Read Time: 2hrs 20mins
Author: Helen M. Swanson
Genre: Cultural
Synopsis: Angel of Rainbow Gulch by Helen M. Swanson is a 125-page children’s book that follows twelve-year-old Angel’s experiences at school in Hawaii. The story focuses on his daily life, personal growth, and experiences within settling into a new school and a new place with only his grandma.
Points of Interest: Hawaii culture, action, adventure
Who may like this book: Children who are struggling settling into a new environment.
Dialogic Reading Prompts
- What would you do if you were treated like Angel?
- Why do you think the other kids were so mean to Angel? And the man too?
- How would you deal with losing a pet like Angel did?
- Why do you think Angel and Rollo got along so much? What made Rollo different from the other kids?
- What would you do if you were away from your siblings and parents?
- Why is the gulch dangerous?
- Did Angel do the right thing? Going out on his own after being denied the phone to call the police?
- What should have Angel done differently to deal with the man?
The Path to Literacy 