Questions
- Why did Ishmael change his mind about Esther?
- Music comes back as Ishmael goes through rehabilitation. What role does it play and is it different than it was earlier in his life?
- Describe the children's response to rehabilitation? Would you work with children in this rehabilitative setting if you were given the chance?
- Does it surprise you that Ishmael spends a small portion of the book describing his journey as a child soldier?
- Describe the contest Ishmael wins to be promoted as junior lieutenant.
- What are a couple of things that motivate Ishmael in this portion of the book?
- Describe Ishmael by giving a couple of character traits.
- Do you think the title is appropriate for the story?
- Why do you think the rebels are so violent? Do you think there's another way they could have gotten their point across without starting a war? How?
- Describe Esther by giving a couple character traits.
Answers
- Ishmael changed his mind about Esther because she gave him a Walkman.
- It helps a lot through rehabilitation because it reminds him of his life before he became a soldier.
- The children were really stubborn and negative towards changing because they were so accustomed to violence. It would be rewarding but at the same time it would be hard on your body mentally and physically.
- Although it is very important and made a big difference on his life recalling all the details is like reliving the terror and it wouldn't be healthy. Also, it is possible that he doesn't remember certain thing because he was under the influence of drugs.
- He was the quickest to cut a mans throat.
- Ishmael seemed to really enjoy going around downtown. Another thing that motivated him was Esther's presence and his Walkman also motivated him.
- Resourceful- he thinks of different outcomes. Cooperative- because he was able to lead when it was needed and follow.
- Yes, the title of the book is appropriate for the story because he was long way gone from home, his mentality and being stable during his journey.
- The rebels are violent because they are trying to get their point across, They want freedom. But the rebels are often seen ad the bad guys but the army is just as bad. Maybe if they had approached the government in a less violent way it wouldn't have started a war, but they probably felt powerless for that's why they were violent.
- Esther is patient because she is able to work at different paces for the boys' recovery process. She is also loving and caring because she is willing to do anything to help Ishmael and the other boys.
It does surprise me in a away how little time he spent on his soldier years because he was so precise and detailed with everything else...But I guess it would have been repetitive if he did. Personally, I would love to work with boys like Ishmael! It seems hard but in the end I would feel so accomplished. I think the rebels are too violent but they don't have the resources and allies there to help them deal with it any other way.
ReplyDeleteMikayla
I agree, he probably just put all the important details about his journey as a boy soldier. I also think it might not have been healthy (mentally) to rethink and relive everything that he had gone through just to put it in the book. I think that he focused more on his life before and after to show us the difference and how much his views on the world changed, from innocent kid to soldier.
Delete