Chapters 1-3

1. What are your impressions of the Logans and their life?  Include both positive and negative influences in your response.

2. Which character are you most drawn to?  Explain why.

3. What happened to the Berry family?  What does this event tell you about racism in the South in the 1930s?

4. Why do you think Papa brought Mr. Morrison to stay with the family?

5. What do you think caused everyone in the room to become nervous when Papa said, “In this family, we don’t shop at the Wallace store?”

6. How do Stacey’s actions reflect the values that he has learned from his family?

7. Think of times that adults have “protected” you, or a young person you know, by not sharing upsetting information.  Should Mama and Big Ma be more open with Cassie and Stacey?  Explain.

8. Why does the driver of the white children’s school bus splash the Logan children with mud?

Chapters 4-8

1. What are your thoughts about T.J. now?

2. What is your first clue that T.J. is big trouble?  Do you think it’s wise that Stacey is friends with him?

3. At this point in the novel, how much danger do you think the Logans are in?  Rate their level of danger on a scale of 1 (none at all) to 10 (a great deal), and explain why you chose that rating.

4. Literary Concept:  Character Motivation  Motivation is the combination of reasons why characters to what they do. Think about why mama won’t’ let the children go to the Wallace store.  What is her motivation for getting others to stop shopping there?

5. Do you think Cassie should have demanded that Mr. Barnett wait on them at the store?  Why or why not?

6. Discuss why Big Ma told Cassie to apologize to Lillian Jean.  What does Big Ma know about interacting with people that Cassie doesn’t?

7. Why does Big Ma try to stop Cassie from telling Uncle Hammer about their day in Strawberry?  What might have been the outcome if Mr. Morrison hadn’t gone after Uncle Hammer to stop him?

8. When Mama tells Cassie that whites (for example, Mr. Simms) believe that blacks are inferior people, Cassie feels “as if the world had turned itself upside down.”  Why, do you suppose, has Cassie never understood this idea before?  (Consider:  her age, her experiences with white people up to this point, how she appears to have been raised.)

9. Mama tells Cassie, “Baby, we have no choice of what color we’re born or who our parents are or whether we’re rich or poor.  What we do have is some choice over what ewe make of our lives once we’re here.”  What do you think she means by this?

10.  How is Jeremy different from other white children?  Why do you think he acts as he does?

11.  Given what you know about racial relations in the context of the novel, do you think the boycott of the Wallace store will be effective?  Why or why not?

12.  How do you think Uncle Hammer felt when he saw T.J. wearing Stacey’s new coat?  How would you have handled the situation if you were Uncle Hammer?  Explain.

13.  Papa tells Cassie, “There are things you can’t back down on, things you gotta take a stand on.  But it’s up to you to decide what then things are.”  What things do you think Cassie must take a stand on?  Why?

14.  Do you think it was a good decision for Cassie to take revenge on Lillian Jean?  Is it okay to do mean things if you feel you have been treated unfairly?  Explain your answer.

15.  What is your reaction to Mama being fired from her teaching job?

16.  Why do you think Big Ma feels so strongly about the Logan family’s land, pond, and forest?

Chapters 9-12

1. Why do you think the bank suddenly wanted the Logans to pay their mortgage in full?

2. Discuss what happened the night David Logan was shot.  Do you believe the people who shot him will be punished?  Explain the reasons for your opinions?

3. Think about why Stacey blames himself for his father’s broken leg.  Was the accident his fault?  What do you learn about Stacey’s character through this incident?

4. Do you think the Logans’ troubles with the Wallaces are over?  Why or why not?

5. What are your reactions to the end of the story?  Explain your answer.

6. Did Stacey make the right choice in helping T.J. return home?  Discuss what might have happened if Stacey hadn’t helped him.

7. Would you have helped T.J. if you had been in Stacey’s place?  Why or why not?

8. What do you think will happen to T.J. in the sequel?

9. Cassie mourns for T.J. at the end of the novel.  For whom do you feel most sorry?  Why?

10.  In what ways has Cassie changed since the beginning of the book?  How do you think the events of the night of the fire affect her?  Look for evidence in  the story to support your conclusions.

Consider . . . .

·       what she says about mourning for T.J. and the land.

·       what she learns about Papa’s part in the fire.

·       how she responds to that knowledge.

·       the difference between her reaction to the events of that night and the events that occurred in Strawberry.

11.  Papa says, “This thing’s been coming a long time, baby . . . .” What do you think he means by this?

12.  What was your first clue that Papa set the fire?

13.  How wise was Papa’s solution for saving T.J.?  What alternatives did he have?

14.  Do you believe that the events of that night will have any effect on relations between the blacks and whites in the community?  Why or why not?

15.  Papa tells Stacey that it costs too much to find out whether a white child can be a true friend to a black child in Mississippi.  In your opinion, is Papa right?  Give evidence to support your answer.

16.  Which of the Logans’ problems with discrimination might be different in today’s world?  Which might be the same?

17.  What do you think Mildred Taylor wants people to learn about friendship and how people should treat each other from reading this story?

18.  How does Mildred Taylor use the approaching storm to make her story even more suspenseful?  Why is the storm so important as a real event and as a symbol?