Major Theme:

Family ties, coping with death, strength

Summary:

Cammie lives in the rural Midwest.  She has a large extended family.  Her grandmother is elderly and in a care home.  Her cousin, Patricia Ann, whom she never gets along with, drowns.  Cammie is consumed with the guilt, even dreaming about Patty Ann.  Cammie finds the strength in her family as her father returns home and her grandmother helps her deal with whatever comes along.

Question #1

Question #2

Question #3

Describe the game Cammie plays with Gram Tut when she visits the care center.

Write about a favorite time you have shared with a special relative.

How did this special time make you feel?

Question #4

What kind of person is Cammie?

Question #5

Describe Cammie's feelings for Patricia Ann.

Question #6

Question #7

Question #8

Question #9

Do you think Cammie and Patricia Ann could ever be friends?

Why or why not?

Do you think Cammie really deep down likes Patricia Ann and Elodie?

Why or why not?

Question #10

Do you think Patricia Ann was brave or foolish for trying to rescue Elodie?

Question #11

Question #12

Question #13

What would you have done in her place?

Gram Tut gave Cammie some good advice about how to live life.  What was the advice?

What advise would you give Cammie?

Question #14

Question #15

Question #16

Question #17

Question #18

Extension #1

Extension #2

Extension #3

Rewrite another ending to the story.  Suppose Patty Ann saved Elodie, then managed to swim back to the riverbank.  How would that change Patty Ann's, Elodie's and Cammie's relationship?

Family Ties.  Draw or get a picture of you family.  Write an essay on what your family means to you.  Display your picture and essay.

Write a definition acrostic for "Hero."  Patricia Ann was a hero for saving Elodie's life.  Illustrate and display.

Extension #4

Draw a picture of one of the settings in the story. Carefully reread the description of the scene and include details in your picture.  Use a note card to identify what is taking place.

Extension #5

Write a diary of events from Cammie's perspective.