60 pages • 2 hours read
Gary D. SchmidtA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Consider the relationship between Turner and his father in the novel. What major differences between them are apparent? How do Turner and his father deal with these differences? How does Turner’s relationship with his father affect his overall identity?
Teaching Suggestion: To prepare for this prompt, students might list the scenes in which key moments in the father-son relationship exemplify a strong emotion or a change in their judgement of one another. They might note these important moments on a relationship timeline and use highlighters to document the moments one feels a change of heart for the other. In the beginning of the novel, the Reverend and Turner clash on a variety of viewpoints; for example, his father forbids Turner from visiting Lizzie, since it would be received poorly by the leaders of the Phippsburg community. Turner begins to question his religious beliefs, along with his belief in his father as a pastor. The major change in their relationship occurs when Turner stands up to Mr. Stonecrop and maintains ownership of Mrs. Cobb’s house, an action that his father surprisingly supports. Reverend Turner then defends his son against Sheriff Elwell, a decision that leads to his death. Turner’s remarks in his father’s eulogy indicate that he respected his father and believed that his father was fighting against racism in the town.
By Gary D. Schmidt
American Literature
View Collection
Black History Month Reads
View Collection
Books About Race in America
View Collection
Books on Justice & Injustice
View Collection
Books that Teach Empathy
View Collection
Challenging Authority
View Collection
Coming-of-Age Journeys
View Collection
Community
View Collection
Coping with Death
View Collection
Daughters & Sons
View Collection
Equality
View Collection
Fathers
View Collection
Fear
View Collection
Friendship
View Collection
Grief
View Collection
Hate & Anger
View Collection
Juvenile Literature
View Collection
Newbery Medal & Honor Books
View Collection
Power
View Collection
Realistic Fiction (Middle Grade)
View Collection
Religion & Spirituality
View Collection