Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Gary D. Schmidt is known for blending humor with emotionally heavy topics. How did you react to this combination in Pay Attention, Carter Jones? If you’ve read his other books, like The Wednesday Wars or Okay for Now, how does this story compare in its tone and emotional impact?

2. What role does the title, Pay Attention, Carter Jones, play throughout the story? How did your understanding of this phrase change from the Butler’s initial command to Carter’s final reflections?

3. The Butler’s arrival is an extraordinary event in an otherwise ordinary suburban setting. Did you find his sudden appearance believable within the world of the story? What were your first impressions of him, and how did they evolve?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. How does the Butler’s role as a mentor compare to other mentor figures you’ve encountered in literature or your own life? What qualities made him so effective in guiding Carter through his family’s crisis?

2. How does the friendship between Carter and Carson Krebs, who are in different grades, challenge the typical social structures of middle school? Think about a time when a friendship offered you support or perspective in an unexpected way.

3. In what ways does Carter’s responsibility for his sisters force him to mature? Have you ever had to take on a new role or responsibility that changed how you saw yourself or your family?

4. Carson Krebs offers Carter the mantra “Don’t let the bails come down” as a way to encourage resilience. Do you have a personal motto or piece of advice that you turn to during difficult times?

5. The green marble serves as Carter’s tangible link to his brother, Currier. Think about a memento or object in your own life that holds significant personal meaning. What makes simple objects so powerful in connecting us to our memories and loved ones?

6. Grief causes the Jones family to isolate themselves, even from one another. In your experience, what are some of the ways communities can effectively support individuals and families navigating loss?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Why do you think the author chose cricket, a sport relatively unknown in the United States, as the central activity for the boys? What does its emphasis on sportsmanship and tradition suggest about finding order and community in modern life?

2. The novel provides a window into the stress military families can experience during a parent’s deployment, even before the situation escalates to abandonment. How does the story’s portrayal of the Jones household reflect the broader challenges faced by these families?

3. Along with cricket, the Butler introduces Carter to classic British authors like Edith Nesbit and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. What do you think these choices suggests about the role of literature and cultural heritage in shaping a young person’s character?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. How does Schmidt use the absent Captain Jones as the story’s primary antagonist? In what ways is his presence felt most strongly, and what makes him a compelling source of conflict despite never appearing in the present?

2. How did you find the novel’s structure, with each chapter named after a cricket term? Did this device enhance your reading experience, and how did it connect the action on the pitch to Carter’s emotional development?

3. What is the significance of the Blue Mountains of Australia as a recurring setting in Carter’s memories? How does this physical place transform into a symbol of his unresolved trauma and his fractured relationship with his father?

4. Carter’s sarcastic narrative voice acts as a defense mechanism against his pain. Where did you notice shifts in his tone throughout the book, and what did these changes reveal about his journey toward emotional honesty?

5. What does it mean to be a “gentleman” in this novel? Compare how the Butler’s unwavering code of conduct contrasts with Captain Jones’s “ungentlemanly” behavior, and discuss how Carter ultimately forges his own definition.

6. How does the recurring motif of the “Australian tropical thunderstorm” reflect the family’s internal emotional state? Where does this symbol appear at critical moments, and what does it tell you about their unresolved grief and anger?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine you could write a letter to one of the characters after the book ends. Who would you write to, and what would you want to say to them about their journey?

2. If you were adapting this story into a film, what actor would you cast as the Butler? What qualities would they need to bring to the role to capture his unique blend of formality, wisdom, and warmth?

3. The story concludes with Carter and his new family unit heading to Italy. Picture them one year later. What do you think their lives are like, and how has their journey together continued to shape them?