58 pages 1 hour read

Gordon Korman

Swindle

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2008

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Essay Topics

1.

The narrator in Swindle mostly follows Griffin’s point of view, but at key points throughout the book, the narrator switches to follow Ben, Griffin’s other classmates, and even Swindle. Why, in your opinion, did Korman make that narrative choice? How would the story change if it were only told from Griffin’s point of view?

2.

Griffin believes that he cannot trust adults because they do not take him seriously. He eventually learns that kids and adults need to work together. How would the story have been different if Griffin told his parents that he found the baseball card instead of going straight to Palomino’s Emporium?

3.

Throughout the book, Ben argues with Griffin about whether it is right to steal the baseball card from Swindle. In your opinion, is Griffin’s decision to steal the card back right or wrong? Support your answer with evidence from the text.