The Best School Year Ever

How does the novel’s episodic structure affect your experience of its storytelling? How do its distinct episodes cohere into a single, overarching narrative?

When and why does Beth’s perspective on Imogene change? Does the narrative make it possible for the reader to have a different perspective, or does the narrative completely support Beth’s perspective?

How would you describe Beth’s sense of humor? What does her sense of humor say about her character? How does her humorous tone impact your understanding of the community and characters she describes?

How do the Herdmans choose to respond to their difficult circumstances? How does the community respond to them? What does this feedback loop reveal about The Need for Communal Support Systems for Families?

What are the ways in which Beth’s relationship with Alice parallels Mrs. Bradley’s relationship with Mrs. Wendleken? What does this imply about children and parents?

What differences do you see in the various Herdman children? How do these differences impact the story’s theme of The Importance of Seeing Beyond the Surface?

How do the three main families in this story—the Bradleys, the Wendlekens, and the Herdmans—exist on a continuum? What is the function of situating the Bradleys in the center of this continuum?

Read about the different kinds of cognitive biases and explain which ones are involved in Beth’s thinking about the Herdmans.