The story has several key symbols, including homework, the girl’s bathroom, and the animal objects. Choose one symbol and make the case that it’s the most important symbol.

There are several books and articles about the imputed problems with boys and men, like Peggy Orenstein’s “The Miseducation of the American Boy” (The Atlantic, 20 Dec. 2019). Read a book or an article and compare the arguments to Bradley’s story. How do Bradley’s problems reflect the issues brought up by the text? How do the solutions link to the story? Do the fixes connect more with Carla Davis or the Concerned Parents Organization?

In the story, Bradley reads a rather quirky book, My Parents Didn’t Steal an Elephant. Based on the excerpts, relate the novel to Sachar’s novel. What do they have in common? How are they different?