The Cousins

by Kate M. McManus

Three cousins who barely know each other have been brought together under mysterious circumstances.

When the rich grandmother they've never met sends them each letters inviting them to her island resort for the summer, their parents are ecstatic about the idea of getting back into their mom's good graces — and possibly her will.

What comes next, though, is a twisted mystery that needs to be solved, and family secrets won't stay hidden for much longer.

How Self-Paced Book Club Classes Work

Participation in the self-paced book club includes immediate access to a set of resources and activities to be completed at your own pace.

Families are welcome to use as many or as few of the suggested resources and activities as they'd like to fit their interest and schedules.

Book Club Materials

  • Suggested Reading Schedule

  • Reading Guides with Comprehension Questions (PDF and Google Slides)

  • Vocabulary and Reading Activities

  • Writing/Multimodal Project Prompts

  • Live and Video Discussion of the Book

  • Final Project Feedback Rubrics

Ages:

13-18

Supplies:

  • A copy of the book The Cousins (ISBN: 9780525708032) .
    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)
  • PDF reader
  • Access to printer recommended



Content Notes: 

This book is a teen-appropriate introduction to mystery tropes. Families should be aware that it does contain non-graphic descriptions of a past murder and attempted murder. The teen characters find themselves facing dangerous situations. There are also instances of parental manipulation and psychological abuse.

Pricing options

This class uses a sliding fee scale for pricing options in order to build more equitable access to these educational opportunities.

Meet Your Teacher!

Michelle Parrinello-Cason

Dr. Michelle Parrinello-Cason is the founder of Dayla Learning. She has a PhD in rhetoric and composition, a passion for helping students find their writing voice, and two homeschooling children of her own. Michelle has taught in a wide variety of settings including six years as a full-time college professor. She has been teaching virtual and in-person homeschool writing and humanities classes for more than five years. Michelle believes in meeting students where they are and — as any of her previous students will tell you — believes deeply that there is no such thing as a bad rough draft!