Project 17

Project 17

Laurie Faria Stolarz

About the book:

High atop Hathorne Hill, just outside of Boston, sits Danvers State Hopsital. Built in 1878 and closed in 1992, this abandoned mental institution is rumored to be the birthplace of the lobotomy. Local have long believed the place to be haunted. They tell stories about the unmarked graves in the back, and of cold winds felt through its underground tunnels. And then there are the treasures found inside, eerie remnants of its former tenants: journals, hair combs, bars of soap, even old medical records, all left behind for trespassers to view.

                On the eve of the hospital’s demolition, six teens break in to spend the night and film a movie about their adventures. For Derik, it’s an opportunity to win a filmmaking contest and save himself from a future of flipping burgers at his parents’ diner. For the others, it’s a chance to be on TV, or for a night with no parents. But what starts as a playful dare quickly escalates into a frenzy of nightmarish action. Behind the crumbling walls and down every dark passageway, these high schoolers will unravel the mysteries of those who once lived there and of the spirits who still might.

Author Interview:

1. Did you scare yourself writing this novel?
2. What’s your writing process- do you plot or just dive right into the story?
3. What books have influenced you most as a writer?
4. What can your fans look forward to next?

Discussion Guide:

1. What is Derik interested in doing at the old mental institution, Danvers Sate Hospital? What do you know about the historical treatment of people with mental illnesses? Would you want to visit such a place or not? Why?
2. Who was Liz named after? What has she been raised to believe is her destiny? Is it fair for parents to push their kids into a particular academic field or sport? Where is the line between support and encouragement and pressure and demanding? Have you ever been pressured into anything by your parents?
3. Derik, too, has a future planned out by his parents. What do they want him to do? Do you know anyone in a family business?  What does Derik believe is his only way out? Which family member supports his filmmaking efforts? Have you ever had an extended family member or other adult become a mentor like this?
4. What personal interest does Mimi have in the Danvers Hospital? What does she hope to discover there? Is it a realistic goal?
5. Who are Greta and Tony? Why do they agree to go along with the project? How would you describe their personalities? What does Chet add to the ensemble? What are his reasons for going? Who would you most likely become friends with in this motley group? Why?
6. Have you ever thought about creating a film? What topic would most inspire you? Have you ever watched any documentaries or independent films? How do they differ from industry films?
7. Everyone seems to have a moment of terror in the novel. Which is the freakiest moment to you? Do you think they are creating the terror or is it real? What can fear do to your reason and senses? Do you believe in ghosts or spirits? Can they make connections with humans?
8. Who is Christine? How does she almost become another member of the project? What do they learn about her history? What do they discover about her story?
9. How do the individuals make unlikely connections because of the project? Have you ever been involved in something that created impossible friendships like these, at least for a while? What kinds of experiences make people closer? Do they last past this one night? Why?
10. How do each of the teens change over the course of this one night? Are they all positive changes or are there some negative repercussions to this night as well? Who do you think changed the most? Why?

Projects:

Language Arts:

Write a deleted scene through the eyes of your favorite character in the novel. Try to pick up the voice and have the events in your scene be authentic to the story, character, and their relationships. It can be before, during or after the closing of the novel.

Character Chart: Fill out the following chart as you read the novel

Character	Description	Why involved in Project 17	In the end…
Derik
Liz
Tony
Greta
Chet
Christine

History:

Research the treatment of the mentally ill and mentally disabled. Create a PowerPoint presentation or a website about what you learned. Discuss how you think treatment options might change in the next one hundred years for the mentally ill.

Music:

Choose your favorite scene in the novel. Find or create a piece of music which you think will accompany the scene. Explain your choice in a brief journal.

Art:

Experiment with the art of filmmaking. Take at least twenty minutes of footage at a location and event of your choice. If possible, experiment with editing to create a five minute presentation to share with the class.

Deadly Little Secret

Deadly Little Secret

by Laurie Faria Stolarz

About the book:

Until three months ago, everything about sixteen-year-old Camelia’s life had been fairly ordinary: decent grades; an okay relationship with her parents; and a pretty cool part-time job at an art studio downtown. But when Ben, the mysterious new guy, starts junior year at her high school Camelia’s life becomes far from ordinary.

Rumored to be somehow responsible for his ex-girlfriend’s accidental death, Ben is immediately ostracized by everyone on campus. Except for Camelia. She’s reluctant to believe he’s trouble, even when her friends try to convince her otherwise. Instead she’s inexplicably drawn to Ben… and to his touch. But soon, Camelia is receiving eerie phone calls and strange packages with threatening notes. Ben insists she is in danger, and that he can help—but can he be trusted? She knows he’s hiding something…but he’s not the only one with a secret. From the best selling author of Blue Is for Nightmares comes this new story of paranormal romance that’s sure to be a thrilling a chilling teen favorite.

About the author:

Laurie Faria Stolarz is the author of several popular young adult novels, including Project 17 and Bleed, as well as Blue is for Nightmares, White is for Magic, Silver is for Secrets and Red is for Remembrance. Born and raised in Salem, Massachusetts, Stolarz attended Merrimack College and received an MFA in creative writing from Emerson College in Boston. For more information, please visit her web site atwww.lauriestolarz.com

Discussion guide:

1. Why do you think the author opened the book with the scene in the parking lot? What do we learn about the main character? What questions does it set up in the reader’s mind? Why do you think Ben denies his involvement?

2. Why are some chapters in an odd font? Who is speaking in those chapters? What do we learn about him or her over time? What is the most disturbing thing about this voice? How does the voice change over the course of the novel?

2. Describe Camelia and her friends, Kimmie and Wes. How do the friends compliment each other? Who would you want for your best friend out of the three? Why?
3. What does Camelia begin to receive in the mail? Would you be flattered or freaked out by this kind of attention? Are all secret admirers a little bit creepy? Would you want one for yourself or not? Why?
4. Who is Matt? How was he the perfect boyfriend? Why didn’t Camelia want his particular kind of intensity? Would you date one of your guy friends or not? Can it ever end up well? Is he trying to make her jealous?
5. Ben has a reputation for having been a part of his ex-girlfriend’s death. How do people treat him because of it? Do you this kind of gossip and cruelty is pretty typical of American high schools? Does Ben deserve it?
6. Why is Knead such a perfect place for Camelia to work? What would be the perfect part-time job for you? Who works at Knead? How does Spencer push Camelia about her sculpture? Why does he criticize her? How do you take criticism of your own artistic endeavors?
7. Explain how Ben and Camelia end up going out on dates despite his reputation. Would you be willing to date someone who had a violent past or not?  Do you think part of the intensity between them is the sense of danger that Camelia must feel? What creates attraction between two people?
8. What do you think of Ben’s extra-sensory perception? Would you like to have this ability or not? Why? Find six adjectives that describe Ben.
9. How is Ben connected to Debbie Marcus? What ends up happening to her? How does it add drama and suspense to Camelia’s own story? In the end, what happens to Debbie?
10. Why doesn’t Camelia turn to her parents? When would you have called them in for help? Do parents tend to overreact to these types of situations? In the end, what happens? How do you think the experience will change Camelia?

Projects:

Reading:

Create a character map on the character who most intrigues you as a reader. Take notes on the four ways a reader gets to know a character- what they say, what they do, how others react to them and how they change over time. Be sure to list page numbers that show these details.

Writing:

Laurie Faria Stolarz has an amazing ability to write dialogue that sounds like friends who have known each other for years. Try to write a scene of dialogue that sounds like your friends (without actually stealing words just out of their mouths!)

Music:

Create a playlist to listen to while reading this novel. Explain your choices in a brief journal.

Art:

Sculpture, of course with an open subject. Follow Spencer’s advice: “Search. Examine. Sculpt from the inside out, and not the other way around. Don’t be afraid to screw up along the way.” (p. 175)

Bleed

Bleed

by Laurie Faria Stolarz

About the book:

Over the course of a single day, the lives of ten teenagers will intersect in powerful and unexpected ways. Among them are Nicole, whose decision to betray her bet friend will shock everyone, most of all herself; Kelly, who meets the convicted felon she’s been writing to for years; and Maria, whose definition of a true friend is someone who will cut her. Derik discovers his usual good looks and charm won’t help him get the girl he really wants, while Joy, a fifteen-year-old waitress, hoping for true intimacy, narrowly escapes a very dark fate. Seamlessly woven together, this collection of interconnected short stories paints an authentic portrait of today’s teen experience that is at once funny, moving and haunting.

About the guide:

This guide includes discussion questions and projects intended to extend the use of the novel into classrooms, book clubs, and literature circles. It should promote discussion on the themes of the novel including friendship, family life, teen sexuality, betrayal, violence and abuse.

About the author:

Laurie Faria Stolarz is the author of the hugely popular young adult novels Blue Is for Nightmares, White Is for Magic, Silver Is for Secrets, and Red Is for Rememberance. Born and raised in Salem, Massachusetts, Stolarz attended Merrimack College and received an MFA in Creative Writing from Emerson College in Boston. She is currently working on a companion novel to Bleed.

Pre-reading:

Do you think teens spend more time thinking about friendship or romance? Why? Which is more important in the long term? How often do teens betray one another? Do you think this is more often or less than adult relationships?

Discussion Guide:

Nicole Bouchard

1. Why do you think Nicole lets things unfold the way the do with Sean? At how many different points could she have stopped the events? How much of the blame does Sean carry? Do girls carry more of the blame in these situations? Why or why not?

2. What do you think will happen when Kelly comes home from California? Will they admit what happened to her? If so, how will she react? Does Sean and Nicole’s relationship have a chance at survival if they do give it a go? Why or why not?

3. In ten years do you think Nicole will regret the way she lost her virginity or not? Can there be a good first experience?  Do you think men or women are more likely to have a bad first experience? Why?

Maria Krito

1. Why do you think Maria keeps a memento from each friend who cuts her? Are these people her true friends or not? What does she come to realize about her friends?
2. What transaction takes place between Maria and her “Uncle Luke?” Do you think this is a common event? What makes you think so or not? Is Maria wrong to submit? Why?
3. What is Maria’s relationship with Sadie? Who do you think has the worse homelife- Sadie or Maria? Why?

Kelly Pickerel

1. Why do you think Kelly gets involved with Robbie Mardonia? What does she convince herself about him? Why does she keep this relationship a secret? Do you think two people can actually fall in love with just letters (or email)?
2. Convicted murderers (and death row inmates) often receive lots of fan mail from women. Why do you think this is so? What does it say about our society? Or does it only speak of the women who write?
3. Describe Robbie and Kelly’s first meeting. Why is it not what she expected? Is it what Robbie hopes? Why or why not?

Derik LaPointe

1. Describe the encounter between Derik and Mearl. How is it different for him than his usual interactions with girls?
2. In the end, who do you think is most affected by their meeting? Will it change Derik in any fundamental way or not? What has he learned about himself, if anything? What did Mearl learn?
3. How is Derik’s description of their meeting different from Mearls? What does that tell us about each of them?

Sadie Dubinski

1. What is Sadie’s obsession? How do you think she got this way? What is like to be Sadie? How do you think she is treated at school?
2. Do you think Sadie will always have a problem with food? What seems to be the only quality that Sadie’s mother admires in her daughters? Do you think this is common in our society? Why?
3. Should a mother ever discuss weight issues with her son her daughter? How could it be done in a truly supportive manner?

Robbie Mardonia

1. Joy says in Robbie’s story, “I thought there was more to the relationship than there really was. It’s weird how we do that, you know, just fill in the blanks with our own answer key.” (p.134) Do you think this is a common mistake in teen relationships? Why or why not?
2. What do Robbie and Joy see in the woods? Why is it there? Why do people create these? Do you believe Robbie’s story? Can murder ever be accidental?
3. Predict what you think Robbie will become in the next five years? Do you think he will try to find Kelly?

Mearl Aremian

1. What is Mearl searching for? How does she try to find it? Do you think most of her behavior is just a well scripted act or does she believe herself too?
2. What is Mearl’s backstory? How do you think this has affected her current situation? Do you believe in palm and aura reading? Why or why not?
3. How do Maria and Mearl meet? Do you think they can become true friends? Why or why not?

Ginger Dubinsky

1. Ginger believes the rumor about Kelly and Mr. Vargas. Do you? Are there rumors about teachers and their students on every campus? What percentage of these stories do you think have any merit?
2. Why does Ginger want to bring Kelly down? How does she orchestrate her plan? Do you think she is obsessed with Kelly? Would you want revenge too?
3. Does Sean’s guilt help Ginger uncover the truth? How? Can some people cheat and lie without any conscience? How do you know if your boyfriend or girlfriend is capable of it?

Joy Ryder

1. How does Danny Winslow treat Joy at school? How common is this type of behavior in school? Why do you think boys often get away with year after year? What causes this violence against girls?
2. Joy is left to fend for herself against Danny and his nastiness. Do teens ever stick up for each other? When? What should she do in this situation?
3. In the end, what will happen between Joy and Danny now? Will he continue to harass her at school? Will she reveal his secrets? What makes you think so or not?

Sean O’Connell

1. What does Sean learn about Nicole on this day that he never admitted to himself before?
2. What do you think will happen when Kelly comes home? Will they admit what happened between them in the garden? Should they?
3. How has Sean changed over the course of this one day? Which character do you think changed the most? Why?
4. Do the stories in this collection represent typical teen lives or not? Why?
5. Which characters did you most identify with in the story? Why?

Projects:

Language Arts:

Write a letter from one character to another whose stories did not connect in the original. What would they learn from each other?

Music:

Choose the music that you think should be played during one of the chapters. Why did you pick this song? How does the rhythm and instrumentation add to the scene? Why these lyrics?

Art:

Create a piece of art through the eyes of one of the characters in the novel but don’t reveal your identity! Then, have an art gallery and see if students can identify who the piece is supposed to represent.

Social Studies:

Create a pamphlet about one of the issues that appears in this collection:

anorexia

bulimia

cutting

sexual harassment

murder among teens

casual sex and its consequences