CHARACTERS
This character shows his loyalty to his brother by sneaking him food and supplies.
Who is Gordy
Why do Margaret and Elizabeth feel differently about Stuart after seeing him in the hut?
What is they realize he is human, not just a criminal?
Margaret and Elizabeth originally want to follow the boys to do this.
What is spy on them?
What emotion does Margaret feel when she realizes Stuart is in the hut?
What is fear and anger?
Margaret and Elizabeth originally dislike Stuart because of this reason.
What is they think he is a coward and a criminal?
Elizabeth and Margaret originally destroy the hut to get revenge on this person.
Who is Gordy?
How does the girls’ discovery of Stuart challenge their beliefs about war?
What is they thought all soldiers were heroes, but now they see the war’s personal cost?
Gordy faces his own conflict between protecting his brother and avoiding this serious consequence.
What is getting caught and being punished for harboring a deserter?
Why do Gordy and Doug take the risk of visiting Stuart regularly?
What is they feel responsible for protecting him?
Margaret and Elizabeth recognize Stuart because of this detail from childhood.
What is he was teased for being weak and soft?
This character smokes a cigarette with his friends in the hut, showing he’s more than just a school bully.
Who is Doug?
What would have happened if Margaret and Elizabeth had reported Stuart right away?
What is Stuart would have been arrested, and Gordy might have faced consequences too?
Margaret feels guilt about the hut for this reason.
What is she realizes it was Stuart’s only shelter and that he is suffering?
How does Stuart's personality play an important part about him being a deserter?
What is his weakness and inability to be a fighter (sissy) doesn't allow for him to survive in the battlefield?
Stuart’s physical appearance makes the girls realize this about his life in hiding.
What is he is starving and struggling to surviv
Margaret’s mother tells her about this person’s shoe trick to help them sleep.
Who is Jimmy?
How does Gordy’s kindness toward Stuart change how Margaret sees him?
What is she realizes he isn’t just a bully—he is capable of loyalty and compassion?
Margaret has conflicting emotions when she thinks about her brother and Stuart because of this reason.
What is she wants to support the war but also feels sympathy for Stuart?
How does Elizabeth’s reaction to Stuart differ from Margaret’s, and what does this say about their personalities?
What is Elizabeth is more outspoken and certain that Stuart is a coward who deserves to be punished, while Margaret is more thoughtful and conflicted. This shows that Elizabeth tends to see things in black and white, while Margaret is starting to understand that real life is more complicated.
The girls’ decision to keep Stuart’s secret marks a turning point in their relationship with this character.
Who is Gordy?
This character lost her husband in the war and she has her little baby to take care of.
Who is Barbara?
If you were Margaret, what would you have done after discovering Stuart? Explain why
Open-ended answer; possible responses: kept his secret, told an adult, confronted Gordy, etc.
Margaret’s internal conflict about war is heightened because of this personal connection.
What is her brother Jimmy fighting in the war?
How does Stuart’s situation connect to the larger themes of war?
What is it shows that war isn’t just about bravery but also suffering and moral dilemmas?
Margaret realizes that Stuart’s past reputation as a coward actually means this about him.
What is he was never meant to be a soldier?