not just parents, and she learned that the unknown isn’t always a bad thing. Personally, I found the information about archeological digs and how to find old records very interesting. Those were things I didn’t know about before.

One important thing I learned in this book is giving listening ears to children and teens. Grown-ups might feel there is no need to give a listening ear but in the long, you will realize that you save yourself from certain things when you listen and pay attention to children.

"Sand People" taught me about how tough and flexible people can be when life gets really hard. It shows that no matter how tough things are, people can make it through if they stick together and help each other out. The book talks a lot about how important friends and family are when facing big problems, and how working as a team can help everyone get through tough times. It also makes you think about how important nature is and how we need to live in harmony with it, because it affects everything we do.

The Power of Friendship and Support
The friendships Lea forms and the support she receives from her aunt and new acquaintances highlight the significance of relationships in overcoming obstacles and fostering personal development

From reading the book, I learnt that it is good to pay attention to teenagers. Sometimes, they have good advice for adults. Also, it is also significant for family members to support each other during the time of need.

A cogent lesson from this book is the importance of active listening and validating others' experiences, even if they seem implausible or inconsequential. By dismissing someone's story or feelings, we risk driving them away and pushing them to seek understanding and validation elsewhere. Taking the time to listen attentively can foster trust and strengthen relationships, ultimately creating a more supportive and understanding community.

The book provided me with a thorough and complete idea of the unpredictability of life circumstances for a youngster. I learned to live the beautiful mystery of my life by reading about Lea's growth and transition. The elements of history and the past interwoven in the story of Lea's transformation journey were inspiring. Learning about Lea's character development from childhood to adulthood was enjoyable as well as educational.