• Grade 2
• Enemy Pie – Derek Munson

Enemy Pie

Written by Derek Munson

Synopsis

This book focuses on respect and friendship, as one little boy learns how to deal with an enemy. It was the perfect summer until Jeremy Ross moved into the house down the street and quickly became Enemy Number One. Luckily, Enemy Pie is a sure fire way to get rid of your enemies. The only catch is that you have to spend an entire day with the enemy!  In this story, one little boy learns an effective recipe for turning a best enemy into a best friend.

Vocabulary

• trampoline
• recipe
• faded
• squinted
• disgusting
• boomerang
• ingredients
• nodded
• pretending

Characters in the Story

• The boy – main character
• The boy’s dad
• Jeremy Ross
• Stanley – the boy’s best friend

Discussion Topics

Before Reading

• Have the students think about ways to begin a conversation with a peer they do not know.
• Talk to the students about the concept of being comfortable with their friends when someone new comes along. Explain that sometimes when someone new comes along, we may want to make friends with this new person, but sometimes we may feel shy and may not have the skills to start a conversation.
• Based on the title of the book, ask the students what they think the book might be about.

During Reading

• On Page 4, “Dad understood stuff like enemies. He knew of a way to get rid of them. He has an idea – to make enemy pie.” Why does the boy assume the pie is going to be awful?
• On Page 6, What does the boy hope will happen to Jeremy Ross once he eats this awful tasting pie? Why does he hope that this will happen?” (The boy felt hurt that Jeremy laughed at him when he was struck out at a baseball game; the boy felt hurt that Jeremy had a party on his trampoline and didn’t invite him, yet he invited his best friend, Stanley. The boy wanted to hurt Jeremy as he was hurting.)
• On Page 7, part of the deal was that the boy had to spend a day with the enemy. Why was spending a day with Jeremy Ross a scary idea for the boy? (feels shy; feels nervous; has to initiate a conversation)

After Reading

• Why did the boy panic when his Dad served up the Enemy Pie? What happened during the course of the two boys playing and talking together for the day? What did the boy learn?
• What skills would help someone in this situation? Brainstorm ideas with the students but focus on the importance of starting a conversation.

Fin’s Tales – Can You Help?

When I moved to the West Coast of British Columbia I didn’t have many friends. Luckily, now that I’ve been here for several I have lots of friends. What kinds of things do you think I did to make new friends? What kinds of things do you think I said to others? What are some things that you think I definitely did not do to make new friends?