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Reading Group Guide

Discussion Questions

The Paper Bag Christmas

1. Molar and Aaron volunteer at the hospital to help the kids there, but in what way did those kids help the brothers?

2. What role does volunteering play in your life?

3. Through Madhu’s persistence, Molar and Aaron are forced to question not only the origins of Santa Claus, but also the underlying purpose and meaning of Christmas. What does Christmas mean to you?

4. Did this book change the way you think about Christmas?

5. If you could ask for only one thing for Christmas, what would it be?

6. Do you think Dr. Ringle really was Santa Claus?

7. How are Katrina and Madhu different (or the same) in terms of how they cope with personal adversity? Are you more like Katrina or Madhu?

8. Which character changes or evolves the most through the course of the story? What triggered the change?

9. What are the most prominent themes throughout the novel? If you could boil the author’s message down to one word, what would it be?

10. Katrina tries hard to hide her appearance from others. What eventually motivates her to remove the bag? Do any other characters try to hide parts of themselves (flaws, habits, beliefs, etc.) from others?

The Paper Bag Christmas
by Kevin Alan Milne

  • Publication Date: October 29, 2008
  • Hardcover: 160 pages
  • Publisher: Center Street
  • ISBN-10: 1599950731
  • ISBN-13: 9781599950730