Mental health themed novel comparison, PDF books, questions, answer keys

These original middle grade books are ideal for a novel comparison assignment as they both use a fantasy element to explore the question,“What if the problems we consider to be mental health issues became physical ones?” In “Freezing”, a mysterious virus causes body temperature to drop when a character is treated unkindly and in “Rash Words”, characters who channel their frustration and anger into cruel comments on the internet, break out in a rash. More detailed summaries of the books can be found at the end of the description.

With this product you get:

• A PDF copy of the novel “Freezing “
• A PDF copy of the novel “Rash Words”
• Question sets with answer keys and post reading activities for both books
• A set of novel comparison questions

You have permission to project the novel onto a screen (great for read alouds), photocopy the material for a class of students or assign the material to students through an online teaching platform. The electronic format allows struggling readers to use online reading tools to develop independence.

Summary of “Freezing “:

In Mark’s basketball and video gaming worlds, trash talking is the norm and he’s good at it. After a confrontation on the basketball court, Mark ends up in the hospital with a broken arm where he runs into Bryce, a fellow basketball player and gamer, whose dramatic drop in body temperature has landed him in the emergency room.

Forced to take a break from basketball and gaming as his arm heals, Mark becomes obsessed with Bryce and his condition but only learns that Bryce is still in an isolation room in the ICU. After returning to his regular activities, Mark finds his own body temperature dropping. Why has he just started developing these symptoms? And will he face the same fate as Bryce or find answers to the mysterious illness before it’s too late?

Summary of “Rash Words”:

On the outside, Stacy is a “good girl”, helpful and hardworking. On the inside, she is stressed from being teased and rejected by classmates, and challenged and pressured by her piano teacher. She takes out her frustration by posting nasty comments through a secret social media account. After clicking on a link that promises to show her something embarrassing about two unkind classmates, Stacy’s computer tells her there’s a virus.

Two students show up at school the next day with mysterious rashes covering their bodies and Stacy develops the rash that evening. Is the rash dangerous or just a recipe for more rejection? And will her theory about where it came from heal everyone or will it lead to more teasing?