These prompts can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before or after reading the novel.

Pre-Reading “Icebreaker”

Think of a brief incident that caused you to feel surprise, fear, pride, or another strong emotion (for example, seeing a score on a test, the last moments of a game, or a waiting for a message from someone). Retell the story of this incident in a short letter or email to a friend or family member.

Teaching Suggestion: Briefly review letter greetings and closings for clarity on beginning and ending retellings. Length might be a few paragraphs to no more than 1 page. Once students have a chance to reflect on what they wrote, encourage analysis and discussion of this writing process: What impact does the letter format have on tone, style, or dialogue? Would their retelling differ depending on the intended addressee? Was it easier or more difficult to tell a story this way? Connect to the novel by explaining that the narrative includes two alternating points of view; while Tyler’s narrative is third-person limited prose, Mari’s is first-person epistolary. Students can use these sites to learn about the epistolary form:

• This site, “Epistolary,” provides a student-friendly, brief description of the form with examples.