"I wonder if anyone ever actually thinks of him- or herself as cool. I’m constantly surprised to discover that people I thought of as being the epitome of cool in high school felt just as gangly and unwieldy as I did. Perhaps that’s why it seems like “cool” isn’t really a label you can give yourself.

     I guess if I got the opportunity to be the Webster’s Dictionary of redefining “cool” for small, impressionable children, I would want to tell them that the coolest thing you can be is happy. When you’re happy with yourself, and comfortable with who you are, that’s when other people begin to like you the most, and even look up to you. Nothing else is half so important as being happy to be you. It’s not exactly a new thought, but it’s a lesson that takes a long time to sink in."                 Lisa Graff

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Activity One

Calista is a little big strange, or “off her rocker” (page 78), like Albie’s dad says, but she has proven to be very good for Albie to have in his life. What do her actions tell you about what she is really like, particularly in regards to how she feels about Albie? Think of three different times Calista's actions really tell you what she's like. Tell me the action, the page it was on, and what it tells you about Calista in each situation.

Activity Two

Albie is finally a part of the “cool” crowd at school. “Cool” is a subjective adjective, which means that what a person thinks is cool is unique to that person. It depends on individual people to come up with their own meanings of the word, based upon their own opinions. 

Cool means something different to everyone. Write what each of these people's definition of "cool" is. The characters are: Darren, Albie, Betsy and yourself. Using a sheet of paper, divide it into four sections. In each of the sections, write the person who you're telling what cool means, then write at least two sentences about what you think it is. It would be even "cooler" if you added pictures.

Skill Three

One theme that you may have noticed in this novel is that a person is worth more than just his or her intelligence. In other words, just because a person is smart does not mean this person is kind and worthy of your friendship! How does this theme apply to the novel? In other words, how does Lisa Graff show this theme in her story, Absolutely Almost? 

On a full sheet of paper, explain why a person is worth more than just his or her “intelligence.”