Ghost Boy: The Miraculous Escape of a Misdiagnosed Boy Trapped Inside His Own Body (2011)

Throughout the book, Martin often alludes to the refuge he found in imagination. What power does a person’s imagination hold, especially for those who use it as an escape from painful or horrific realities? Support your response with examples from Martin’s own insights.

Discuss the role that spirituality and faith play in Martin’s journey. How does Martin’s understanding of God provide momentum and comfort for him in his recovery?

Martin’s mother, Joan, experiences a vast range of emotions as she grapples with Martin’s condition and subsequent care. What does her experience reveal about the complicated nature of both love and grief? Support your response by citing specific examples from the book.

Discuss the relationship between dependence and independence, as evidenced through Martin’s experience. What does it mean to be independent if your body’s limitations require another person’s assistance?

Martin often alludes to the guilt he feels in relation to the pain his condition has caused other people, particularly his family. In the closing chapters of the book, he writes, “Guilt fills me as I think about the pain I’ve caused and wish I could take it back. If only I could give my family the simple, happy life they deserved” (266). How does Martin’s understanding of guilt evolve throughout the book? Does it change when he meets Joanna? Support your response with examples from the book.

Using Martin’s experiences as a point of reference, discuss the importance of community, specifically for those who belong to underrepresented communities. How does Martin’s own definition of himself change, for instance, when he becomes more involved in the community of AAC users?

Martin provides details of both the physical and sexual abuse that he endured at the hands of those who were supposed to care for him. Citing examples from the book to support your response, does Martin seem to confront or even overcome the weight of these traumatic experiences?

Discuss the role that persistence plays throughout the book, and how Martin’s experience sheds light on the power of the human spirit. Use examples from the book to support your arguments.