Characters & Motivation
In The Wild Robot, Roz forms bonds with specific animal individuals rather than treating them all the same. Identify one animal Roz forms a close bond with and explain how that relationship changes Roz’s priorities.
Roz bonds with Brightbill (the gosling). Caring for Brightbill makes Roz prioritize protection and learning parenting behaviors, shifting her focus from self-preservation to caregiving.
In Hatchet, Brian’s small mistakes teach him survival lessons. Identify one mistake and explain what Brian learns from it.
Mistake: trusting the weather—Brian learns to plan for changing conditions (rule: expect change and prepare)
In Rain, Reign, homophones and strict rules frame Rose’s world. Identify one way the author uses wordplay or language structure as a symbol of control.
Wordplay: Rose’s focus on homophones shows her reliance on order; controlling language mirrors her need for predictability.
In A Long Walk to Water, knowledge of Sudan’s recent history clarifies character choices. Identify one historical factor that shapes Salva’s decisions.
Civil war and displacement shape Salva’s moves; knowledge of regional conflicts explains refugee routes and aid structures he later navigates.
Which author on the list frequently writes about children who become accidental leaders after crisis? Name one title and explain the pattern briefly.
Gary Paulsen (Hatchet) — many children become leaders due to crisis-induced problem solving
Alan Gratz (Two Degrees) -- many children become leaders due to crisis-induced problem solving
In Wonder, describe how Julian’s actions toward Auggie reveal more about Julian’s family influence than about Auggie himself.
Julian mirrors his parents’ fear of difference; for example, his bullying reflects home-taught intolerance or pressure to fit in socially.
In City of Ember, the discovery of instructions is pivotal. Explain the chain reaction (cause → effect) that follows finding the instructions.
Finding instructions → Ember citizens learn their origin
In The BFG, Roald Dahl uses invented words and syntax. Infer how this playful language affects readers’ perception of the BFG’s intelligence and heart.
Invented words create childlike wonder and show that the BFG’s odd syntax hides deep empathy—readers see intelligence through kindness rather than formal speech.
In Number the Stars, the story depends on knowledge of WWII-era Denmark. What is one way Danish culture or community structure helps the escape plans succeed?
Danish resistance networks and close-knit neighborhoods enable secret routes and hiding people—community trust is a cultural asset.
Several authors on the list use animals as mirrors for human society. Choose two books from the list and infer one shared insight those animal stories offer about human behavior.
The One and Only Ivan and The Wild Robot — both use animal perspectives to highlight empathy and critique human mistreatment of nature; shared insight: humans often fail to recognize nonhuman agency.
In The One and Only Ivan, Ivan chooses silence at times and breaks it at others. How is silence is a meaningful survival strategy for Ivan in the mall environment?
Silence protects Ivan from punishment and reduces attention from cruel shoppers; it also lets him observe and learn before acting.
In Number the Stars, small deceptions protect many people. What is one deceptive action from the story?
Deceptive action: fabricating routes for refugees
In The Cay, sensory description of sound and touch is emphasized. Why are non-visual senses so important and how does this choice deepen theme?
Emphasizing sound and touch immerses the blind protagonist’s world, showing that connection and survival rely on non-visual perception.
In Hana’s Suitcase, artifacts drive understanding of the Holocaust. Explain how a single artifact can changes a child’s relationship to history in Hana’s Suitcase.
Artifact effect: a child seeing Hana’s suitcase creates personal connection to a distant event, transforming abstract history into concrete human story and empathy.
Compare narrative tone in Wonder and The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle. Infer how each narrator’s tone shapes reader sympathy and mention one textual choice that produces that tone.
Wonder (Auggie’s wry, reflective tone) vs. Mason Buttle (literal, earnest tone) — Wonder uses humor plus frankness to build sympathy; Mason’s plain speech makes readers supply missing context, deepening empathy. Example choice: dialog style vs. sparse internal narration.
In The Breadwinner, Parvana often takes risks for family. What personal value or belief Parvana does develop because of those risks and cite a supporting situation from the story.
Parvana develops courage and a sense of duty (e.g., retrieving medicine or money for family), shown when she disguises herself to earn wages.
In Esperanza Rising, a single financial loss forces family role shifts. How does this loss reshape Esperanza’s future decisions?
Financial loss (loss of wealth/house) → Esperanza must work and learn new skills
In The Wild Robot, the island’s changing seasons function as more than background. Which season signals a turning point in Roz’s development and explain how.
Winter challenges survival and forces Roz to rely on community or show her vulnerability, marking growth.
In The War That Saved My Life, evacuation during wartime reshapes identities. Explain one identity shift a child undergoes when relocated to the countryside and explain why.
Identity shift: a city child learns self-reliance and discovers strengths overlooked in urban life because rural caregivers treat them differently.
Many authors use first-person limited narration to create intimacy. Pick one book on the list that uses this technique and infer one scene where first-person viewpoint intensifies drama or tension.
Choose Hatchet (first-person Brian): the airplane crash scene is more intense because readers experience panic and sensory detail directly from Brian’s viewpoint.
In The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle, explain how Mason’s literal understanding of rules both helps and hurts him socially; give one specific consequence.
Mason’s literal rule-following helps him stay safe and organized but makes social cues hard; consequence: peers misinterpret him or exclude him when he cannot "read between lines."
In The False Prince, the training of impostors creates moral complexity. Identify one moral dilemma created by the training and infer how it affects the chosen impostor’s sense of self.
training boys to lie for a throne → impostor must compromise honesty and identity, leading to identity crisis and possible remorse when truth emerges.
In The One and Only Ivan, repeated images of frames and cages recur. Beyond physical captivity, what does imagery of frames and cages imply?
Frames/cages imply not only physical captivity but also curated memory, performance expectations, and the boundary between audience and subject.
In Esperanza Rising, migrant labor systems affect family fate. Infer how the structure of seasonal work changes Esperanza’s worldview about justice and fairness.
Seasonal migrant labor normalizes instability and shapes Esperanza’s view that fairness requires solidarity and collective action.
Several titles use creative expression (art, stories, music) as a survival strategy. Choose two books from the list and infer exactly how creative expression functions to protect identity or build resistance.
The One and Only Ivan (Ivan’s paintings preserve memory and inspire action) + A Long Walk to Water (oral histories preserve community memory) — inference: creative work records injustice and motivates collective repair.