The Glass Castle BC #4 and 5

To survive, Jeannette Walls and the other children must endure the most unimaginable things. Jeannette mentions how everyone had to fend for themselves. Maureen was always at a friend's house. She wasn't sure how Lori and Mom were taking care of themselves, but they all managed on their own. She says, " I was pretty sure he [Brian] was rooting through the trash too, but we never talked about it." (173). Aside from rummaging through the trash, in what other ways did Jeannette and her family fend for themselves? Did they have any choice?

A Long Way Gone BC #4 and 5

To survive, Beah and the other children must endure the most unimaginable things. Early in the book, Beah hints at what the boys must learn to survive: "It was a typical aspect of being in the war. Things changed rapidly in a matter of seconds and no one had any control over anything. We had yet to learn these things and implement survival tactics, which was what it came down to. That night we were so hungry that we stole people’s food while they slept. It was the only way to get through the night."

Aside from stealing food, what tactics do these boys learn in order to survive? Did they have any choice?

The Glass Castle Book Club #2 and #3

Jeannette begins to come to a realization about her father. Reread pages 67-72 of A Glass Castle. Jeannette realizes life isn't as peachy and grand as her dad described it to be. She is hungry, neglected, and witnesses her father's verbal, emotional, and physical abuse towards her mother. Refer to the list of themes and comment on Jeannette's understanding of the kind of man and father her dad really is and her beginning to recognize that. (Themes: religion/spirituality/faith, self-motivation/self-reliance, child-parent relationship, alienation vs. belonging, coming of age, loss of innocence, addiction, violence, loyalty, poverty/hunger, hope/false hope, survival, fear).

A Long Way Gone 2nd and 3rd book clubs

On page 65 of A Long Way Gone Ishmael and his friends are caught by a group of men who fear that he and his friends are part of the rebels. Ishmael wishes they could see he "was just a twelve-year-old-boy" (Beah 65). He realizes he is not living anymore and just surviving. Beah opens chapter 10 with something that troubles him throughout his journey, "One of the unsettling things about my journey, mentally, physically, and emotionally, was that I wasn't sure when or where I was going to end" (69). Reread the opening paragraph on page 69, then refer to the list of themes and comment on Ishmael's journey so far, bringing in one of the themes and discussing how the theme relates. (Themes: religion/spirituality/faith, self-motivation/self-reliance, child-parent relationship, alienation vs. belonging, coming of age, loss of innocence, addiction, violence, loyalty, poverty/hunger, hope/false hope, survival, fear).

The Glass Castle

The first story Jeanette Walls tells of her childhood is that of her burning herself severely at age three, and her father dramatically takes her from the hospital: "You're safe now" (Walls 14). Why do you think she opens with that story, and how does it set the stage for the rest of the memoir?

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier

The beginning of chapter two begins with a gruesome dream that then leads to Ishmael having a flashback of  his time as a boy soldier. He says, "Memories I sometimes wish I could wash away, even though I am aware that they are an important part of what my life is; who I am now" (Beah 19). Why is remembering his story and retelling it so important?