Survival Stories Book Groups

A Girl Named Disaster 

1. In what ways could Nhamo's life be considered a "disaster"? I mean, why would a mother choose such a name for her child? 

2. Even though this story is set in Mozambique and Zimbabwe, there are elements of familiarity to the narrative line. What stories do you know from western culture that this reminds you of?  How do these stories help to anchor your reading experience?

3. In our discussion of Tangerine, we looked at family relationships, the importance of individuality versus community, and the relationship to the environment. Examine these things with respect to Nhamo. What values seem to be emphasized? Do they seem to subvert or support white western (masculine) values? 

4. Farmer spends a lot of time writing about dreams, visions, and storytelling. How does this fit into a schema or theory of multicultural literary values?

My Side of the Mountain 

1. This book, though not quite fantasy, isn't very realistic either. What is realistic; what is wish-fulfillment? How do the fantasy and the reality work together to appeal "to the bit of Sam Gribley in the children and adults around me now" (that quotation is taken from the dedication)? 

2.Why is point of view important in this story? Almost every chapter is entitled with an "I learn something new...." sentence. Can you imagine the story told by an omniscient narrator? What would change in terms of independence, authority, and agency? How would the feeling change?

3. What function do the pictures serve?

4. This is a people vs. people, human vs. nature story. Describe the terms of each conflict. How does Sam end up in relation to his fellow people? In relation to nature? What does this suggest about his value system--in other words, what does Sam value in life? 

Hatchet 

1. This story seems to work on both literal and symbolic levels. How is Brian's experience a metaphor for other things going on in his life?

2. Examine the portrayal of gender in this book. Make a list of all the characters--animal, people, nature, etc.--that seem to be gendered male and all those gendered female. Think inclusively here--for instance, the hole in the rock where he makes his camp is like a womb. The turtle is a mother who lays her eggs and then leaves them to their fate--so she's providing food for Brian, but also is a metaphor for a certain kind of mothering. List the qualities--helpful, non-helpful, powerful, etc.--of each thing. Draw some conclusions about Paulsen's ideology of gender.

3. This book centers around a human vs. nature conflict. How does Brian ultimately see himself  with respect to nature before the moose and the tornado? After? Why is that day an important one for him, symbolically speaking?

Julie of the Wolves

1. What skills or personal attributes does Julie need to get along with the wolves? Why would these skills be less useful with humans?

2. At what point does Julie stop using English? Why? 

3. This book is an early example of ecofeminism. Based on what you learned from reading the book, what are some of the central interests and beliefs of that theory?

4. In what ways is this book didactic? In what ways might it be considered subversive, especially for girls?

Island of the Blue Dolphins

1. What are Karana's key character traits? She seems to focus more on what she does rather than who she is, so you'll have to extrapolate her character from her actions.

2. What does Karana value? Where do those values come from, and how do they develop over the course of the novel? Which values does she hold on to over her 18 years of living alone, and which does she change or abandon?

3. Describe Karana's relationship to her ancestors. Would you characterize her sense of personal memory as strong or weak? Similarly, how would you characterize her sense of cultural memory?

4. What bothers you about this book? What did you find satisfying? How do you account for these things?