Chapter 39—Homecoming
Mrs. Winterbottom was very concerned about appearing “respectable”. What do you
think it means to be “respectable” here at school and in your community?
What did Mrs. Winterbottom tell the family about why she left?
Why do you think Mrs. Winterbottom was so concerned with being respectable?
Chapter 40—The Gift
Why did you think Mrs. Partridge was leaving the notes for Phoebe? Why do you think
they were particularly helpful to her?
Explain how Mrs. Winterbottom has changed throughout the novel. Is this change for the
better? Explain.
Chapter 41—The Overlook
When Sal leaves with the car, she thinks to herself, “In the course of a lifetime there are
things that matter.” (Pg. 255) What did Sal have to do all alone that mattered to her?
Why was this so important?
Chapter 42—The Buss and the Willow
“I looked all around and then up into the willow that leaned toward the river. The
birdsong came from the top of the willow and I did not want to look too closely, because
I wanted it to be the tree that was singing.” (Pg. 263) Why did Sal say happy birthday to
the willow? Why are the singing trees so important to her?
Chapter 43—Our Gooseberry
When Sal and Grams got back to the hotel that night, Sals says to Gramps, “This ain’t
your marriage bed.” Later Gramps says, “But it will have to do.” What is so significant
about these words at this time?
Chapter 44—Bybanks
Sal says, “It seems to me that we can’t explain all the truly awful things in the world like
war and murder and brain tumors, and we can’t fix these things, so we look at the
frightening things that are closer to us and we magnify them until they burst open.” (Pg.
273) What sort of things did Phoebe and Sal magnify throughout the story? How did this
help them deal with their more serious problems?