Slugfest

Choose three pairings of characters in Slugfest (such as Yash and Cleo) and explore how each of those pairs serves as foils for and complement each other in relation to one of the book’s major themes. What lessons does each of these pairings teach about growth and teamwork?

Compare and contrast Arabella’s attitude toward exposing the truth about Nate versus Mrs. Finnerty. What factors are responsible for Arabella’s different feelings toward each of them? What does Arabella’s attitude suggest about the impact of relationships on how she treats others?

What is the significance of how the slugs win the football tournament? Explore the result of Kaden fumbling the catch and Nate confessing the truth. What impacts do these actions have on both teams, and how do they influence the attitudes of the players?

Analyze the “evidence” that the slugs use to question Mrs. Finnerty’s legitimacy as a gym teacher. Would the kids have questioned her if she looked and acted the way the kids expect a gym teacher to look and act? What lessons does Mrs. Finnerty offer about The Need to Keep an Open Mind rather than making judgments based on stereotypes?

Compare Jesse’s investigative journalism project to the real-life spread of misinformation and disinformation. What techniques does Jesse employ that make false information so believable, and why are those techniques so effective? How does this subplot serve as a commentary on contemporary media in the real world?

Using the ideas discussed regarding the theme of the importance of context in determining fairness, analyze the intersection of truth and privacy. Are characters like Nate, who are keeping secrets, entitled to those secrets, even if they are breaking the rules? Why or why not? If so, when does privacy become more important than the truth? If not, is there such a thing as violating too much privacy en route to the truth?

Explore how privilege leads to misunderstandings and brings about both positive and negative consequences for the characters of Slugfest. Does privilege work against those who have it? Does it offer unanticipated benefits to those without it? Support your answer with evidence from the text.

Analyze Yash’s character arc against Hammond’s perspective in Chapter 22 and discuss the benefits and drawbacks of youth sports. What are the problematic and positive aspects of being an athlete? How does the pressure placed on the athletes in the book align with real-life pressures, and what lessons does Slugfest offer kids who struggle with feeling pressured by coaches, parents, and institutions?