General directions: After you have done the first question, read through the rest and answer them in the order that your group finds most interesting. (So that if you don't have time to finish, the boring ones are left.)

The Watsons Go to Birmingham 1963: A Novel

1. I'd like you to start with a general discussion of the book. Note (as in write down, with names attached) the things that each of you found interesting, surprising, disturbing, important, as well as those things that you wish would have been different.  From your general discussion, generate and answer at least four discussion type questions.

2. This books starts out very funny, and ends up very serious. What do you think of this as a rhetorical strategy? How does the beginning help you process the ending? Did you feel ready for it? If so, why? If not, comment on its impact and how that might be realistic, might say something about the intrusion of tragedy into everyday life.

3. Why is the Wool Pooh so significant? How is it a metaphor for violence in the book--not just the way Kenny sees it, but the way an outside reader interprets it?

4. In what ways does this book promote greater understanding and tolerance of diversity, and in what ways does it perpetuate racial division?

Bat 6

1. I'd like you to start with a general discussion of the book. Note (as in write down, with names attached) the things that each of you found interesting, surprising, disturbing, important, as well as those things that you wish would have been different.  From your general discussion, generate and answer at least four discussion type questions.

2. What does this book seem to be saying about continuing racial hatred? How is it perpetuated?  Do you get the sense that the author sees it more as a mental defect or a social problem? Whose responsibility is it to overcome racism?

3. What stereotypes of Japanese Americans get portrayed in the book? Are they positive or negative? If you find them positive, does that make stereotyping okay?

4. What seems to be the role of fathers in this book?

5. In what ways does this book promote greater understanding and tolerance of diversity, and in what ways does it perpetuate racial division?

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

1. I'd like you to start with a general discussion of the book. Note (as in write down, with names attached) the things that each of you found interesting, surprising, disturbing, important, as well as those things that you wish would have been different.  From your general discussion, generate and answer at least four discussion type questions.

2. Discuss the bus incident. Fortunately no one got hurt, but they might have. Were the Logans justified in doing what they did? Work out and consider carefully arguments for both sides.

3. Do you note any dissonance between expectations of class and race in this book--anything you didn't expect? Explain.

4. In what ways does this book promote greater understanding and tolerance of diversity, and in what ways does it perpetuate racial division?

Dragonwings

1. I'd like you to start with a general discussion of the book. Note (as in write down, with names attached) the things that each of you found interesting, surprising, disturbing, important, as well as those things that you wish would have been different.  From your general discussion, generate and answer at least four discussion type questions.

2. How did it feel to be continually referred to as a demon? To have cheese disparaged? To have the tables turned?

3. What stereotypes of Chinese Americans are portrayed in this book, positive and negative? Does the presence of positive stereotypes mitigate the negative ones?

4. In what ways does this book promote greater understanding and tolerance of diversity, and in what ways does it perpetuate racial division?

Walk Two Moons

1. I'd like you to start with a general discussion of the book. Note (as in write down, with names attached) the things that each of you found interesting, surprising, disturbing, important, as well as those things that you wish would have been different.  From your general discussion, generate and answer at least four discussion type questions.

2. Discuss hair in this book. For instance, how does the difference between Sal's hair and Phoebe's hair reflect their personalities? Why do both mothers get haircuts? Why is that significant? How does hair act as an "objective correlative" (a concrete expression of abstract ideas) in this book?

3. Discuss names and naming in this book. First how do the names Winterbottom and Mrs. Cadaver relate to the characters? Second, what significance does naming hold for Sal--why does she use different names among her different friends and relations? Third, what about her discussion of group naming? Why does she prefer Indian to Native American? What does this tell you about the politics of naming--who gets to choose names and how theat shows who has power?

4. Talk about the problems of mothering in this book. How do the different mothers challenge stereotypes? What is the effect of these challenges?