The Great Turkey Walk

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What were your first impressions of Simon’s seemingly foolish plan, and how did your perspective change as the journey unfolded?

2. How does the adventurous spirit of this novel compare to other classic journey narratives you’ve read, like Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn? Did you see any parallels in the themes of friendship, freedom, and navigating a complex society?

3. What did you think of the book’s overall tone? It blends moments of high comedy and absurdity with serious subjects like slavery, abandonment, and survival. Did you find this balance effective?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. The novel celebrates a different kind of intelligence, valuing Simon’s practical skills and emotional wisdom over his academic failures. Have you ever encountered a situation where “book smarts” were less valuable than ingenuity or common sense?

2. Simon’s family dismisses him as “pea-brained,” but his teacher, Miss Rogers, sees his potential and invests in his dream. Can you think of a time when a mentor’s belief in you, or your belief in someone else, made a significant difference?

3. Jabeth’s joy upon reaching “freedom country” in Kansas is a powerful moment in the book. What did his personal journey for liberation add to the larger adventure story for you?

4. Which character’s personal transformation resonated with you the most? Were you more drawn to Simon’s coming of age, Mr. Peece’s path to redemption, Jabeth’s journey to freedom, or Lizzie’s recovery from trauma?

5. Have you ever undertaken a project that seemed incredibly ambitious or even foolish to others but that you deeply believed in? What motivated you to see it through?

6. The story ends with the group choosing to invest in a shared future by creating “The Great Turkey Five Ranch” (196). What do you find appealing about the idea of a “found family” and building a life with a chosen community?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The novel is set in 1860 on the volatile Missouri-Kansas border, just before the Civil War. How does the story use its adventurous, often comedic tone to engage with the grim realities of slavery and the political tensions of the era?

2. What do the group’s different encounters with authority figures—from the honorable John Winter Prairie and his Pottawatomie warriors to the careless US Cavalry soldiers—suggest about justice and power on the American frontier?

3. How does the book’s depiction of the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush, which created a huge demand for food in Denver, frame the idea of the “American Dream”? Does it present entrepreneurship as a path to success for anyone with a clever idea and enough grit?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. How did Simon’s first-person narration, with its simple and earnest voice, affect your experience of the story? How does his self-deprecation as “simple-minded” create irony as he successfully navigates complex challenges?

2. Picaresque novels are often satires of the societies they take place in. How does the contrast between Simon and the people he encounters on his journey create satire?

3. Kathleen Karr was known for her historical fiction for young readers, including the award-winning novel The Boxer. How does The Great Turkey Walk fit within this genre? In what ways does it follow, or perhaps challenge, the conventions of a young-adult adventure story?

4. How do characters like Simon, Peece, and Jabeth redefine the identities that have been forced upon them by society? How does their collective identity at the end of the novel as the owners of “The Great Turkey Five Ranch” relate to this question?

5. Picaresque novels often have an episodic structure. Is this true of The Great Turkey Walk? Why or why not?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. The story concludes with the founding of “The Great Turkey Five Ranch.” If you were tasked with designing a handbill or advertisement for their new business, what key moments or symbols from their journey would you highlight?

2. Imagine you are Miss Rogers receiving Simon’s final, triumphant letter detailing the group’s success and future plans. What would you write in your reply to him, Lizzie, Peece, and Jabeth?

3. Simon’s group is a collection of outcasts who form a powerful team. If you could add one more person to their great turkey walk, what kind of character would they be, and what unique skill or perspective would they bring to the found family?