Trouble Talk

Ludwig, T., & Prevost, M. Trouble Talk. (2008). NY: Tricycle Press Berkeley.

Lexile Score: N/A

Summary: Maya’s new friend Bailey loves to gossip. When Bailey begins to hurt people’s feelings and spread harmful rumors, Maya realizes she’s not the friend she needs. The story uncovers the harmful consequences of “trouble talk” in order to establish connection and gain attention. As Bailey finds out in the end, trouble talk doesn’t win you lasting friendships.  

Evaluation: This story is all about the message that is being told to children. The story is interesting to children because it’s very relatable. There are various conflicts for children to explore. Not just how to be a good friend and deal with rumors, but also to have an open heart and open for someone to change. Second chances and forgiveness is also explored in this story. The values are being explored rather than preached.

The characters are from all different culture groups with a variety of backgrounds. The illustrations show this as well. The only stereotype I could find was that the blond White girl was the bully. This story will definitely spark conversation and encourage discussions. The many important themes involved will offer children a variety of things to think about, question, and consider.  

Literary Elements: Theme- when you have an open heart, anything is possible! Also, trouble talk can only lead to the loss of friendships.

Characters- Maya, Bailey, Lizzy, Hua, Ms. Bloom, and Mrs. Rodriguez

Dialogue- the spread of rumors never leads to anything good. For example, “I’m sorry to hear about your parents.”

Mini lesson: I would have a mini lesson about the theme because it’s a very powerful lesson to be taught that occurs often in schools, especially middle school. I would have a class discussion on friendship. I’d talk about how to establish healthy boundaries in their friendships. I would also promote positive emotional expression through journaling and role-playing. I would role- play with children to improve their critical-thinking skills and problem-solving strategies.  

Target Audience: 3^rd-7^th grade because of the powerful message and lesson to be learned.