K71363 About the book About the book www.oxfordchildrens.co.uk @OUPChildrens To aid his recovery from a life-threatening illness, Jordan and his family move out of the city for a healthy new start. Jordan gets enough funny looks as the new boy at school as it is, without his Mum giving him homemade soup for lunch every day! But when he meets a homeless man called Harry and gives him the soup, it is the start of an unlikely friendship. They begin giving soup to the other homeless people around town, and when his sister shares this on Instagram the #SOUPMOVEMENT begins. They even make it on to the news! AGE 9-11 About the author About the author Ben Davis lives and works in Staffordshire with his wife, son, and wimpy dog. He writes books for older children and teenagers, including the Joe Cowley series, My Embarrassing Dad’s Gone Viral , Make Me Awesome, and What’s That in Dog Years? He is known for writing stories which pull at your heartstrings while making you laugh out loud—a powerful combination which will hook readers into this book with its themes of kindness and community. When Ben is not writing, he regularly visits schools and leads creative writing workshops. Have a look at his website www.bendavisauthor.com and also this video where he talks about his book What’s That in Dog Years? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdNCMbnnYzo Artwork © Julia Christians www.oxfordchildrens.co.uk @OUPChildrens Artwork © Julia Christians What inspired you to write The Soup Movement? A very nice man called Richard Brabin, who set up his own portable soup kitchen for homeless people in Oxford. When I heard about what Richard did, I started building a plot based around a younger person doing something similar. It led to me thinking about themes of kindness and how we treat the most vulnerable members of society. I deliberately didn’t read into the original story too much, because I wanted to create something completely different. Are any of the characters based on people you know? Sometimes! My main characters usually have a little bit of my personality in them, and others are often two people I know smushed together to create a brand-new character. Have you always wanted to be an author? I did always want to be an author, but I put that in the same category as headlining Glastonbury or playing up front for Manchester United. Where I’m from, being an author isn’t a thing people do. But from an early age, I always wrote stories. My dad worked in a factory and would often ‘borrow’ paper from the office so I could make my own little books. I’d like to think my writing skills have improved since then, but sadly my drawing skills haven’t. Do you write a diary or a blog? I tried to keep a diary when I was a teenager, but I didn’t keep it up for more than a few days at a time. I used to blog too, but don’t do that anymore, either! Who is your favourite author? When I was a kid, obviously Roald Dahl was the big one, along with the likes of Dick King-Smith, Anne Fine, and many, many more besides. Nowadays, even though I don’t get to read as much as I used to, I love the books of Lisa Thompson, R.J. Palacio, Mark Lowery, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Louis Sachar, and so many more I couldn’t possibly name them all. If I had to pick my all-time favourite children’s author, it would probably be Sue Townsend. What is your favourite kind of music? Your favourite song? And your favourite band? I don’t really have one favourite kind of music. When I was growing up, I was an indie kid, but now I go for a bit of everything. In the before times, I used to like to go to live concerts, where I’ve seen artists like Janelle Monae, Radiohead (my faves), Chic, the Beach Boys, Nick Cave, and loads more. Favourite song is an impossible question, but I’ll go for one I’ve been loving recently, which is If We Were Vampires by Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit. What is your favourite soup?! My mother-in-law makes a lovely leek and potato soup, so I’ll go for that one! Q and A with Ben Davis Q and A with Ben Davis www.oxfordchildrens.co.uk @OUPChildrens Artwork © Julia Christians How did you feel when reading this book? And how did you feel when you’d finished it? Which parts of the story did you find most memorable? Did you skip any parts? Which parts? Were there any parts that didn’t make sense to you? Was there anything that took you by surprise? Did you stop and start, or did you read it all through in one go? Are there parts you want to read over again? Who was your favourite character in the book? Why? And who was your least favourite? What was the thing you most liked finding out from the book? What kind of book did you think it was going to be? Was it what you expected from the cover? And from the title? If you were asked to give the book a different title, what would it be? At the end of the story, did you feel as if you’d been in the story too? Has reading the book changed or affected you? What would you say about this book if you were telling someone what you’ve just read? Talking about the book Talking about the book www.oxfordchildrens.co.uk @OUPChildrens Artwork © Julia Christians The 15 words in this wordsearch are a mixture of people and things from the story. Look for them in the squares—up, down, from left to right, and from right to left. How does each of them fit into the story? JORDAN RIO CHILD SEAT HOSPITAL BIKE HELMET MITZVAH ABI MAXWELL TENT PINKY SWEAR MULLIGATAWNY WASTE SKIPS DANIELA VIRAL X W M A X W E L L Z Q X J B Z X Q P I X V N M C B X R I O J K M W V T L O X W J R C F K R G F U Y M Z B T V Q Z B M B P D C X L Z Q V G A F X H V G X Q A B G L Y X A L E I N A D Q Z W N C W I R M H G S V J W X Z Y G X Z B G A Z F Q D C Q H P F B K F W X A E X C K L X B I K E H E L M E T W Q Z V I Z W X C J X F Q C G A S W X V H Q S P I K S E T S A W Y G C Z C F B W B W V P X C J N K P B V Y X W Z A B T Z F B X Y N E V I R A L J G F E K W H V X I Q Z X J P Q Z V X N F P F Z C P C G Z V W F C L A T I P S O H Word search Word search www.oxfordchildrens.co.uk @OUPChildrens Artwork © Julia Christians Homelessness ‘There’s other people like me in town, you know?’ he says. For a split second I think he means other one-legged people, but then I realise he means homeless. (p53) Ben Davis was inspired to write The Soup Movement by ‘soup peddler’ Richard Brabin, who cycled around Oxford providing soup for homeless people from the back of his bike. Read about Richard in these local news stories: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-oxfordshire-42580652/soup-peddler-makes-meals-for- homeless-in-oxford https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/15805206.soup-peddler-gets-bike-tackle-epidemic-homelessness- oxford There are many reasons why people become homeless, as we learn from the stories of the people whom Jordan meets, including Harry, Daniela, Elaine, and the Captain. Make a list of the reasons you can think of—such as illness, losing your job, childhood trauma, or family problems. Why do you think homeless people find it difficult to ask for help, and what could you do to help? Is there a local food bank or free meals project near you? Do you have toys and games you have outgrown that you could take to a charity shop? What would you do if you heard someone making fun of a homeless person? Things to think and talk about Things to think and talk about www.oxfordchildrens.co.uk @OUPChildrens Artwork © Julia Christians Small acts of kindness: mitzvahs ‘A mitzvah is like a religious commandment, but it’s also just doing something kind for someone.’ (p23) ‘Well, I’ve been thinking about it,’ she said. ‘I was thinking that if everyone did mitzvahs for people whenever they got the chance, they’d pass them on and do more mitzvahs, and in the end, the whole world would be doing nice things for each other.’ (p23) In the soup kitchen what is the special promise—the ‘pinky swear’—which Jordan and Rio make together? Think of all the mitzvahs they carry out—what are the effects of these kindnesses? Are there mitzvahs which you could do for people? However small, they can lead to so much more. You may not be able to make soup—but how about scones?! Take a look at this story about an 8-year-old girl and her mitzvah! https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/girl-with-autism-bakes-hundreds-of- scones-for-pensioners-during-lockdown-39139814.html Richard Brabin, the real-life ‘soup peddler’ who inspired The Soup Movement, has this quote from the singer and guitarist Jimi Hendrix about such kindnesses: “Anybody can do anything, it’s up to themselves. All it takes is the right intentions.” And Richard says about his experience: “A generous deed or an act of kindness doesn’t just make the other person happy, it gives you an unbelievable feeling of self-worth and joy. My evenings spent on the cold, dark streets of Oxford were some of my happiest in living memory.” Making a stand “Young people have, truly, the potential to change the world. Not when they get older – today.” Philippe Cousteau, environmentalist. Children and young people today are indeed taking a leading role in activism to make a stand and try to get something done about serious issues in the world. They are joining in school climate strikes, setting up campaigns, and speaking online and at rallies and conferences. In The Soup Movement, Jordan’s sister, Abi, starts a lie-down protest against the supermarket for throwing away expired food when it is still good to eat and could be offered to people who need it. She makes a film of a group of homeless people, to raise awareness of their situation and influence action to help them—and she and Jordan together organise local people to take part in a blockade against the removal of homeless people from a church hall where they have been living. . . .life is unfair, but that doesn’t mean we can’t fight it. (p241) Think of something in your local community where you could make a stand and kick-start a positive change. www.oxfordchildrens.co.uk @OUPChildrens Artwork © Julia Christians Does your school playground, or your local park, need a clean-up? Could you and your family use less electricity in your home? Does your supermarket sell things in plastic packaging that isn’t really needed? Abi laughs. ‘Would Gandhi have worried about what his mum and dad said?’ (p253) Who was Gandhi? Find out about him and the non-violent protests he carried out. Empathy As I let him cry it out, I start to realise some things about him. That this is the reason why he acts the way he does. (p263) We feel empathy when we put ourselves in other people’s shoes for a minute so that we start to understand or feel what they are experiencing, and why they might be having that experience. We often make assumptions and judgements about what someone is like, and then discover that there is so much more to know about them. Sometimes they may do hurtful things, as Jordan’s classmate Will does, yet there could be reasons behind their behaviour. Choose a character from The Soup Movement and write down what they seemed like, and what you thought about them when you first met them in the story. Then write down what you think about them at the end of the story. Do they seem different from your first impressions, now that you have learned more about them? Choose another character and have a go at comparing yourself with them. Make a list of all the ways you think you are like them, as well as all the ways you are different! Having cancer I used to think that cancer was a thing that just happened to one person, and when it’s gone, it’s gone. But it’s not. . .Cancer sucks. (p156) Jordan has been ill with leukaemia, which is a cancer of the blood. The narrative of The Soup Movement is interspersed with excerpts from the blog he wrote when he was in hospital and having treatment. We see how this illness is a painful and very difficult experience not only for Jordan but also for his family and friends. Think about his mum and dad, his sister, Abi, his friends Rio and Ross, his classmate Will. How does each of them react and deal with their feelings about someone close to them having cancer? For example, Jordan’s mum is very protective. How does experiencing this illness affect Jordan? And what effect does it have on their family and friendship dynamics? www.oxfordchildrens.co.uk @OUPChildrens Artwork © Julia Christians Having PTSD ‘The war is over for me in the real world,’ he says. ‘But up here.’ He taps his temple with two fingers. ‘It’s still going on’. (p120) PTSD is short for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, which is an anxiety disorder caused by very stressful, frightening, or distressing events. Its symptoms include flashbacks and nightmares. What has happened to Harry and how does this affect him? What makes Jordan realise that he too may have PTSD as a result of his illness? What do Harry and Jordan each find to help them? ‘Remember to Breathe.’ (p242) Rio sends this last text to Jordan. What is she referring to, and what else do you think she means by saying this? Talking to Rio, if that’s what really happened, has calmed me right down. I feel like I can do anything. (p301) After Rio dies, Jordan learns he has won an Amazing Kids Award for starting up the Soup Movement—but how can he stand in front of an applauding audience to accept it when he feels that Rio should be there too? What do you think is happening in the chapter where Jordan has fled the awards ceremony, and is in the hospital rec room with Rio beside him, talking to him? www.oxfordchildrens.co.uk @OUPChildrens Artwork © Julia Christians Shakespeare—and A Midsummer Night’s Dream So we grew together, Like to a double cherry, seeming parted, But yet an union in partition, Two lovely berries moulded on one stem. William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream This quote is right at the beginning of the book, before the story starts. Now you have read the book, why do you think the author gave us this quote to think about? Who do you think he is referring to? ‘It’s a Shakespeare play about a load of fairies and a bloke with a donkey’s head.’ (p76) Do you know the story of this play? Look it up—maybe watch a video of it, as Jordan, Neveah, and Rio do. What do you think of this description of the play by Jordan? ‘The way old Willy Shakespeare put the story together was really clever, having all these different characters plotting and scheming behind each other’s backs.’ (p168) Have a look at these other quotations from Shakespeare. What do they mean? Have you heard people say any of them? Can you think of times when you could use them? l “All that glisters is not gold” (The Merchant of Venice) l “The course of true love never did run smooth” (A Midsummer’s Night Dream) l “The world’s mine oyster” (The Merry Wives of Windsor) l “This above all, to thine own self be true” (Hamlet) l “Neither a borrower nor a lender be” (Hamlet) Having another name! ‘You look more like,’ she stopped and tapped her chin thoughtfully. ‘A Dan. Or maybe an Ollie. Yes, Ollie. I like that one.’ (p19) What does an Ollie look like to you? Or a Jordan?! What new name would you like to have, and why? What new names might you give your friends? More to talk about More to talk about www.oxfordchildrens.co.uk @OUPChildrens Artwork © Julia Christians Word/Acronym Meaning Place in the story ‘Yeah’, Harry replies, matter- of-factly. ‘Iraq. IED .’ (p68) I go to the head of the MRI. I’ve only had to go in one of those once, and I hope I never have to again. It’s like being trapped in a tubular coffin. (p63) ‘I used to make this for our peace camps outside the Air Force base,’ he says. . . (p163) Can you find out the meaning of the words or acronyms highlighted in the sentences below? Next to each one, write some notes or a sentence about how they fit into the story. Fact finding Fact finding www.oxfordchildrens.co.uk @OUPChildrens Artwork © Julia Christians Singing and music Singing and music - - and make a playlist! and make a playlist! Have you ever had the urge to sing? Like you’re feeling so good, so hopeful, that it bursts out of you? (p229) Jordan feels like this when he’s organising the blockade of the church hall and is so happy that lots of people want to join in and help. Do you get this urge sometimes? When do you feel like this, and what do you sing? For Jordan it’s I Fought the Law ! It’s crazy how music can take you right back somewhere in an instant. (p118) Hearing the song Rio reminds Jordan of Rio, and how she hated this song. Music can bring back all kinds of memories, happy and sad—when has it done this to you? Which song(s) really get you thinking about the past? I clicked the link and it took me to a Spotify playlist compiled by ‘Riooooooooooo’ . . .It was incredible. Like every song was written about us. (p277) Rio makes a playlist for Jordan to remember her and their time together—and to inspire him. What playlists do you have? What are your favourite songs and bands? Have a go at making a playlist for a friend. What do you think they would like? You could create one to help with your homework, or to get you dancing and feeling happy! I pressed play. Her band’s name is The Inside Out and the song is called ‘Stargirl’. It starts off slow, with just a soft guitar, and then her voice comes in. It’s really nice. She’s a great singer. (p77) Rio describes being in hospital as like being in a space station: able to observe the world but unable to participate. Her older sister, Simone, writes a song about it and asks for Jordan’s opinion on the song. You can listen to the song (written by Ben) here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nyfy3jE-WI www.oxfordchildrens.co.uk @OUPChildrens Artwork © Julia Christians Top tips for your own writing from Ben Davis, The Soup Movement’s author 1. Build an interesting main character. What kind of person are they? What are their strengths and weaknesses? They might be brave but arrogant. They might be kind but get scared easily. You can use real people as inspiration, too. Maybe try taking a little bit of one person’s personality and mixing it up with someone else’s and seeing what happens. 2. Decide on a goal for your main character. It might be something as big as slaying a dragon or something as normal as making new friends or winning a pie-eating contest! It’s important that the reader knows what your main character’s goal is because it makes them want to read on and see if they manage it. Which leads me to the next tip: 3. Put things in your character’s way. If they achieve their goal immediately, it’ll be really boring, so stick a bad guy in there, or a big life event. And remember those weaknesses I mentioned in tip number one? They should come into play, too. Maybe your brave warrior goes to slay the dragon but his arrogance sees him go in unprepared and come away with a burned backside? The idea is that eventually, they’ll learn from their mistakes and achieve their goal. Or maybe they don’t! It’s your story after all. 4. Build an interesting world around your story. What is the town like? Or is your story set on a distant planet where people cry when they’re happy and burp when they’re sad. Whatever your setting, try and make it as interesting as possible. 5. Above all, read as much as you can and write as much as you can. You can only get better with lots of practice. And never forget that it’s supposed to be fun! Starting and finishing I’m not that keen on cats and I’m definitely not keen on heights. But I kind of have no choice. It’s complicated. (p1) This is the first sentence of The Soup Movement. Does it catch your attention and get you wondering why Jordan is doing something as risky as climbing a tree to rescue a cat?! Once you got reading did you realise that this first chapter is headlining some important things which will become clear in the story—such as his mum’s anxiety and his mitzvah promise? Get a favourite book and have a look at its first sentence and chapter to see how the author pulls you into the story. Writing! Writing! www.oxfordchildrens.co.uk @OUPChildrens Artwork © Julia Christians ‘You’re looking at the world’s first Soup Movement restaurant.’ (p273) What if you made some changes just before the end of the story—for example, what else could have happened if Jordan’s dad hadn’t bought the hall? ‘Wow,’ I whisper. ‘This is the greatest mitzvah of all.’ (p313) This is the last sentence of The Soup Movement. How does it leave you feeling? Similes Ben Davis sometimes uses similes to enhance a description by comparing things that are alike in some way. They are often introduced by the words ‘like’ or ‘as’. Here are three of Ben’s similes in The Soup Movement —which is your favourite? l . . .in a boring waiting room, where classical music drips out of the speakers like treacle . (p6) l Will makes me feel constantly on edge, like pushing a wheelbarrow full of dynamite through a sparkler factory . (p46) l . . .when I was in hospital and sleep was always as thin as spider-spun silk. (p236) Have a go at completing these similes, thinking up your own comparisons. l My thoughts swirl like . . . l The scraps of paper fluttered in the wind like . . . l The field of blue flowers shimmered like . . . Different ways of telling the story Through The Soup Movement Ben uses a number of different formats to tell Jordan’s story, giving it variety and changes of pace. You could think about how you might use this technique in your own writing—have a look again at how Ben uses them in this book: l Main narrative , told in the first person by Jordan, in the present tense. l Hospital blog , written by Jordan when he was in hospital. l Abi’s video series , filming and talking with Harry and his friends. l Newspaper reports about the Soup Movement and the protest at the supermarket—and about Harry when he was a soldier. l Abi’s Instagram , with Soup Movement updates, and the messages Abi receives from new Soup Movement projects. l Texts from Rio to Jordan, making him think she was out of hospital. l A radio interview with Abi about the blockade at the church hall. www.oxfordchildrens.co.uk @OUPChildrens Artwork © Julia Christians Word Meaning e.g. this heinously cruel move. . . (p44) this cruel and terribly evil move. . . (Abi exaggerating about how she hates living in Pondstead!) Do you know the meaning of heinously (p44), sacrosanct (p79) or zeitgeist (p13)? Find 12 words in this story which are new to you and list them in the table below, with their page number, in alphabetical order—then look them up in a dictionary, and next to each word write down its meaning. If the dictionary gives a choice of meaning, find the meaning which works best in the sentence where you found the word. New words and their meanings New words and their meanings www.oxfordchildrens.co.uk @OUPChildrens Artwork © Julia Christians Here’s what author Ben Davis and ‘soup peddler’ Richard Brabin have to say about kindness and soup! “It’s about making a difference in whatever small way you can. It’s about being as kind as you can, and it’s about seeking that feeling, the one you get when you know you’ve done a good thing, that’s as warm and satisfying as a bowl of delicious soup.” Ben Davis, author, The Soup Movement “My absolute favourite soup recipe is Spicy Chilli Bean soup. I love hot food and always add way too much chilli powder! But you can easily cool it down by sprinkling handfuls of grated cheese on top. Sometimes my homeless friends found it too hot, and I gave them bread and bottles of water to cool their taste buds down. That’s when I learned it’s very important to provide two types of soup. If they don’t like one recipe or have an allergy to the ingredients, it’s so heartbreaking to disappoint them. You never know if they’ve eaten at all that day, so it was very important that I supplied alternatives. Luckily, most of them loved my soup and weren’t fussy eaters! You’ll find the recipe on BBC food if you’d like to try making Spicy Chilli Bean for your family one night.” The Oxford ‘Soup Peddler’, Richard Brabin What is your favourite soup? Write down the recipe for it. Find some more soup recipes—collect them from family and friends, and then design and make a ‘Soup Movement’ cookbook! You could even invent a new soup! Soup! Soup! www.oxfordchildrens.co.uk @OUPChildrens MORE BY BEN DAVIS For children My Embarrassing Dad’s Gone Viral! OUP 9780192745842 What’s that in Dog Years? OUP 9780192749215 For teenagers The Private Blog of Joe Cowley (3 more titles in this series) OUP 9780192736758 MAKING A DIFFERENCE Tim Allman & Nick Shepherd Max Takes a Stand OUP 9780192775139 Valentina Camerini & Veronica Carratello Greta’s Story Simon & Schuster 9781471190650 Innosanto Nagara A is for Activist (Board book but lots for older children to discuss) Seven Stories 9781609805395 Elaine Wickson & Chris Judge Super Stan OUP 9780192759085 HOMELESSNESS James Bowen Bob – No Ordinary Cat Hodder 9781444764901 Tony Bradman Give Me Shelter (about asylum seekers) Frances Lincoln 9781847800022 Libby Hathorn & Gregory Rogers Way Home Andersen 9781842702321 Sarah Lean A Dog Called Homeless HarperCollins 9780007455034 Kate Maryon Invisible Girl HarperCollins 9780007466900 Barbara O’Connor How to Steal a Dog Macmillan USA 9780312561123 DyAnne DiSalvo-Ryan Uncle Willie and the Soup Kitchen (set in the US, universal issues) HarperCollins 9780688152857 Jacqueline Wilson The Bed and Breakfast Star Yearling 9780440867609 HAVING A SERIOUS ILLNESS Malorie Blackman Pig-Heart Boy Corgi 9780552555616 Dan Gemeinhart The Honest Truth Chicken House 9781910002131 Sally Nicholls Ways to Live Forever Marion Lloyd 9781407159331 Tamsin Winter Being Miss Nobody Usborne 9781474927277 Artwork © Julia Christians More to Read More to Read www.oxfordchildrens.co.uk @OUPChildrens Artwork © Julia Christians X W M A X W E L L Z Q X J B Z X Q P I X V N M C B X R I O J K M W V T L O X W J R C F K R G F U Y M Z B T V Q Z B M B P D C X L Z Q V G A F X H V G X Q A B G L Y X A L E I N A D Q Z W N C W I R M H G S V J W X Z Y G X Z B G A Z F Q D C Q H P F B K F W X A E X C K L X B I K E H E L M E T W Q Z V I Z W X C J X F Q C G A S W X V H Q S P I K S E T S A W Y G C Z C F B W B W V P X C J N K P B V Y X W Z A B T Z F B X Y N E V I R A L J G F E K W H V X I Q Z X J P Q Z V X N F P F Z C P C G Z V W F C L A T I P S O H Word search Answers Word search Answers