Book guide: Take THE chance, Charlotte!
QUESTIONS ABOUT ANGER, GOALS AND EMOTIONS
1. Charlotte gets very angry on set. She screams at the opponent and punches her in the stomach. What do you think about it? Can you understand why she gets angry? How was she?
could do instead?
2. The referee gives both Charlotte and the opponent a red card. What do you think about it?
3. In the book, Jess says sorry for pulling Charlotte's hair. Do you find it difficult to say sorry?
4. When Jess says sorry, Charlotte says it doesn't matter anymore. How do you usually feel when someone says sorry to you?
5. Charlotte really wants to be selected for the girls' national team. How do you think it would have felt if she hadn't come along? Would she have continued to fight do you think? How can one think when one encounters adversity?
6. The book is called "Take the chance" - why can it sometimes be difficult to take the chance, do you think? Have you ever felt that way?
7. When Charlotte is at the audition, she gets nervous. Very nervous! Have you ever felt that way?
8. For Charlotte, talking to her mother helped. Is there someone you would find helpful to talk to? Or do you have any tricks to be less nervous or stressed?
QUESTIONS OF HISTORY, ESCAPE AND EMBARRASSMENT
9. In the book, the students are assigned to write about something historical that they themselves have some kind of connection to. What did you choose to write about?
10. In Charlotte's work, she talks about what it has been like for women who play football and how it has changed. Why do you think it was so difficult for women to play football in the past?
11. Julia writes her work about the war in Kurdistan and about how her father was forced to flee his home as a child. If you had to escape, what do you think you would take with you?
12. Charlotte happens to drop in on an uncle who is changing in the store. She thinks it's embarrassing. Have you ever been involved in something that you thought was embarrassing? What happened then? Why do you think we find certain things embarrassing?
ABOUT GOAL ORIENTATION
Being goal oriented is about several things. Partly it is about having the ability to formulate one
goal, to be able to express either to yourself or to others what it is you want. So to have a clear and strong will. It is also about fighting on, despite opposition and not being discouraged by adversity. There are plenty of children, young people and adults who, regardless of their gender identity, are goal-oriented - but the ingredients that make it easier are abilities that are more evident in what boys and men are more often allowed to practice, due to gender norms. These are also qualities that boys and men more often get mirrored, which is why it is important to have books where girls are also portrayed as goal-oriented. Like this.
ABOUT GIRLS & FOOTBALL
Despite soccer being one of the biggest sports for girls, there are almost no books that reflect them. However, there are many books about boys who play football. Like other things in
society, such as media attention, awards and galas etc., this gives a signal to girls about how we value their interest. It is no coincidence that women have a much harder time making a living from their gambling than men. There is also a tendency to let books where girls play soccer focus on other things, like makeup, love, or other relationship drama. In the books about Charlotte, it is football that is central, although of course exciting moments and interesting relationships are woven into it. The books are also based on a real person, which indicates that it is possible to bet on football as a career - regardless of gender.
