Week 1 (Chapters 1-9)
What is the meaning of “The earth is old and we are not, and that is all you must remember.”?
What does Pa mean when he says, “Nature, Willodeen, knows more than we do, and she probably always will.”?
The hummingbears wanted no part of Duuzuu because he was different. Do you think people behave the same as the hummingbears? Explain.
What does Willodeen mean when she says, “The world could change in a heartbeat.”?
Week 2 (Chapters 10-16)
What does Birdie mean when she tells Willodeen, “Angry tears have magic in them.”?
Do you agree with Connor’s father that “being different makes life more difficult”? Why or why not?
Week 3 (Chapters 11-23)
Do you think Willodeen’s idea that nature is complicated and that people should try to understand things before changing or getting rid of them is a valid argument? Why or why not? Can this argument be made about today’s world? How so? Why not?
“I wonder if Connor would notice me.” How is this thought so telling about Willodeen and the evolution of her character?
What hopes and fears does the screecher have? What hopes and fears does Willodeen have?
Why would Connor’s puzzler change into a screecher? What good does the puzzler changing into a screecher do for Willodeen? The town?
Week 4 (Chapters 24-28)
“Change is coming, certain as sunrise. The only question is how we deal with it.” Give an example of a change that a character has had to endure and explain how they dealt with it.
In part four, whose point of view is the author using? Why is it important to share this point of view?
Week 5 (Chapters 29-35)
Why was it important to let Quinby dig for her own food?
The author uses this simile to describe the conversations between Willodeen and Connor: “The silences were comfortable as an old sweater.” What does this mean to you?
Why do you think the hummingbears chose to nest in the same two trees under which Quinby encountered his peacock snails?
What did Willodeen uncover through her experiment?
“I didn’t want to run away. I wanted to run toward.” What realization has Willodeen finally accepted? Why is this important?
Week 6 (Chapters 36-40)
Why is it a momentous event when Willodeen yells “I love you” to Birdie and Mae?
How is the community of Perchance similar to the community made up of the hummingbears, screechers, peacock snails and blue willow trees?
What message(s) do you think the author may be sharing with her story Willodeen?