The Midnight Library

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity. 

ACTIVITY: “The Point of Life Is Life Itself"

What makes a successful life? What does Nora learn about success during her adventures in the Midnight Library?

Use a piece of lined or unlined paper for your work. On the first side, brainstorm responses to the following questions:

• What do I have in my life now that I value? (e.g., people, memories, abilities, traits, etc.; not necessarily material possessions)
• What activities, people, or places make me happy?
• What do I want in my life long-term?
• What makes me unhappy?

On the second side, imagine a future for yourself that you think might be fulfilling. Who is there with you? What is your job? Include an abundance of details, big or small. Brainstorm sentences, short phrases, or single words. Sketch images if you prefer. Try to think about connections between the abstract ideas of your values and the concrete ideas you have for your future. For example, in The Midnight Library, Nora realizes how much she values Small Acts of Kindness, and this helps her to realize not only whose company she prefers but also how kindness affects others.