Shoebag

by Mary James

A cockroach wakes up one morning and discovers that he has turned into a boy


Shoebag likes his life as a cockroach. Like the others in his family he was named for the place of his birth—in his case, a white summer sandal. He enjoys living in a Boston apartment building with his parents, Drainboard and Under The Toaster, although they've lost countless relatives to jumping spiders, water bugs, beetles, and the deadly fumes of the dreaded exterminator. So when Shoebag discovers that he's been transformed into a person, he's horrified. But the worst is yet to come.


Shoebag is adopted by the Biddle family and renamed Stu Bagg. Mr. Biddle enrolls him in Beacon Hill Elementary School, and every night for one hour before bedtime, he watches television with Eunice "Pretty Soft" Biddle, his new seven-year-old sister, who loves the color pink and is the star of toilet paper commercials. At school, Shoebag tries to fit in as a human, while back home he tries to protect his insect family from spiders, cats, and the Zapman.


Then Shoebag discovers a secret formula that could change him back into a roach. All he has to do is choose.  (summary from Google Books)


Book Club Materials

  • Suggested Reading Schedule

  • Reading Guides with Comprehension Questions

  • Vocabulary and Reading Activities

  • Writing/Multimodal Project Prompts

  • Live Discussion of the Book

  • Final Project Feedback Rubrics

Ages:

8-13

Dates: 

November 1 - 30, 2026

Live Meeting Information: 

Friday, December 4, 2026 

1pm Eastern / 12pm Central / 11am Mountain / 10am Pacific Time

(December date is to accommodate for the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday the week before)

Live sessions last about one hour. Those who cannot attend the live session will have access to a slide presentation summary after the class ends.

Supplies: 

  • A copy of the book Shoebag by Mary James / M. E. Kerr (ISBN: 9780590430302 or other editions).
    Used and borrowed copies will work just fine! If your learner is going to participate in final projects and reading guides, I recommend having a physical copy even if they primarily read the ebook or audiobook. (    Dayla Learning Bookshop Link)

  • Zoom account (free) for live discussion participants

  • Microphone and camera recommended for live discussion participants

  • PDF reader

  • Access to printer recommended


Content Notes: 

This book is written for a middle grade audience and is generally appropriate for all readers. Content includes: age-appropriate depictions of fear of being hunted/eaten (as cockroaches), spiders, danger to family, uncaring family members, bullying, gender policing (of boys and girls). 


Positive representation: positive masculinity, critical thinking about why humans label some animals as “bad”, perspective taking practice.


Families are always encouraged to pre-screen materials if they have concerns. 

Basic Enrollment

Meet Your Teacher!

Sabrina Weiss

Dr. Weiss has been teaching and facilitating online courses and enrichment activities for over 5 years and specializes in thought-provoking discussions and topics. Dr. Sabrina Weiss earned a B.S. from Stanford’s Science, Technology, and Society program, an M.S. in Bioethics from Albany Medical College, and a Ph.D. in Science and Technology Studies at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and is a former U.S. Naval Officer who served overseas in Japan. They love fantasy, science fiction, and gaming (video and tabletop), and enjoy encouraging learners to pursue their passions as a way to build skills.