Fowl Play

By Kristin O’Donnell Tubb

Informational Resources:

Author Information:

Kristen O’Donnell Tub’s website

https://www.kristintubb.com/

Activities & Resources:

The "Snapshot" Memory Gallery: In the book, Chloe’s memories of Uncle Will come to her in "snapshots." Activity: Have students identify 3–5 pivotal "snapshots" from the book and illustrate them. The Twist: On the back of each illustration, they must write a "Sensory Caption" describing what Chloe heard, smelled, or felt in that specific moment, mirroring the book’s descriptive style.

The Suspect Board (Character Analysis): Chloe uses her Grammy’s true crime podcast knowledge to investigate. Activity: Create a "Case File" for the main suspects (the nosy neighbor, the ex-girlfriend, the loan shark). Goal: For each suspect, students list the Motive (why they might do it), Opportunity (how they could have done it), and the Evidence (what Charlie the parrot said that pointed to them).

"Charlie’s Dictionary": African Grey Research: African Greys are famously intelligent and can learn hundreds of words. Activity: Watch this video about living with an African Grey Parrot, then complete the activity. https://youtu.be/d1Dl8albMQ4?si=8cixHn0CSibyoHTF  Prompt: Compare Charlie’s behavior in the book to real-life parrot behavior. Students can create a "Fact vs. Fiction" chart to see if a parrot could actually help solve a mystery in real life.

Grammy’s True Crime Podcast Scripting: Grammy is a fan of true crime podcasts, which influences Chloe’s investigation. Activity: In pairs, students write a 3-minute script for a podcast episode titled "The Case of the Silent Uncle." Focus: They should practice using "investigative tone" and incorporate vocabulary from the book like homicide, cyanide, and foul play.

"Seize the Day" Action Plan: Uncle Will’s motto is "Seize the Day" (Carpe Diem). Activity: Discuss what this phrase means in the context of the story and grief. Personal Connection: Have students write down one "bucket list" item they want to do this month to "seize the day," just as Uncle Will encouraged Chloe to live fully.

Charleston Ghost Tour Map: The book is set in Charleston, SC, and mentions its "creepy and beautiful" history and ghost tours. Activity: Use a map of Charleston to locate real landmarks mentioned (or similar historical sites). Here is a link to a map of the city: https://www.visitnorthcharleston.com/north-charleston-map/ History Link: Research one real Charleston "ghost story" or historical event (like the story of the Grey Man) to understand why the setting fits a mystery novel so well. Here is a link to more ghost stories for kids: https://youtu.be/tnsH8YnRGIA?si=Jd0_rWODVZfe4gN0 

The Art of "Unspoken" Communication: Charlie the parrot communicates things Uncle Will couldn't say directly. Activity: Discuss how different characters in the book express grief without words (e.g., Chloe’s painting, Jacob’s distancing). Prompt: "If you had a parrot that could only say three words to describe your current mood, what would they be and why?"

Codicil & Will: A Vocabulary Workshop: The reading of the will is a major plot point. Activity: Introduce legal terms from the book: Last Will and Testament, Codicil, Inheritance, Beneficiary. Creative Writing: Have students write a "Whimsical Will" where they "bequeath" non-physical things to their friends—like "my ability to kick a soccer ball" or "my secret for the best grilled cheese."

Snapshot Poetry: Building on the "snapshot" theme, use the "Found Poetry" method. 

Activity: Students choose one page from the book and circle words that stand out to them regarding Chloe’s feelings or the mystery. Output: They arrange these words into a short poem that captures the mood of that chapter.

The Healing Family Tree: The mystery ultimately brings Chloe’s estranged family back together. Activity: Create a "Connection Tree." Instead of just names, students write one thing that connects each family member to Uncle Will. Discussion: How did the "investigation" serve as a bridge to help them talk to each other again

MakerSpace Activities:

Design and build a "foraging toy" for an African Grey (11:19)

https://youtu.be/6Xe8v0pH17Q?si=JXFLeo0H5OSdVmAJ 

Make a 3D "Snapshot" Shadow Box (3:01)

https://youtu.be/-Loj-YoSbfw?si=hDc-C6icLmLgP4PS 

Make a secret compartment Box from cardboard (10:42)

https://youtu.be/qdDB-YnV4Fc?si=mEfOtub_xfczVJA3

Design a luminaria that depicts the skyline or a specific haunted building from the book (3:33)

https://youtu.be/AtigDf7dl0I?si=f9KiRJnd1pHvjrGz

Discussion Questions:

Charlie the parrot is the only "eyewitness" to what happened. Do you think a parrot’s "testimony" should be taken seriously in a real-life investigation? Why or why not?

The book is titled Fowl Play. This is a pun (a play on words). How many different ways does this title apply to the story?

Which clue did you find most surprising—the missing codicil, the specific words Charlie repeated, or the secrets hidden in Uncle Will’s past?

Chloe describes her memories of Uncle Will as "snapshots." Why do you think she views her life this way? How does this help her (or hinder her) in dealing with her grief?

Compare how Chloe, her mom, and her Grammy handle Uncle Will’s death. Is there a "right" way to grieve? How does the mystery help them process their feelings together?

Uncle Will’s motto was Carpe Diem. Based on what you learned about his life by the end of the book, do you think he lived up to his own motto?

How does the setting of Charleston—with its ghost tours, old cemeteries, and "creepy-beautiful" vibe—contribute to the mood of the mystery? Could this story have happened in a modern, high-tech city?

Uncle Will’s home is eccentric and full of history. How does a person’s home reflect who they are, even after they are gone?

In the book, Charlie isn't just a pet; he’s a character with his own "voice." Do you think Charlie understood the weight of the words he was saying, or was he just reflecting the emotions of the people around him?

Why do you think Uncle Will felt more comfortable sharing his secrets with Charlie than with his own human family members?

At the start of the book, Chloe is focused on the "crime." By the end, she is focused on her family. What caused this shift in her priorities?

Were the people Chloe suspected actually "bad" people, or were they just complicated? Does this book have a traditional "villain"?

How does Barnaby, as a witness/talking parrot, affect the way Chloe uncovers the truth? 

Do you think the parrot holds more than just words, and how does he represent Uncle Will?

How does Chloe handle her grief throughout the story, and in what ways does investigating her uncle's death help her process it?

What was your reaction to the secrets Chloe uncovers about her family and her uncle? 

How did these secrets change her perspective on her family?

How do Chloe's friends (or peers) help or hinder her in her search for answers?

Beyond money, what else did Chloe inherit from her uncle in terms of personality, passion, or memories?

Which character’s behavior did you find the most suspicious, and why?

Did the resolution of the mystery satisfy you? Why or why not?

Book Talk Teasers:

Listen to an excerpt from the book: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/fowl-play-kristin-odonnell-tubb?variant=41219279552546

Read the reader’s theater for Fowl Play by Kristin O’Donnell Tubb.

Watch the book trailer on the Texas Bluebonnet Award website. 

Read Alikes: 

Dye, Kerry Douglas. Grady Jones and the Great Detective Game. After receiving a cryptic message from the town's reclusive billionaire, eleven-year-old Grady undertakes a murder case, determined to achieve greatness despite having no talent for solving mysteries. (NoveList Plus)

Kelly, Erin Entrada. The Last Resort. When Lila's estranged Grandpa Clem dies, she has to spend the summer in Ohio while her parents decide what to do with Grandpa Clem's creepy Victorian Inn. On the day of the funeral she spots the ghost of Grandpa Clem who tells Lila he was murdered. Because it's not a normal bed & breakfast: it's a portal between the land of the living and the realm of the dead. A hotel for ghosts passing onto the afterlife. With the help of her skeptical brother and their new neighbor, Lila must uncover her grandfather's killer AND stop the evil spirits desperate to make their way back into the human world.

Lincoln, Beth. A Gallery of rogues. Shenanigan Swift is off to Paris with her sister and their uncle Maelstrom to solve the mystery of a strange series of elaborately staged art museum heists, in this hilarious, quick-witted story that celebrates words, family and lots of shenanigans. (NoveList Plus)

Malinenko, Ally. Broken Dolls. Ever since Kaye's grandfather died, she's been counting things, even the threads on her favorite blanket. It's arithmomania, and with the selective mutism that sometimes prevents her from speaking, she literally can't find the words to talk about how she feels now that Grampa is gone. When they take the summer to clean out his old house, Kaye's younger sister, Holly, starts finding dolls buried in the backyard, stuffed in the walls, and crammed into the closets. From the first one, Kaye knows they aren't normal dolls. They smile at her like they know something, and Kaye hears her sister talking to them constantly--and she swears she's heard the dolls whispering back. (NoveList Plus)

Souders, Taryn. Coop Knows the Scoop. Thirteen-year-olds Cooper Goodman and Justice and Liberty Gordon investigate the eccentric residents of Windy Bottom, Georgia, after the remains of Coop's long-missing grandmother are uncovered and his Gramps is the prime suspect. (NoveList Plus)