Discussion Questions:
Chapter 1
What are three hardships or problems Josh and his family are enduring because of the Great Depression?
Why is Josh so eager to leave home?
Do you agree that Josh is correct in his idea about leaving home? Explain why or why not, and be as specific as possible.
Describe Josh's relationships with his mother, brother, sister, and father. How are these relationships different? How are they the same?
What do you predict the title of this book has to do with the story, itself?
Why do you think the author chose to tell this story through first person point of view? Please explain your answer.
In what ways does Josh act both mature AND immature in chapter 1? (Hint: Although it's okay to mention his dealings with his family, try to think of other responses, as well.)
Chapter 2
Discuss Josh's excitement about leaving home--and your thoughts about his attitude toward this.
The boys make a (relatively speaking) lot of money their first day away from home. How is this both a good and bad thing?
What is the tragic event that occurs in this chapter, and how do you think it will affect the rest of this book?
Why do you think Josh does not immediately decide to go home after what happens?
Chapter 3
Describe Josh’s mental state when he and Joey get off the train.
How do Josh’s feelings about Joey change?
What does Ben tell Josh about playing the piano?
Identify two examples of man’s kindness to man in the chapter.
What happens to Josh and Joey in the woods? What don’t the other boys take? Why?
Chapter 4
16. What hope has Josh lost and what is always on his mind?
17. Where is Josh forced to look for food, and why is he proud that he won’t allow Joey to go with him?
18. Explain Joey’s reasons for why he should be the one begging. Do you agree? Explain.
19. Do you agree that the boys needed to write home? Explain.
20. What is Lonnie’s great tragedy, and why does he sympathize with Stefan Grondowski?
Chapter 5
Josh is relieved when Lonnie comes into his life because, once again, an adult is around to look over him—to take over the position of father. What are some reasons (more than one) why this is ironic? (Remember—Irony is the opposite of what is expected or considered appropriate.)
After Josh and Joey meet Lonnie, the book states, “All at once, Joey at ten and I at fifteen, had the right to be boys again.” What does this Mean?
Read the first half of page 85. What do Joey and Lonnie understand about Stefan that Josh still doesn’t, AND why is it especially ironic that Joey realizes this before his brother?
Again going back to the above passage, think about this: if Joey knows that Stefan is not as terrible as Josh believes, then why did he run away with his brother? What are several possibilities?
What’s so powerful about Joey’s statement on page 93 when Lonnie leaves the two boys at the carnival: “If I was a little kid, I’d start bawlin’ and run right after that truck”? It’s also an ironic, yet fitting statement. Why?
Chapter 6:
On page 117, Josh says, “Most of all I was angry with Emily. She had been tender and kind, and then she had betrayed me by allowing an old man to call her endearing names, to give her the kind of gift I wanted to give her.” What are your thoughts about this quote / Josh’s reaction? Explain.
Read the story that Emily tells Josh on page 120. Why does she tell this story? What is she trying to explain to Josh?
At the bottom of page 121, Josh says to Emily, “All right. Just forget you ever knew me. We’ll be strangers from now on.” What, from this book, does this remind you of, and what does it further tell us about Josh?
On the top of page 123, Josh and Joey are in an argument about the way Josh treats people like Edward C. and Emily. There’s a passage that reads: “Joey didn’t reply, but he looked me directly in the eye, and the expression on his face was not that of the adoring little brother. There was a cold, critical look in his eyes; I had a feeling that if I had wanted to fight, Joey would have fought right back.” Keeping the above passage in mind, answer the following questions:
What does the above text demonstrate about Joey as a person?
What does the above text have to do with the term “dynamic character” we learned about in class?
Read the passage in the middle of page 124 about the wind, and then answer the following questions:
What does this passage mean? What is it talking about?
What does the wind symbolize, and what does it have to do with this book's title?
Why did the author choose this particular scene—at this particular moment in the book—to write about the wind/title? (You may want to consider what happens in the next scene to help you with your answer, too.)
Chapter 7:
Explain what happens (and why) to the twenty dollar bill Charley gave Josh. ALSO—HOW COULD THIS HAVE BEEN AVOIDED?
On page 148, Josh and Joey enter an abandoned schoolhouse, and on the chalkboard is written “Reduce to the lowest common denominator.” What is the literal AND symbolic meaning of this?
What is the setting like toward the end of chapter 7? Be specific about place, time, weather, etc.
Chapter 8
1.What windfall resulted from Joey’s attempt to sing and accompany himself on the banjo?
2. What caused the hysterical woman to change her mind about feeding Josh and Joey?
3. What act of kindness did Joey perform that upset Josh?
4. How did Joey and Josh become separated?
5. Why do you think the expression “lowest common denominator” kept whirling through Josh’s brain? When did this phrase appear before?
6. What events led to Josh’s arrival at Lonnie’s home?
7. As Josh regained consciousness, what did he worry about?
8. What historical event did Janey and Josh listen to on the radio?
9. As Josh watched Janey at the stove, why did he ask her if she ever wore earrings?
Chapter 9
1. Why did Josh have a troubled convalescence?
2. Where did Lonnie search for Joey?
3. How did the presence of an unopened letter to Lonnie from Mom affect Josh?
4. In what ways did Mom encourage Josh to come home?
5. How did Lonnie feel about Janey and Josh spending time together?
6. Why did Lonnie rush from the house at night after hearing a radio broadcast?
7. Why didn’t Josh hug Joey upon his return?
Chapter 10 & 11
1. Why did the people who had taken in Joey resent Lonnie?
2. How did Joey help Josh realize that the same difficult circumstances that had affected him had also affected their father?
3. What did Josh feel he had to do before he could return home?
4. How did Mrs. Arthur help Josh find work?
5. Why did Lonnie agree to take part of Josh’s salary?
6. Why didn’t Janey trust Josh’s promise to return?
7. How was the train ride home different from the train ride they had taken to leave Chicago?
8. Compare Josh’s and Joey’s thoughts about returning to Chicago.
9. Josh compared their “borrowed” home in Omaha to their home in Chicago. What were his feelings towards each home?
10. Why did Josh decide to give his dad a chance?