Reading Group Guide
About the novel:
Benny's parents are splitting up. His mom leaves home after a fight about a mysterious splinter that is supposedly part of an important relic. Benny's dad has always liked clutter, but now, he begins hoarding everything from pizza boxes to old motorcycle parts.
As his house grows more cluttered and his father grows more distant, Benny tries to sort out whether he can change anything at all. Meanwhile, a local teacher enters their quiet Missouri town in America's Most Charming Small Town contest, and the pressure is on to clean up, especially Benny's ramshackle of a house, before the out-of-town guests arrive.
With a cast of characters readers won't soon forget, and a disaster no one sees coming, Homesick explores the challenges of living with difficult people in difficult times, and of looking for hope and meaning amid the splinters of one's life.
Author bio:
Kate Klise is the author of many books for young readers, including Grounded, winner of the
2011 Judy Lopez Award (Women's National Book Association) for Best Children's Novel of the
Year. Her other books include the 43 Old Cemetery Road series of epistolary novels, illustrated by her sister, M. Sarah Klise. In addition to writing for children, Kate spent 20 years working as a journalist for several publications, including People magazine. She now leads writing workshops all over the country for aspiring authors of all ages.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:
1. The first chapter of the book is written in the form of a transcript. Why do you think the author chose this format? What does it bring to the first chapter that a traditional narrative does not? Do you like it? Why or why not? Compare the transcript in the first chapter with the transcript in the final chapter. How has Benny changed? (Additional assignment: Create the opening of a story in transcript form.)
2. Benny says that his parents "split up over a splinter." What does he mean by this? Can you think of any experiences you've had that began with a small incident and then became much bigger? (For example, a scraped knee that became infected, a tiny leak in the ceiling that spread and did lots of damage, etc.)
3. Homesick takes place before the Internet and cell phones existed. Do you think Benny's story might be different if he had access to both of those things?
4. Benny is embarrassed by his first name, which is Beignet. Why? Have you ever been embarrassed by your first name, middle name, or last name? Have you ever had a nickname you disliked?
5. Benny's father might be described as a "hoarder," or someone who holds on to more stuff than he has room for, or needs. He gets mad when Benny suggests throwing out some of the pizza boxes, for example. How would you handle this situation if you were in Benny's shoes? Do you think his dad is lazy and just doesn't want to clean up? Is there anything in your life you refuse to throw away, even though it has little or no real value?
6. Make a list of health hazards associated with clutter: e.g., mold, insects and rodents, dust, damage to floors, walls, furniture, etc.
7. Myron is a neighbor and friend of Benny's family. Do you believe Myron and Mrs. Crumple did the right thing in organizing a community cleanup of Benny's house? Why or why not?
8. Do you agree with Benny's father that cleaning a house is not an appropriate service project for Mrs. Rosso's class? Why or why not?
9. When a crisis hits, Benny must make a snap decision about riding his father's motorcycle to look for his friend Stormy, and then take her and her mother to a hospital. Benny is only 12 years old, too young to legally ride a motorcycle. Do you think Benny made the right choice? Why or why not?
10. Tornadoes can do tremendous damage to people and property. Research tornadoes and other natural disasters in the U.S. and incorporate first-person stories of the experiences, either from people who are quoted in articles, or from family members who have witnessed a tornado or other natural disaster firsthand.
11. Do you think Benny has a lot of friends? Does he have a best friend? How is his circle of friends different than yours?
12. What do you think Benny's life is like after the last chapter of the book? Write a transcript of your imagined interview with Benny. (He can be any age you choose.)
