If you enjoyed Because of Mr. Terupt or Fish in a Tree, then you're in for a treat with Save Me a Seat! This touching and humorous novel explores friendship, cultural differences, and the challenges of fitting in. It's perfect for upper elementary and middle school students and offers a unique dual narrative, following the perspectives of two very different characters over the course of one unforgettable school week.
Fast Facts About the Book
Title: Save Me a Seat
Authors: Gita Varadarajan and Sarah Weeks
Genre: Middle-Grade Fiction
Age Range: 8-12 years
Number of Pages: 216
Publication Year: 2016
Themes: Friendship, Empathy, Cultural Identity, Bullying, Social Pressures
Save Me a Seat is a heartfelt, humorous, and thoughtful novel that will resonate with students navigating friendships and social challenges. Whether you’re teaching lessons about empathy, celebrating cultural diversity, or exploring themes of acceptance, this book provides the perfect starting point. The characters of Ravi and Joe will inspire readers to look beyond appearances and form connections with others, no matter how different they seem on the surface.
Novel Overview
Save Me a Seat takes readers through the lives of Ravi and Joe—two fifth graders who couldn’t seem more different. Ravi, an Indian immigrant, is eager to prove himself at his new school, but his excitement quickly fades when things don’t go as planned. Meanwhile, Joe, a quiet student with auditory processing challenges, is struggling with loneliness and bullies. As both boys face tough moments during their first week of school, they discover that despite their differences, they may have more in common than they thought. #savemeaseat
Chasing Chapters: Plot Summary
The story alternates between Ravi and Joe’s perspectives, giving readers insight into their thoughts and struggles. Ravi expects to excel academically and socially, but things are different from what he imagined in America—his classmates don’t understand his culture, and even his teacher misjudges his abilities. On the other hand, Joe, a lifelong student at the school, feels invisible and isolated, except when the class bully makes him a target. As their paths cross throughout the week, Ravi and Joe gradually realize that teamwork and friendship can help them overcome their struggles. #middlegradebooks
Share Save Me a Seat comprehension questions and 1-sentence summaries of every chapter with your class.
Educational Value
Save Me a Seat is perfect for fostering discussions about empathy, diversity, and inclusion. Through Ravi and Joe’s personal journeys, students learn the importance of understanding others’ perspectives and standing up against bullying. This novel also addresses cultural identity and the challenges of adapting to new environments, making it a great resource for classrooms with diverse student populations.
The dual narration allows readers to explore two very different viewpoints, helping them reflect on how misunderstandings happen and how kindness can bridge gaps. It’s an excellent book for promoting social-emotional learning (SEL) by encouraging students to think about how they treat others and handle social pressures. #diversebooks
Classroom Activities to Try
Writing Prompt:
Write about a time when you were nervous about something new, like Joe and Ravi. How did you handle it? What advice would you give to someone else in that situation?
Discussion Questions:
How are Joe and Ravi’s experiences similar? How are they different?
What role does the bully, Dillon, play in both boys’ stories?
How do Ravi’s thoughts about Joe change by the end of the book?
What does Save Me a Seat teach us about standing up for ourselves and others?
Project Idea:
Have students create a “Culture Collage” that represents Ravi’s background and compare it to their own experiences. They can include food, traditions, or family values. This project will spark conversations about diversity and respect for different cultures.
Extension Activities
At the end of the book, Ravi and Joe learn the value of friendship. Use this theme to create a classroom “Friendship Tree.” Give each student a leaf-shaped piece of paper and ask them to write one way they can show kindness to a new friend. Collect the leaves and attach them to a large tree poster. This display will reinforce the importance of empathy and inclusion in your classroom community.
Try cooking a recipe from the back of the book. If you’re reading this novel with homeschoolers or students in an after-school book club, prepare one of these recipes or have students share a recipe from their own family’s heritage. Find more extension activities in my Save Me a Seat resource.
Page-Turning Puzzles: Novel Trivia
How closely have you read the text in Gita Varadarajan's and Sarah Weeks' novel Save Me a Seat? Can you remember tiny details to answer the trivia questions below? #noveltrivia
What is the name of Joe’s school?
How many different bow ties did Mr. Barnes wear while Joe was in his class?
Where did Ravi’s family move from?
How many years in a row did Ravi win the Math Olympiad?
What is Joe’s favorite school lunch food?
"According to Ravi’s presentation, how many razor-sharp teeth do leeches have?"
Find the answers to these trivia questions inside this Save Me a Seat resource.
Hear about this Save Me a Seat Book Study from educators like you!
⭐️ “This resource is AMAZING! Differentiate in every way possible. I love the sample responses and my students love coloring the stickers to add to their collections.”
⭐️ “I love Circus Mirandus and these worksheets were the perfect companion to the book. I can’t wait to purchase another novel study from MB Creations!”
⭐️ “I am blown away by this amazing resource! It is SO COMPLETE! I didn’t have to add anything extra. I printed the workbooks and assessments and we had an amazing book study.”
Use this Save Me a Seat Novel Study in so many ways!
✅ Differentiate to meet the needs of all learners in your book club. Gifted students can complete projects about the novel as they read. Language learners can benefit from the character traits page with pictures and descriptions.
✅ Assign comprehension worksheets to students for homework. Have them take notes and come prepared to discuss this chapter book in class.
✅ Invite students to read Circus Mirandus in small groups and complete these worksheets and discussion activities together.
Find answers to your questions about this Save Me a Seat Book Study:
✋ What is Save Me a Seat?
This realistic fictional chapter book, written by Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan, tells of two boys with different backgrounds who stand up to a bully at school. It is written for grades 3-5 with a Lexile level of 780.
✋ What exactly is included?
Check out the preview! The detailed table of contents can help answer your questions about this book study.
✋ Why should I use this resource?
2-in-1 deal: This resource includes pages specific to the book, Save Me a Seat, as well as ALL the pages in my Novel Study for Any Book resource. Students will be able to write and discuss facts about the author, novel, plot, setting, characters, and theme. You can edit the projects and discussion pages on PowerPoint and assign all worksheets digitally if you choose. Students will have fun collecting stickers when they finish projects related to the book and you can grade all worksheets with the answer keys and sample responses! #novelstudyforanybook