Summerland

How do Ethan, Jennifer T., and Thor’s feelings that they don’t belong influence the roles they play in the quest to save the world? In what ways are these three characters role models for young readers, and what lessons does each character offer about finding one’s strength in the face of adversity?

In the baseball games that Ethan’s team plays as they move through the Summerlands, how do both individual skill and teamwork come into play? Where do these two aspects of the game meet, and how does the game suffer when these aspects lack balance? Include textual evidence as proof.

Choose three deals Coyote offers throughout the book, and analyze both the terms of the deal itself and how he fulfills them, including his choice of words. For the three offers you chose, craft an argument about whether Coyote keeps his promise and, if so, how. Why do others accept his offers?

Using Taffy’s choice to help Coyote, discuss the intersection of loyalty and betrayal. Is Taffy betraying the group by being loyal to fixing the wrong she feels she committed? Why did she fall for Coyote’s bargain? Do you agree with the group’s decision to forgive her? Why or why not?

Compare and contrast the attitudes of Ethan’s group and the Big Liars toward Coyote. What does each group’s views say about what they value and what they’re willing to lose to get what they want? Defend both sides of the argument, and explain why each is valid.

When Ethan believes the clam’s prophecy is about him, it changes how he views himself, both as a person and as a baseball player. Using Ethan’s reaction to the prophesy, explore the intersection of interpretation and fact. What are the benefits and drawbacks of accepting belief as truth, and how does doing so affect Ethan’s view of himself and his world?

Analyze the role of baseball as a conflict resolution strategy in the Summerlands. What does Michael Chabon’s use of the game as a battleground say about the similarities between sports and war? Include a discussion of the thematic ideas in The Role of Competition.

Choose three characters who act as heroic role models for Ethan, and explore what makes each of them uniquely important to his character arc. What does Ethan learn from each role model’s strengths and weaknesses? How does he adjust his idea of being a hero based on what he learns from them? Is Ethan a true hero by the end of the book? Why or why not?