The Hobbit
by J.R.R. Tolkien
Wednesday, October 6, 2021 @ Wednesday, October 6, 2021
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When adventure comes knocking at your front door (quite literally) will you answer? What if that adventure comes in the shape of thirteen dwarves hoping to reclaim their ancient mountain home? And what if that mountain is guarded by a dragon?
Join Bilbo Baggins, the Hobbit, as he is swept away on an adventure so grand he couldn’t even begin to imagine the things he encounters. Meet elves, trolls, goblins, wizards, dragons, and so much more.
When you join this Book Club, together we’ll read the classic fantasy, The Hobbit—and follow Bilbo and his dwarvish friends as they try to reclaim the Lonely Mountain. You and your Literary Guide, Ms. Schuett, will analyze the imagery, themes, and conflicts within the story—and have so much fun digging deep into the story!
What Makes This Special
It’s a Classic. The Hobbit is the prequel of The Lord of the Rings trilogy by famous author JRR Tolkien. This book was written with his young children in mind and is intended for a younger audience. It is a whimsical and fun introduction to epic fantasy.
Your Guide is a teacher who has guided students through the Narnia series before! Your Guide, Ms. Schuett, is an experienced teacher with a terminal degree (MFA) in storytelling. She is a J.R.R. Tolkien enthusiast who loves to be a Guide for the stories she loves, too! When you sign up for this Book Club, you get a professional, highly skilled Guide who helps your student develop a love for reading while learning how to dig deeper into all of the different parts of writing and creating a story.
Your Guide
Ms. Anna Schuett is a professional writer and teacher with Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English degree from Concordia University (with an emphasis in Creative Writing) and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, Genre Fiction (MFA, terminal degree) from Western Colorado University.
While studying for her MFA, Ms. Schuett was an elementary school Para-Educator and Librarian/Technology Assistant. Spending a great amount of time with students who struggled with their studies, Ms. Schuett found a love for helping students learn and grow.
Ms. Schuett currently works as an I.T. Coordinator for Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy clinics across the state of Nebraska and also designs and maintains her church’s website. Because of a love of working with students, she is excited to be in her role as an Instructor Access Instructor with Aquinas Writing Advantage.
Born, raised, and living in Nebraska, USA, Ms. Schuett enjoys reading, quilting, baking, and writing epic fantasy novels—all with a cup of coffee or tea within arm’s reach. You can reach Ms. Schuett at akschuett91@gmail.com.
About the Book
- ISBN-10 : 0547928227
- ISBN-13: 978-0547928227
- Buy from Bookshop.org
(From Barnes & Noble) A great modern classic and the prelude to The Lord of the Rings.
Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely traveling any farther than his pantry or cellar. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard Gandalf and a company of dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an adventure. They have launched a plot to raid the treasure hoard guarded by Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon. Bilbo reluctantly joins their quest, unaware that on his journey to the Lonely Mountain he will encounter both a magic ring and a frightening creature known as Gollum.
“A glorious account of a magnificent adventure, filled with suspense and seasoned with a quiet humor that is irresistible . . . All those, young or old, who love a fine adventurous tale, beautifully told, will take The Hobbit to their hearts.” – New York Times Book Review
Age Range – 9 and up (According to Common Sense Media)
Parental Guidance
The Hobbit is a classic fantasy that was written by an English scholar and published in 1937, which means there are some cultural differences and dated concepts. There are a few intense scenes and themes in this story that may be challenging for young readers.
- Fighting/Violence: Bilbo and the dwarves fight with a number of creatures: trolls, giant spiders, evil wolves, goblins, a dragon, and wood elves. The trolls discuss how they will eat Bilbo and the dwarves when they’re captures. The spiders also plan to eat the dwarves. Swords and arrows are used in a big battle that does result in some sad character deaths.
- Alcohol: Most of the characters drink. Two elves fall asleep drinking.
- Tobacco: Most of the characters smoke pipes and try to blow smoke rings.
There may also be some challenging vocabulary that we discuss together in the Club; readers are encouraged to bring up vocabulary words for discussion in our time together.
On Common Sense Media, a website for parents that rates content for students, this book is listed for students ages 9+ — See the full review here: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/the-hobbit
Reading Schedule
- Week 1: Discussion – Chapters 1-3
- Week 2: Discussion – Chapters 4-7
- Week 3: Discussion – Chapters 8-10
- Week 4: Discussion – Chapters 11-13
- Week 5: Discussion – Chapters 14-16
- Week 6: Discussion – Chapters 17-19 (end)
How To Begin
It’s easy! Follow these steps to get started…
- Sign up and get in (before it’s full!) — Use the blue button at the bottom of this page to save your spot.
- Receive your information — Within 48 hours of signing up, you’ll get an email with your Club’s details. Save this email, bookmark the zoom link, and add the club dates to your calendar.
- Prepare for your first meeting — Get the book from your own favorite source, or buy your book(s) directly from your Book Club pages. Read the assigned chapters ahead of time, and download and print the supplies list for crafts (young readers), activity pages for during the Club time (older readers), or the handout to guide the discussion (older students).
For more information, visit the How It Works page.
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