Rhyme Schemer

Compare and contrast Kevin’s home and school lives. How does the interaction between these two realms impact his coming of age? How does he grow both within his family and in his wider life?

Examine the motif of poetry and self-expression in the novel. How does Kevin’s use of, and attitude toward, poetry and creativity change over his character arc?

Compare and contrast Rhyme Schemer with another YA novel in verse, such as Andrea Beatriz Arango’s Iveliz Explains It All. How are the two works different or similar in their use of poems and/or their key themes?

Analyze the various forms of violence that appear in the text, such as Kevin’s bullying, Robin’s harassment of Kelly, and Petey’s violence toward Kevin. How are these forms of violence similar or different in their cause and effects? How does the novel explore violence and power dynamics more generally?

Rhyme Schemer is, in many ways, a coming-of-age story. How does the novel conform to, or diverge from, common features and tropes of coming-of-age narratives?

Select three symbols not explored in the guide. You might consider Kevin’s found poems, the tornado, or repeated images of neckties. How do these symbols advance some of the novel’s key themes and ideas?

Compare and contrast Mrs. Little’s, Mrs. Smithton’s, and Principal Hartwick’s characters. What roles do these authority figures play in Kevin’s story? What does the novel suggest about the nature of effective—and ineffective—authority?

Analyze one of the secondary characters in the text, such as Kelly, Robin, or Mrs. Little. How are they characterized? What is their wider role and significance in the text?