Major Theme:

Friendship, War, Prejudice, Survival
 

Summary:

All his life Phillip had looked down upon black-skinned people.  Now, suddenly, he was a refugee from a fatal shipwreck.  A crack on the head had left Phillip blind and dependent on an extraordinary West Indian named Timothy.  There were just the two of them cast up on a tiny Caribbean island. 
 

Question #1

Question #2

Question #3

Why is Phillip's family in Willemstad?
 

Is Phillip being fair to his mother when he is angry with her?  Have you ever been angry with a parent who tried to protect you?  Explain.
 

 What does Timothy mean when he says, "D'large kag 'ave a way o' losin' it's veree size."?
 

Question #4

Timothy believes that Stew Cat brings bad luck.  What are some other signs of bad luck in the book?
 

Question #5

How does Timothy get the plane's attention?  do you think they should land on the island?  Why?
 

Question #6

Question #7

Question #8

Question #9

Who is more fit to survive on the island, Timothy or Phillip?  What qualities needed for survival does each have?
 

What does Timothy mean when he says, "D'han is not blin?"
 

 Timothy teaches Phillip to become independent of him.  What must Phillip learn to do for himself?  What are your parents teaching you to do now, so that you will someday be independent?
 

What signals the coming of the hurricane?  How do Timothy and Phillip keep from washing off the cay?
 

Question #10

How had Phillip changed in this story?  What experiences have you had that caused you to change?

 

Question #11

Question #12

Question #13

Question #14

Question #15

Question #16

Question #17

Question #18

Extension #1

Extension #2

Extension #3

Graph the oil production rate of Venezuela since 1940.  You will have to do some research.  Make a graph on the computer, using Clarisworks.

 

Research hurricanes.  How do they begin?  What happens to them when they finally go out to sea?  Who decides what their names will be?

 

Make a map of the cay from the description given in chapters 6,7,11, and 13.
 

Extension #4

Extension #5