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Do you think Byron is a good person?
Explain you reasoning.

Do you believe it was fair for Dad to shave off
Byron’s hair?

What does it mean to be fair or just?

Momma and Dad had threatened to send Byron to Grandma
Sands’ house many times, but the kids never believed it would
really happen. What are the 3 reasons Kenny lists to show he
believes that his parents were bluffing?

What are the reasons that Momma gives for why Byron has to
stay with Grandma Sands?

When Dad first surprised the family with the new Ultra-Glide,
what was Momma’s reaction? And why did she react this way?

On page 119, Grandma Sands tells Momma that stuff on TV
isn’t happening near her and that it’s safe and quiet in her
neighborhood. Why would Grandma say this?

How do you think the Watson children will like Birmingham?

Imagine you are Grandma Sands. Write a
letter to Byron explaining how he will be
expected to behave at her house in
Birmingham. Describe how Birmingham
will be different from Flint.

Eavesdrop

Peninsula

Seniority

Why did Momma and Dad make Byron sleep in their room the
night before the big trip?

What would have given Momma and Dad the impression that
Byron may try to run away?

How does Kenny really feel about sending Byron to Grandma
Sands’ house for the summer?

Why doesn’t Joetta like the angel that Mrs. Davidson gives her?

Why would the color of the angel’s face be a problem for
Joetta?

Why would Momma and Dad decide that sending Byron to
Birmingham for the summer is a good idea?

Joetta put the angel that Mrs. Davidson
gave her as a gift in her sock drawer
because she didn’t like it. Have you ever
received a gift that you didn’t like? How did
you react and what did you do?

Sanitation

Facilities

Amount

Sea level
How does Kenny figure out that once Momma
falls asleep Dad plans to drive much farther than
her schedule?
 Why are the children scared when the family
stops in Tennessee?
 Why doesn’t Dad want to stick with Momma’s
plan to take several days to drive to
Birmingham?
 Why does Momma get angry about this?
 Why is Byron nervous about being in the
Appalachian Mountains, especially in the dark?


At this point in the story, with which
character do you most closely relate with?
What similarities do you and the character
share?

Stereotype is an oversimplified
generalization about a person or group of
people without consideration for individual
differences. Even seemingly positive
stereotypes that link a person or group to a
specific positive trait can have negative
consequences.

Examples:
 Gender:
▪ Girls are not good at sports.
▪ Boys are messy or dirty.
 Culture
▪ All Americans are fat and lazy
▪ All Muslims are terrorists
▪ All people from Texas are cowboys
 Groups of Individuals:
▪
▪
▪
▪
All politician are greedy or liars.
All blondes are dumb
All children do not like healthy food
All librarians wear glass, are old, and always have a frown on their
face

What are some unfair stereotypes that you
can think of? Have you ever been
stereotyped? How did it make you feel? What
are some ways that we can avoid making
stereotypes?