Major Theme:

Friendship, Fair treatment

Summary:

Set in the 1960's, this story involves the transfer of a group of small-town friends to a nearby all-white school, and how they stick together in the face of the prejudice.

Question #1

Question #2

Question #3

What is the setting of this story?

Explain what you think the author means when she says being different is both a blessing and a curse.

What is the conflict in the story?

Question #4

Tell why Mama and Papa are concerned about Billie and Meg going to the new school.

Question #5

Who is Old Hairy and how do the children feel about him?

Question #6

Question #7

Question #8

Question #9

Can you compare the Parkview students with Daniel's mother and Mrs. Kim from Smoky Nights?

What did Meg leave for Old Hairy?

Explain why Ivy decided to play for the Mayfield Crossing team.

How does Meg change throughout the story?

Question #10

Who, in your opinion, is a hero in this story?

Question #11

Question #12

Question #13

Question #14

Question #15

Question #16

Question #17

Question #18

Extension #1

Extension #2

Extension #3

Conduct a Netsearch on the Civil Rights movement in the 1960's, particularly the desegregation of the schools in the South.  Find one hero to write a report about.

Read Teammates by Golenberg.  Compare Peewee Reese's attitude with those of the Parkview students.

Write an editorial for the St. Louis Post Dispatch about why or why not the Voluntary Transfer Program should continue in St. Louis.

Extension #4

Extension #5