Chapters 31, 32, 33 & 34 (The End!)

31- [even]
(Pages 201-209)

 Why does Eric think it is important to take back the items that Griffin took from Rudy and him?
 Are they even?
 Why would Eric risk getting caught?


32- [door]
(Pages 210-213)

 Eric left his sneakers in Griffin’s room – what are the possible consequences?


33- [kicks]
(Pages 214-219)

 Who gave David his pin back?
 Why is David not sitting with Griffin and the others at lunch?
 Why doesn’t David seat with Eric and the others at his table?


34- [coda]
(Pages 220-223)

 Has Griffin changed or is he always going to be a bully?
 How has Eric’s seventh grade year changed his life?

Chapters 29-30

29- [threat]
(Pages 182-189)

 There seems to be some sort of connection between Eric and Griffin – they seem to like and hate each other at the same time. Why is it?


30- [repairs]
(Pages 190-200)

 Eric and his mother spend the day together. What does more information does the reader learn about his father?
 Why do Cody and some of the other boys give Eric his bike back?
 Why do they check with Griffin first to get his approval?

Chapters 26, 27 & 28

26- [bike]
(Pages 166-170)

 Why does Officer Goldsworthy question Eric about the break-ins?


27- [locker]
(Pages 170-176)

 Eric thinks that Griffin is behind having his locker searched. How might the situation been different if Eric would have told the whole truth about Griffin, David and the fight?


28- [confession]
(Pages 177-181)

 Several times in the book, Mary has stated that she does not want to watch bullying happen anymore, however, she does not tell Eric about the plan to beat him up or help him during the fight. Why?
 Would you still be friends with her?

Chapter 24 & 25

24- [fallout]
(Pages 149-157)

 What does Eric’s mom do when she finds out about the fight?
 What would be your first reaction if you were Eric and Cody walks through the counselor’s door?
 Why do you think the boys agreed to the truce?
 Who/What is the real problem?


25- [misfits]
(Pages 158-165)

 Why does Mrs. Rosen ask Eric and not Griffin to dog sit for her?
 Should Eric be scared of Griffin?

Chapters 21, 22 & 23

21- [crossed]
(Pages 132-137)

 Why does David double cross Eric?
 What are his body actions and words when he is trying to
get Eric to come to the cemetery?
 Does David really want to double cross Eric? Why or Why
not?

22- [boot]
(Pages 138-144)

 Why is Griffin the puppet master? Do his friends
understand that he is the puppet master?
 Why does Griffin take the American Flag?
 Eric has been nice to David, why does he attack Eric when
he is down? Did David plan to hurt Eric?
 Mary tells Eric that she watched the whole thing, why
doesn’t she help him? What could she have done?

23- [unsent]
(Pages 145-148)

 Why does Eric write a letter to his father?

Chapters 17-20

17- [slander]
(Pages 105-110)

 Would you add anything to the “bully-free zone” list on page
109?
 What are some of the actions that Eric has to do to become
an ally (problem-solving bystander or upstander) and not be
a bystander in bullying situations?

18- [story]
(Pages 111-116)

 What do you think Martin Luther King Jr. meant when he
said, “In the end we will remember not the words of our
enemies, but the silence of our friends.”?

19- [reaching]
(Pages 117-123)

 Why does Eric give Rudy $27.00?
 If Eric thinks that Griffin stole the money and CDs, why
doesn’t he confront Griffin or tell an adult about it?
 Is it better to “pretend” that nothing happened?
 Is it for the same reason that David does not tell an adult
about how he is treated?
 What do you think David is thinking about after Eric tells
him that Griffin is a bad guy?

20- [out]
(Pages 124-131)

 Mary is no longer a part of the “in” crowd. How might she
feel?
 Why do people of all ages “… stand around and let it
(bullying) happen.”? (Page 127)
 How are things between Eric and Griffin changing?
 Do all bullies wear masks?

Chapter 15-16

15- [visitor]
(Pages 87-96)

 Griffin tells Eric that they are same. Do you think so? How
are the boys similar and different?
 Why did Griffin take the money and CDs?
 What should Eric do about it?

16- [mary]
(Pages 97-104)

 What are some of the possible actions that Mary can do
regarding the situation she is in? What are the
consequences to the actions?
 How are Eric and Mary alike?

Chapters 12 - 14 Discussion Questions

Chapter 12 "Shiner"

1. How did Griffin get his shiner? 
2. What does the reader know about Griffin's "baggage"? How might that affect him? 

Chapter 13 "Pretzel" 

1. What are some reasons David tried so hard to be friends with the boys who were the meanest to him?
2. Why does Griffin "save" David just to turn on him? 
3. Everyone, including David, tells Mrs. Diaz that everything is all right. If you were Mrs. Diaz, what would you have done differently? If you were David? If you were Eric? 

Chapter 14 "Flinch" 

1. David flinches when Eric tries to say hello to him. Why might it be hard for victims to trust? 
2. If David doesn't trust and/or expects the worst of people, why does he try too hard to be friends with Griffin?

Chapters 8 - 11 Discussion Questions

Chapter 8 "Charmed"

1. Why does Griffin act so differently at the grocery store?  What does this tell you about his character?

Chapter 9 "Gum"

1. Were you surprised that Eric confronts Griffin about how he was acting in front of his mom?
2. Which Griffin is the "true" Griffin?

Chapter 10 "Friend"

1. Why does Eric lie to his mother?  What does this tell you about his character?  What does this tell you about Griffin's influence on Eric?
2. Both Eric and Griffin tell each other about their fathers.  Who does most of the talking?  Why do you think Eric tells Griffin so much about his life when it seems like he does not trust him very much?
3. Does Eric have a friend in Griffin?  Why or why not?

Chapter 11 "Crazy"

1. We find out more about Eric's father.  Can a person always know everything about everyone?  Even our best friends?  Our parents?
2. Do we all carry around "baggage"?  Defend your answer.  How can that "baggage" affect our everyday lives?

Chapter 6 & 7 -"Hallenback" & "Lunch"

1.  What are some of the good and bad thoughts that Eric may be having as he makes the connection between Mary Griffin and David Hallenback?


2.  Who plays the roles of aggressor (bully), victim, bystander and positive bystander?

1/29/2013 - Chapters 3-5 Discussion Questions

Chapter 3 "Joking"

• Would you have handled the situation in Chapter 3 the same as Eric did?  
• What would you have done differently? 
• Why do you think Griffin returned to talk to Eric? 

Chapter 4 "Fresh"

• Moving to Long Island is a “fresh” start for Eric and his mother and brother.  Why do they need a “fresh” start? 

Chapter 5 "School"

• How is Eric's first day of school?  
• How does he react to it?  
• How do you think he feels?

1/23/2013 - Characters

What characters have you met so far?  
How would you describe them?
(leaders, followers, kind, mean, etc.)