Rain Reign discussion

I feel like this book was more about the people in Rose's life than it was about hers. I keep trying to analyze her father and "read between the lines" of Rose's perspective. Why do you think he chose to tell Rose all that time that her mother had left her?

I also had questions about her father. I think he just couldn't deal with his wife's death.

It seemed like it was an easy way to place blame.

I really enjoyed this book. I thought it gave an interesting perspective in what it may be like for a child with asperger's. I was perplexed by Rose's father as well. On one hand he seemed like he wanted to care for her (giving her Rain, attending meetings,) but on the other hand, his actions said the opposite.

Maybe but I also wondered about his own upbringing. It was mentioned a few times. He had a lot of anger. Why didn't Uncle Weldon if they were raised in the same house?

Megan wrote: "It seemed like it was an easy way to place blame."

Megan wrote: "It seemed like it was an easy way to place blame."

I found myself really rooting for Rose. I was glad that Parvani also started a homonym list. It seemed like after Rain came to school, her classmates were more accepting.

I really enjoyed this book - Reading Rose's internal dialogue was fascinating; and the way she would explain her understanding of the world was curious and raw. The obsession with numbers and homonyms was actually a unique addition to the book - reminded me of Rainman in a way..

Janet wrote: "Maybe but I also wondered about his own upbringing. It was mentioned a few times. He had a lot of anger. Why didn't Uncle Weldon if they were raised in the same house?"

I wondered the same thing. I did enjoy hearing a bit of back story about his favorite foster mother and siblings. Hardships affect people in different ways, sometimes people think it is easier to just deal with them by abusing alcohol like Rose's father did.

Rain was the catalyst for a lot of things! She softened the edges of Rose's life and relationships, and was like a guinea pig for Rose to practice social interaction.

Megan wrote: "I really enjoyed this book - Reading Rose's internal dialogue was fascinating; and the way she would explain her understanding of the world was curious and raw. The obsession with numbers and homon..."

I've never seen Rainman, but I loved that part of the book too! Although I was kind of annoyed when the author didn't state the homonyms all the time. There were a few places where there could have been a homonym but it wasn't made obvious like in the other places.

Ashley wrote: "Rain was the catalyst for a lot of things! She softened the edges of Rose's life and relationships, and was like a guinea pig for Rose to practice social interaction."

I felt so bad that she gave him back but at the same time I was proud of Rose for doing it. It would be incredibly hard to do something like that.

Rain also seemed to be what helped Rose connect with her classmates and her teacher.

Janet wrote: "Maybe but I also wondered about his own upbringing. It was mentioned a few times. He had a lot of anger. Why didn't Uncle Weldon if they were raised in the same house?"

I hadn't thought of this... I was glad that Uncle Weldon didn't ever cower to Rose's father. Uncle Weldon didn't have nearly any of the same qualities as the father. I was really glad that Rose had someone like him in her life. No one else, not even her teachers or para, were as patient, loving, and accepting of Rose and all her quirks.

Janet wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Rain was the catalyst for a lot of things! She softened the edges of Rose's life and relationships, and was like a guinea pig for Rose to practice social interaction."

I felt so bad..."

I know! I loved Rain and was devastated when she gave Rain back. I didn't expect the book to take that turn.

Megan wrote: "Janet wrote: "Maybe but I also wondered about his own upbringing. It was mentioned a few times. He had a lot of anger. Why didn't Uncle Weldon if they were raised in the same house?"

I hadn't thou..."

I agree! I found myself wondering if he might be her real father. That would have been a twist!

Janet wrote: "Megan wrote: "Janet wrote: "Maybe but I also wondered about his own upbringing. It was mentioned a few times. He had a lot of anger. Why didn't Uncle Weldon if they were raised in the same house?"
..."

Whoa! Scandal!

What did everyone do for their story quilt? Do you know if there is a way to upload them?

Ally wrote: "What did everyone do for their story quilt? Do you know if there is a way to upload them?"

I'm wondering the same thing. Is there a way to attach them? I did mine on Power Point.

Has anyone read the book, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime" by Mark Haddon?

Maybe we could all go to blackboard and post them in the water cooler? I would love to just see everyone's instead of having to describe it in words...

Ashley wrote: "Ally wrote: "What did everyone do for their story quilt? Do you know if there is a way to upload them?"

I'm wondering the same thing. Is there a way to attach them? I did mine on Power Point."
I did mine on Powerpoint too. It said to put them into voicethread via webcam but this week's VT didn't mention them. I must admit mine is very basic because I am not artistically creative. I felt the storm was a key part of the story so I have an image of a hurricane plus a rose and a dog. I also included several quotes.

Ally wrote: "Maybe we could all go to blackboard and post them in the water cooler? I would love to just see everyone's instead of having to describe it in words..."

Works for me!

Ashley wrote: "Has anyone read the book, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime" by Mark Haddon?"

I haven't... what is it about? Or do you recommend it?

Megan wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Has anyone read the book, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime" by Mark Haddon?"

I haven't... what is it about? Or do you recommend it?"

I haven't either. Should we include it on our 'want to read' lists?

I just posted my quilt square in the water cooler on blackboard. I decided to make mine without pictures because I felt words and numbers were an important aspect of the story.

Janet wrote: "Megan wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Has anyone read the book, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime" by Mark Haddon?"

I haven't... what is it about? Or do you recommend it?"

I haven't either...."

I haven't read it either. Is it good?

Ally wrote: "I just posted my quilt square in the water cooler on blackboard. I decided to make mine without pictures because I felt words and numbers were an important aspect of the story."

I'll put mine there after we are done.

I also added people who I felt were influential and supported Rose. I put Uncle Weldon, Parvani, and Mrs. Kushel. Although Parvani and Mrs. Kushel didn't develop until later in the story, I still think they were helpful and patient with Rose.

It's also written from the perspective of a boy with autism and an obsession with prime numbers...and a mystery about a dog...and his relationship with his dad. It received a lot of recognition when it came out several years ago. I remember really liking it.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

Ashley wrote: "It's also written from the perspective of a boy with autism and an obsession with prime numbers...and a mystery about a dog...and his relationship with his dad. It received a lot of recognition whe..."

Thanks for the recommendation!

Ashley wrote: "It's also written from the perspective of a boy with autism and an obsession with prime numbers...and a mystery about a dog...and his relationship with his dad. It received a lot of recognition whe..."

Sounds a lot like the same book! haha.

Ally wrote: "I also added people who I felt were influential and supported Rose. I put Uncle Weldon, Parvani, and Mrs. Kushel. Although Parvani and Mrs. Kushel didn't develop until later in the story, I still t..."

I was glad to see that she had developed a relationship with Parvani. I felt that she had a very lonely life - teased by classmates, a distant father, etc. Thank goodness for Uncle Weldon!

What did everyone think about how Mrs. Kushel helped Rose?

Ashley wrote: "It's also written from the perspective of a boy with autism and an obsession with prime numbers...and a mystery about a dog...and his relationship with his dad. It received a lot of recognition whe..."

Wow! Seems so similar. Thanks for the recommendation.

Ally wrote: "What did everyone think about how Mrs. Kushel helped Rose?"

I personally thought it was really neat that she brought in her friend to write an article in the newspaper. I think it really helped Rose to have someone else she could confide in.

Ally wrote: "What did everyone think about how Mrs. Kushel helped Rose?"

It may sound odd but I felt like it humanized her. Up to that point I didn't feel like she had any compassion for Rose so it helped change my mind about her.

Janet wrote: "Maybe but I also wondered about his own upbringing. It was mentioned a few times. He had a lot of anger. Why didn't Uncle Weldon if they were raised in the same house?"

I was just thinking about the difference between Rose's father and uncle. I wonder if it was because Rose's father was older..even if only by a couple of years...and saw and comprehended more of the ugliness that went on. It is typical of older children to should responsibilities that aren't necessarily theirs...

Ally wrote: "What did everyone think about how Mrs. Kushel helped Rose?"

I'm glad she came through for Rose - even though you could tell she was holding her tongue sometimes, she was very patient under the circumstances.

Ashley wrote: "Janet wrote: "Maybe but I also wondered about his own upbringing. It was mentioned a few times. He had a lot of anger. Why didn't Uncle Weldon if they were raised in the same house?"

I was just th..."

Good point! And they shield their younger siblings from the ugliness. I wonder, though, if her father might have been different had her mother not died.

Ashley wrote: "Janet wrote: "Maybe but I also wondered about his own upbringing. It was mentioned a few times. He had a lot of anger. Why didn't Uncle Weldon if they were raised in the same house?"

I was just th..."

That is a good point. I don't remember, did it say how old they were when they went into the system?

Janet wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Janet wrote: "Maybe but I also wondered about his own upbringing. It was mentioned a few times. He had a lot of anger. Why didn't Uncle Weldon if they were raised in the same house?"..."

He could have been a totally different man. It must have been hard for him to raise a girl with Autism on his own. It didn't seem like he had many outside resources or education to help him... He was more focused on Rose getting in trouble at school than for advocating for her.

Rose's dad was 10

We only have a few minutes left. Does anyone have any final thoughts? I personally loved this book. I think the author did an amazing job at crafting a story from the perspective of a child with asperger's. Although Rose ended up giving Rain back, I like to think that her and Uncle Weldon got another dog when they went to the shelter in the end.

Megan wrote: "Janet wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Janet wrote: "Maybe but I also wondered about his own upbringing. It was mentioned a few times. He had a lot of anger. Why didn't Uncle Weldon if they were raised in th..."

He probably didn't know how to advocate for her. Whatever happened to his own parents? They stayed in the system until he was 18. I guess they never saw their own parents again.

I really enjoyed it as well! Thanks for the great disscusion!

It was written from a unique perspective that such a young girl had such an awareness over her disability. The internal dialogue was my favorite - I have a feeling I'm going to start noticing and stating homonyms in my day to day life.

Megan wrote: "Janet wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Janet wrote: "Maybe but I also wondered about his own upbringing. It was mentioned a few times. He had a lot of anger. Why didn't Uncle Weldon if they were raised in th..."

It seemed to me like he knew what the right thing was, but didn't do it for whatever reason. I remember at the beginning of the book him not wanting to take her to a different school with a specialized program for Rose. He also just spent most of his time at The Luck of the Irish and had Rose take care of everything else. Maybe he didn't know how to help, but after going to meetings and getting weekly reports, you think he would have gotten a clue.

I really enjoyed the book too. I agree with Ally. I also wanted to think that they stayed together and got another dog that was definitely theirs. I am recommending this book to a friend who teaches 5th grade. I think it could make a good read aloud and encourage a lot of discussion.

Good night! Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for the great discussion!