The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian - Discussion Questions

1. Why is Junior a member of 'the Black-Eye-of-the-Month Club'?

2. Why does Junior draw cartoons?

3. What happens to Oscar? What does this illustrate to the reader?

4. How is poverty a cycle for Junior's family?

5. Describe Rowdy and Junior's relationship. What do they do for each other?

6. What does Rowdy do to the Andruss brothers? Why? What does this demonstrate about his friendship with Junior?

7. Describe Mr. P.

8. Why does Junior throw his geometry book? What does it signify?

9. What is Mr. P's advice to Junior? Why does he give him this advice?

10. How do Junior's parents react to his decision to change schools? What does this show about them?

11. How does Rowdy react to Junior's decision to move schools? Why does he react in this way?

12. How do the students react to Junior at Reardan?

13. How could Junior have reacted to being called names?

14. What is significant about Junior speaking up in class?

15. How does Mr. Dodge react when Junior speaks up in class and corrects his mistake? How does this make Junior feel?

16. If you were Junior, how would you fell when being treated that way?

17. How does Junior become friends with Gordy? What do they have in common?

18. Why does Junior think of Rowdy at Thanksgiving time?

19. How does Penelope and Junior's friendship develop?

20. How do Penelope and Roger react to Junior's admission that he is poor?

21. What does Junior email Rowdy and how does he reply? Why does this make Junior laugh?

22. Why do the people at home call Junior an 'apple'?

23. Why does Junior try out for the basketball team?

24. What happens during the basketball game against Wellpinit?

25. Why does Junior describe his grandmother as tolerant?

26. How does Junior cope with his grief?

27. What happens in Mrs. Jeremy's class? Why is this so significant to Junior?

28. What is the Reardan game plan in the second basketball game against Wellpinit? Is this successful?

29. Why does Junior cry at the end of the game?

30. Do you think Rowdy and Junior will remain friends? Explain.

One Day in December - Discussion Questions

1. How would you describe the connection Laurie felt upon first seeing Jack? How do you think he perceived her when he saw her from the bus stop? Have you ever felt a similar connection with someone?

2. Why do you think Laurie couldn’t bring herself to tell Sarah that Jack was the man from the bus? What would you have done if you were Laurie?

3. Why do you think Jack doesn’t admit to Laurie that he remembers her from the bus stop?

4. Should Sarah have noticed the tension between Laurie and Jack?

5. Is it realistic for Laurie and Jack to try to be friends considering their feelings for each other? Why do you think they try so hard to remain friendly?

6. Dissatisfied with her job and feeling guilty for kissing jack, Laurie decides to leave it all behind and go to Thailand for a bit. Why was this the right choice for her? Would you have done something similar if you were in her situation?

7. Do you think Laurie truly loved Oscar or was it more the comfort he provided?

8. On page 209 Laurie notes that she’s been conflicted about “how much information constitutes the truth, how much omission constitutes lying.” Do you think she’s lying to Oscar and/or Sarah considering what she hasn’t revealed to each of them?

9. Why didn’t Jack and Sarah last? How did his accident change him?

10. Right before Laurie and Oscar’s wedding, Laurie accidentally reveals that Jack is the bus guy. Sarah is extremely upset and refuses to attend Laurie’s wedding. Do you think her reaction was extreme since they had broken up?

11. How similar are Laurie and Sarah? In what ways do their personalities differ? Which character do you identify with?

12. With Sarah’s absence, Jack fills in to give the speech. How did his speech define his love for her? Were you surprised that Oscar didn’t try to talk to Laurie about it?

13. Do you believe in love at first sight? Could Laurie love Jack after one glance?

14. What do you think would have happened if Jack and Laurie had met that day on the bus?

15. Eventually Sarah and Laurie make up, why do you think Sarah decided to forgive her?

16. What do you think of Laurie’s New Year’s resolutions evolve through the years? Do you made your New Year’s resolutions?

17. Did you like the ending? Do you think Jack and Laurie will last?

18. If One Day in December was adapted into a movie, who would you like to see play Laurie, Jack, and Sarah?

#Famous - Discussion Questions

1. Why does Rachel take Kyle’s photo?

2. Would you take a picture of your crush and upload it to social media?

3. How does Kyle know something is going on while he's working his shift at the Burger Barn?

4. How many follower Kyle has before Rachel post his photo?  How many after that?

5. What happens to Kyle the next day at school?

6. While Kyle becomes an instant sensation what happens to Rachel?

7. Have you or someone you know become the target of social media/online bullying?

8. What make Rachel think Kyle is out of her league?

9. Describe the relationship between Kyle and Emma?

10. Why does Kyle get invited to the Laura show?

11. Why do Kyle’s Mom want him to do the Laura show?  If you were Kyle would you do it?

12. Whose idea to have Kyle invited Rachel to homecoming? Why?

13. How does Racheal react when Kyle show up at her door?

14. If you were Racheal would you accept Kyle’s invitation?

15. If you were Kyle would you fall for Rachel or go back to Emma?

16. What do you think the differences between Rachel and Emma?

17. Why does Emma desperately want to get back to Kyle?

18. How does Kyle prove to Rachel that he’s really fall for her?

19. What are you favorite and least favorite details in the book?

20. What do you think of the ending? If you were the author would you end the story differently?

The Poet X - Discussion Questions

    

1. What would be your first impression when you read a novel in verse?

2. Describe Xiomara Batista?

3. What would Xiomara’s mother do if she caught her hanging outside after school?

4. What are the differences between Xiomara and her twin brother Xavier?

5. How did Xiomara first feel about the confirmation class?   

6. Who is Caridad? Why does Xiomara say Caridad and she shouldn’t be friends?

7. When Xiomara turned twelve what present she got from her brother?

8. As a teenager with a body of a full grown woman what are the problem Xiomara has to face?

9. What do you think of these verses in the poem “Church Mass”  -

“Just when Father Sean

starts talking about the Scriptures

that everything inside me

feel like a too full

too dirty kitchen sink.”

10. How did Xiomara’s teacher, Ms. Galiano change the course of Xiomara’s existence?

11. How does writing help Xiomara to release her frustration? 

12. What do you think of Aman? If you were Aman, would you throw a punch to the boy who "groped" your girl? Why and why not?

13. If you were Xiomara, would you forgive Aman?

14. How does Xiomara’s relationship with writing change her relationship with her mother over the course of the novel?

15. If your mother read then burned your journal, what would you do? 

16. What is it about writing that makes Xiomara feel brave?

17. What do you think of the bilingual phrases? If you don’t speak Spanish do you understands the story?

18. At its heart, The Poet X is a novel about teenage rebellion against strict parents and a coming-of-age story. Why this is a common theme in YA novels?