What We Found in the Sofa and How it Saved the World

What We Found in the Sofa and How it Saved the World 

By: Henry Clark 

The Story 

While waiting for their bus to come, Freak, River, and Fiona find a mysterious couch. As they sit down on the couch to relax before their bus comes, they find a crayon and a sock in the couch cushions. The next day, Fiona reports that she looked the crayon up online, and it is worth a lot of money! The kids agree to sell it online & split the money. As they post this ad up online, the kids unknowingly become involved in a plot to take over the world. Freak, River, and Fiona, must now try to stop invaders from another world from taking over the world before it is too late.

My Thoughts for Reader's Advisory 

This science fiction novel is one of a kind. One thing that sets this book apart is its political humor. It has a little bit of everything for both kids and adults. If you do pick it up, I would recommend going into it with an open mind. Like the title, this story line is a bit over the top. I had trouble with some of these outlandish plot lines, but I do see many of my tween boys enjoying this book. 

Discussion Questions 

What We Found in the Sofa and How it Saved the World

Discussion Questions

1. What is significant about the crayon? Even though the crayon is small, it caused a lot to happen! Has there ever been a time when something big happened over something small in your life?

2. Do you think River, Freak, and Fiona would be friends even if they did not go on this adventure? How did their friendship change over the course of the book?

3. Cell phones were used to control characters in the book. What message do you think the author is trying to send with this? Do you think that cell phones control us?

4. There is a lot of futuristic technologies in this book. If you could have any of the technologies from this book, which one would it be and why?

5. In this book, a parallel world exists. If you could create a world of your own, what would be in it?  

6. Who is the leader of this group? Describe some characteristics of a good leader. Can everyone be a leader in their own way?

7. Why doesn’t Alf tell the kids everything when he first meets them? Should the kids have trusted him? Would you? Why or why not?

8. At the end of the story, River sees his parents, who died several years before. Do you think he really saw them?

9. What will happen to River, Freak, and Fiona now? Do you think that Edward Disin is really gone?

10. In the book, the couch can teleport. If you could teleport anywhere, where would you go?

More Books Like This One 

Until next time, 

Pamela