Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

How can building friendships and having allies be important or valuable? Define the difference between a friend and an ally. In what circumstances might an ally be needed more than a friend? Describe your friends and your allies; are they the same people? What would you do if you needed an ally but found you did not have one?

Teaching Suggestion: Coraline, the protagonist of the novel, finds herself in a difficult situation when she encounters the other mother, a replica of her own mother with sinister intent. Coraline forms allies and friendships in the novel to help her overcome adversity. Consider encouraging students to think about and discuss the importance of friendship and allies in times of hardship. You may wish to access the following resources to help facilitate the discussion:

• This article examines and presents research on how friendships help middle school students navigate life's ups and downs.
• This article summarizes research that illuminates the alliance-based foundations of friendships.
• This article is one of the few written for middle school students; it discusses friendships within the context of the transitions of middle school.