56 pages 1-hour read

Joan Bauer

Soar

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2016

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Essay Topics

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of illness and death.

1.

Soar is told from the first-person point of view of Jeremiah Lopper. How would the narrative change if told from someone else’s perspective? Consider how Franny, Bo, or even Mrs. Prim might relay what happens in Hillcrest after Jeremiah and Walt arrive.

2.

Robots like Jerwal and the SARBs factor prominently into Walt and Jeremiah’s lives. What might they symbolize? Why?

3.

Although she is not in the narrative, Jeremiah’s biological mother is mentioned frequently. How has she contributed to his identity?

4.

The eagle is a motif of resilience in Soar. However, Franny has a distressed reaction to the live eagle cam. In this moment, what does the bird represent to her?

5.

Grief arises in multifaceted ways in the novel: when Jeremiah thinks of his biological mother, when the town hears of Hargie Cantwell’s death, when Adler, the dog, still waits for his deceased owner. Evaluate how grief is portrayed. What might Bauer suggest about the mourning process?

6.

Analyze the significance of the Eagles achieving their first victory while Jeremiah is in the hospital, disconnected from the game.

7.

Consider Jeremiah’s ethically complex decision to tell Franny, “Don’t play like a girl” (276). What does his choice suggest about gender, stereotypes, and competitive motivation in youth sports?

8.

Trace the character arc of Donald Mole, from an untalented player to the hero who makes the game-winning catch. Why is his journey significant in the novel?

9.

Analyze Soar’s emphasis on found family, including Dr. Sarah Dugan’s remarks to Jeremiah. Based on the novel, how might family be defined?

10.

Although in St. Louis, Yaff stays in touch with Jeremiah. Analyze his character and the moments when he interacts with his friend. What is his role in the narrative.

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