The Probability of Everything

by Sarah Everett

Winner of the Governor General's Literacy Amards for Young People"s Lierature

Publisher: Clarion Books

Audience: 8-12 years old

Reading Level: Grade 3-7

This is a story about an eleven year old girl named Kemi Carter. She loves everything about Science and facts, most of all probability. Yet her life is about to chance before her eyes as an astriod appears in the sky. There is an 84.7 % chance that the asteroid is going to hit earth and that all she knows will no longer exist. She is determind to find a way to make her families memories live on forever as the days slowly count down to ends day.

Author Video

Key Words

Vocabulary Words

Conundrum: A confusing and difficult problem or question; characters in the book might face conundrums as they navigate challenges and decisions.

Serendipity: The occurrence of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way; this word might relate to unexpected and fortunate events that occur in the story.

Quandary: A state of uncertainty or perplexity, especially as requiring a choice between equally unfavorable options; characters might find themselves in a quandary when making difficult decisions.

Consequence: A result or effect of an action or condition; characters may consider the potential consequences of their choices as they navigate the plot.

Destiny: The events that will necessarily happen to a particular person or thing in the future; themes of destiny or fate might be explored in the book.

Fortuity: The quality of happening by chance, especially a lucky chance; characters may experience fortuitous events or encounters that shape the direction of the story.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.2: Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.

This standard relates to the book as it encourages students to identify the central themes of a text and analyze how those themes are developed through specific details within the narrative. "The Probability of Everything" likely contains themes related to decision-making, chance, consequences, and fate, and students can explore how these themes are conveyed through the characters, plot events, and other literary elements.

Reading Strategies

Before Reading: Begin by introducing the title and cover of the novel to the students. Discuss any images, colors, or symbols on the cover and what they might suggest about the story. Have students make predictions about what they think the book might be about based on the title, cover, and their brainstormed ideas. Distribute sticky notes or index cards to students and ask them to write down one prediction each. These predictions could relate to the plot, characters, conflicts, or themes.

Predictions Activity

During Reading: During the novel and to support the theme towards probability and decision making. Have students track instances of probability and decision-making in the novel. They can use a graphic organizer or chart to record each event and its outcome, along with the character's thought process and reasoning.

After Reading: Encourage students to write reflective journal entries about their reading experience, focusing on their thoughts, feelings, and reactions to the characters, events, and themes of the novel. Prompt students to consider how the novel has impacted their understanding of probability, decision-making, friendship, and the complexities of life.

Journaling Prompt

Class Activity

Character Probability Profiles

Extension: Have students compare and contrast the probability profiles of different characters to explore how their personalities and circumstances influence their likelihood of experiencing certain events. Encourage students to create alternative endings or scenarios for the characters based on their probability profiles, considering how different outcomes would impact the story.

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