What's In a Name

What’s In a Name

by Ellen Wittlinger

About the book:

As if the students of Scrub Harbor High don’t have enough to worry about: Christine is quickly losing her friend Georgie to Ricardo; Nelson can’t connect with Shaquanda; Adam’s role as the new kid is tougher than he thought; and O’Neill’s controversial poem has electrified the school while making life unbearable for his football-star brother, Quincy. In ten interlocking stories, Ellen Wittlinger addresses the rarely discussed issues of class and identity that inform so much of teenage life. What’s in a Name is a bold report from the cutting edge of teenage concerns.

About the guide:

This guide includes discussion questions and projects appropriate for book clubs, literature circles, and classroom discussions. It is intended to provoke thought and insight into the themes of this novel which include identity, friendship, romantic relationships, peer pressure, and class and race issues.

Author Interview:

1.      Why did you decide to write the novel in several voices?

Writing in ten different voices was actually the inspiration for the book. I wanted to look at one situation from many different points of view, and also look at how the students' perceptions of each other might change over time.

2.      The awkward, realistic dialogue between teens is always pitch perfect. Do they come out that way?

 Voices come easily to me--I just hear them. I've always been able to write dialogue--it's one of my few gifts. I wrote plays for several years when I was younger and I think that honed the ability too.

3.      Did you do a great deal of pre-writing for this book? How did you develop such distinct characters?

I did write a few notes on who each character was and how they might change during the story. But I don't do a lot of pre-writing. I find the characters come to life more easily if I just let them evolve naturally.

4.      What inspired the central conflict in the book?

I took the story of the Scrub Harbor/Folly Bay conflict from the real life drama of a small city near where I used to live. Lynn, Massachusetts, an old industrial center now fallen on hard times, had been known as "Lynn, Lynn, City of Sin," for years, and a group of people put forward a referendum to change the city's name to Ocean Park. They failed because the old Lynners didn't want to lose the identity of the place they'd grown up. It seemed to me this made a perfect background for a story about teenagers who are searching for the truth of their own identities.

5.      Who would you be friends with from the novel? Why?

 I would be friends with Georgie, and I would have a crush on O'Neill. Which is to say, Christine is my alter ego here. I always liked the unusual kids--they were the most interesting to me. I guess they still are.

Discussion Guide:

1.      Describe Georgie. Why do you think she acts the way she does? Do you think she’s right about the way her mom feels about her? Is she a reliable narrator?

2.      Do you think it would be hard to live in such a wealthy community? Do you think people are divided in this country more by race or economics? Why? Support your answer.

3.      Why doesn’t O’Neill have any real friends? Why is his brother so much more popular? What is he thinking about revealing?

4.      Do you think O’Neill should have told his family first? Why or why not? What do you think of the way Quincy handles the public announcement? What did you think of O’Neill’s speech at the support meeting?

5.      Compare Ricardo’s life in America with the one he left in Brazil. Would you like to be an exchange student after reading Ricardo’s chapter? What do you think would be the most difficult part of living where you are only learning the language?

6.      Why do you think Christine and Georgie are friends? What does Ricardo think of each of them? How do their friendships change over the course of the novel? Do all friendships change? Why or why not?

7.      Everyone thinks Nadia is a mouse except Adam. Why? What does Nadia mean when she says, “…I don’t know where to buy a new personality.” Why does she think she needs one? Do all teenagers feel this way sometimes?

8.      Why do things get so tense between Nelson and Shaquanda? With whom do you agree? Why? Why does Shaquanda say “I think we’ll be who we are by then” (p. 87) What do you think she means?

9.      Why does Shaquanda talk so hard it sometimes scare people? What does Shaquanda have to do each day just to get to Scrub Harbor High? Would you be willing to do this?

10.  Adam and Gretchen discuss the disadvantages of being popular. Do you agree with them? Will it change how they behave in college? Adam says, “Maybe we’re only who other people think we are.” (p. 103) Do you agree with him? Why or why not?

11.  Do you think Quincy and Gretchen will break up? Why? How do Quincy’s parents start treating him differently? Would this make you angry if you were him? How would you feel in his shoes?

12.  How does Gretchen change over the course of the novel? Is she someone you’d want to be friends with? Why or why not? Who has the most influence over her? Do you think she will allow that to continue? Would you?

13.  What does it mean to be a Scrub or a Folly? Why do you think the students felt the need to choose sides? What did the issue mean to them? If you lived there whose side would you be on? Why?

14.  Did you think any of the characters were stereotypes? As you learned more about them, did that change? Do your feelings about real people also change as you get to know them? Did any of the characters change their opinions about others during the course of the book? What can make you change your mind about someone?

15.  Whose chapter did you like the best? Who would you be most likely to be friends with? Who, if anyone, would you like to date? Did you dislike any of the characters? Who? Why? How do readers get to know characters?

Projects:

Language Arts:

Fill out the chart on character below.

 

Fill out the character chart below as you read the novel. Use page numbers to reference your findings.

Character	Quote from them	Description	Folly or Scrub and why	Prediction for future
Georgie
O’Neill
Ricardo
Christine
Nadia
Nelson
Shaquanda
Adam
Quincy
Gretchen

Math:

Research tuition costs for four different colleges that might interest you. What are the expenses for room and board? How much do books average each semester? Compare these costs with the average salary you’re likely to be paid in the field you want to enter. How many years will it take you to earn back the investment? Turn in the hard numbers, any data gleaned from websites or publications, and a brief journal about what you learned.

Art:

Create a piece of art through the eyes of one of these characters. Explain in a brief paragraph on the back why you picked the media and subject that you did.

Music:

Create a soundtrack for the film release of What’s In a Name.

History:

Research the story of a town’s name. It could be a local place, where you were born or where your family was originally from.  Find out how it got its name and whether it has ever been changed.

Long Night of Leo and Bree

The Long Night of Leo and Bree

by Ellen Wittlinger

About the Book:

Leo is losing it. It’s the fourth anniversary of the brutal murder of his sister, Michelle. And since then his dad has left the family for Kentucky, his mom has lost touch with reality, and Leo hears his sister’s voice telling him to hurt someone. Bree is the privileged girl from Hawthorne trying to break free of her mother’s constant worry and her boyfriend’s control by “slumming” it in working-class Fenton. In the course of one long night the two meet and both lives are changed forever.

About the guide:

This guide includes discussion questions and projects appropriate for book clubs, literature circles, and classroom discussions. It is intended to provoke thought and insight into the themes of this novel which include family expectations, violence, privilege, healing, and self-identity.

Author Interview:

What inspired the story of Leo and Bree?

 I had a good friend to whom something similar happened. She was older than Bree and didn't end up in a basement overnight, but she did talk her way out of the situation by "making herself real." That was the part of her story that I wanted to dissect--it was so interesting to me.

How do you stay connected to teen’s voices and culture?

 My own children are in their twenties now, so I don't have the voices in my house anymore, but I do lead a teen reading group at my local library. And doing school visits is another way to stay in touch. But a trip to the local mall is almost as helpful. You just have to keep your eyes and ears open. And it's not really work for me to do this--I still feel like a kid myself (at least in my head) and enjoy teen movies, books, TV shows, etc.

What do you hope readers take away from this story?

 As in all my books, I hope I'm shaking up the stereotypes a little bit. Is Leo really a terrible person? Is Bree as perfect as she looks? I also hope readers think about what it means to "make yourself real" to someone, and why that might be the thing that breaks down barriers.

Do you plot your novels or just follow where they lead? Why?

 I plot them less than I once did. I usually have an idea of where I HOPE the book will end, and then I work my way toward that end, but sometimes the characters have minds of their own and I don't end up where I thought I would. That's what makes writing fun.

What advice would you give young adults hoping to become writers?

The advice I give to everyone who wants to write is simple: read everything you can get your hands on, and write every day, if only in a journal. Just as in playing an instrument, practice is the secret to writing well.

What can your fans look forward to next?

The next book to be published is called BLIND FAITH. It's about two teenagers who have lost or will soon lose beloved family members, and how that calls into question their beliefs. I know, it sounds heavy, but there is actually a lot of humor in it.

Discussion Guide:

1.      Describe Leo’s family. Who is living in the family home? Who is missing and why? Would you stay if this was your circumstance? Why or why not?

2.      Bree says, “I’m sick of listening to all these people trying to convince me what experts they are on my future.” (p.8) To whom is she referring? Do you think all teenagers feel this way? Why? How is Bree trying to break free from these ties?

3.      Do you think Leo is mentally disturbed? Why? What evidence do you have from the text to support your answer? Would anyone lose touch with reality under these circumstances? Why are some people able to piece their lives back together after tragedy while other families fall apart?  Is this family even capable of healing?

4.      On page 35 Leo gives a long list of “What if” sentences. What does this show about his grief? How do his actions get so out of control so quickly?  Predict what you think Leo’s life would’ve been like without the murder of his sister. Can anyone be capable of this kind of faulty thinking? Are all humans violent?

5.      What is the one piece of advice that Bree remembers from her self-defense class? Do you think it saved her life? Why do you think this technique is so successful? Do you think you would be able to maintain enough composure to get your assailant to talk like Bree did? What would you tell him about yourself?

6.      Leo alternates between objectifying Bree and feeling protective of her actions. Why doe he keep waffling between these two extremes? What is motivating his responses to her? How is she becoming more human? Where do you think the turning point happened for Bree’s safe return?

7.      Compare Leo and Bree’s families. What, if anything, do they have in common? How are they different? Do you think Bree’s family will become closer because of the events of the story or will it only drive the wedge deeper?

8.      Despite his erratic behavior and threatening of violence, Leo is still a sympathetic though complicated character. Do you think all criminals deserve to be understood? Why or why not?

9.      Describe the main setting of the story. How does it add to the psychological landscape within the pages? What locations would not be appropriate for this type of novel? How does it add to the tension in the story?

10.  How do you think Bree and Leo will be changed from this experience? Is it possible that they will both be better people because of it? Do you think Bree might slip and give away Leo’s identity? Would you protect him?

11.  What act is the beginning of healing Leo and his mother’s life? How is it accomplished? Would you be willing to help your attacker in such a way? Why?

12.  What does Bree do at the restaurant? What does this show you about her path for college and beyond? What realizations did Bree come to during the night?

Projects:

Language Arts:

Write a letter from Leo to Bree but date it two years past the close of the novel. Explain what has changed in his life since the events of that long night. Respond as Bree.

Music:

Create a soundtrack for the movie release of The Long Night of Leo and Bree. Use at least eight different songs and explain your choices in a brief journal.

Art:

Create two pieces of art- one inspired by Bree, the other Leo. Don’t just think about the figures but be purposeful in your choice of color, design (abstract? realistic?) and media. Explain your choices in a journal.

Health:

Research what your actions should be if you are attacked. What are the actions of most survivors? Create a reminder to review occasionally and keep in the glove box of your car or locker.

You!

Hard Love

Hard Love

by Ellen Wittlinger

About the book:

John’s life is an emotional shipwreck. His mom never touches him since his parents divorced and his dad would rather be anywhere than spending weekends with his son. John takes comfort in writing his zine and reading other zines like Escape Velocity by Marisol, a self-proclaimed “Puerto Rican Cuban Yankee Lesbian.” As their friendship develops, John’s protective shell cracks and he allows himself to admit his feelings about his parents and eventually for Marisol.

About the guide:

This guide includes discussion questions and projects appropriate for book clubs, literature circles, and classroom discussions. It is intended to provoke thought and insight into the themes of this novel which include family expectations, self-identity, escape, relationships, friendship, love and truth.

Author Interview:

How did you become interested in zines? How have they changed since the publication of the novel?

My daughter's friend, Colette, had a zine when she was 15 (and still puts out issues sporatically now, even though she's almost 10 years older!) As soon as I saw her issues I was intrigued with this method of putting your writing (and your feelings) out into the world. It was a phenomenon that was new to me, but Colette put me in touch with other zine writers too and I wrote to them to see what had driven them to produce their zines. It seemed like a natural fit for a YA novel. There are still many paper zines around today--if you search the Net you'll find lots of sources for them. Factsheet 5 is no longer available, and many zines are now e-zines, but the zine movement is still very alive.

What inspired John and Marisol’s story?

 I had always wanted to write a story in which a gay or lesbian teen character was already out of the closet and comfortable with his or her sexuality. Up until that point, most books for YAs with gay protagonists were about their coming out. I wanted to write the NEXT chapter. Both Marisol and John sprang full-blown into my imagination and their chemistry was great. Because of who Marisol is, the story's ending is inevitable, to me, yet many readers are upset by it. Which  isn't a bad thing either.

John was really transformed by his friendship with Marisol. Do you think this influence of friends is typical of teen relationships?

I think it's very common for a friend with a strong personality to affect a teenager--for better or for worse. At this age, kids are much closer to their friends than to their parents, and they're very open to new experiences. Of course they'll be influenced by friends.

Do you ever find yourself still thinking about the characters you created? Do you know what happens to them after the close of the novel?

I do sometimes think about them, but I don't usually create a life for them that lasts much past the end of the book. If I did, I suppose I'd write a sequel. And though I've always been nervous about writing sequels, fearing the second book wouldn't live up the reader's hopes for it, Hard Love is one book I have considered doing a sequel for. Maybe next time we'll be in Marisol's head.

 Discussion Guide:

1.      In the first line of the novel John claims that he is “immune to emotion.” How has he changed by the end of the novel? What causes this transformation?

2.      Describe John’s relationship with his mother. What is odd about how she interacts with him? Can you imagine this trait in your own maternal relationship?

3.      Compare Marisol and John. What do they have in common? How are they quite different from each other? How do they bridge their differences to build a friendship?

4.      Marisol asks John, “If you don’t know who you are how is anybody else supposed to get to know you?” Do you agree with her? If you were going to describe yourself like Marisol does in only four words which ones would you choose? Why?

5.      John doesn’t seem to have a problem lashing out at his parents (reread pages 39 and 64 for examples) but it doesn’t seem to help. Why not?  Do all teenagers  spar with their parents like this? Why or why not? Is it possible to get along with your parents during the teen years? How?

6.      How does John treat Brian? Why? Do you think what they have is true friendship? Why or why not? Are all friendships tested and proven? How is this one tested? How is Marisol and John’s friendship tested?

7.      Why do you think John asked Marisol to the prom when he was so disdainful of it? What went wrong? Why are events like this so important to some teens and not others?

8.      Both John’s dad and Marisol’s parents seemed to encourage their physical relationship. Why?  What did they both have to gain? How was the intimacy that John and Marisol shared actually closer than many physical relationships? What creates intimacy?

9.      At first John questions his sexuality. Why? Do you think by the end of the novel this issue is resolved? Did you think that Marisol would become attracted to John in the novel? What clues did you have? Why did she call him “her only boyfriend?”

10.  Do you think John was justified in giving the letters that he wrote to his parents? What were their reactions? What do you think their relationships will be after his letters? What clues do you have to support this answer?

11.  Who is Diana? What does she do for him? Do you think this relationship has any hope? Why?

12.  How was the ending inevitable? Although the relationship couldn’t be reciprocated in the way John needed was he still better for having attempted it? Is he a better person after it’s over? Is all love, hard love?

13.  "That's what I love about writing. Once you get the words down on paper, in print, they start to make sense. It's like you don't know what you think until it dribbles from your brain down your arm and into your hand and out through your fingers and shows up on the computer screen, and you read it and realize: that's really true; I believe that." (p.7) Do you agree with John? Is this how writing works for you? Which method were you taught in school: to pre-write and outline your ideas or to dive in and see what you think? Is one more valid than the other? What method do you think published writers use?

Projects:

Language Arts:

Create your own zine of at least eight pages. It can be fictional and you may take a nom de plume.

-or-

Write the next zine installment for either John or Marisol.

Music:

When John listens to the music of Hard Love he feels like the song has been written just for him. He realizes then that “I was not the only person to ever feel so tortured. Somebody had written this song; it had happened to somebody else.” (p. 213) Find a song that has given you a similar feeling. Explain your choice in a brief journal.

Art:

Create a piece of art with an ordinary box. On the outside have it represent the part of you that the entire world sees. On the inside, have the color, shapes, figures and design reveal the real you we all keep to ourselves. Title your work, but do not explain it unless you prefer.

Blind Faith

Blind Faith

By Ellen Wittlinger

About the book:

After Liz Scattergood’s grandmother, Bunny, dies, Liz’s mother spirals into a deep depression. She barely gets out of bed let alone does any work in her pottery studio like she used to. Then Liz’s mom starts attending a spiritualist church, where she believes she can communicate with Bunny through a medium. Liz thinks it’s weird, but she agrees to go along- maybe it’s a way for her and her mother to bond. But for Liz’s atheist dad, the spiritualist church has the opposite effect- it drives him away from her mom and their family. Without anyone to talk to, Liz turns to her new neighbor, Nathan, who’s dealing with his own mother’s terminal cancer, and together,  Liz and Nathan help each other cope in the wake of loss. In this moving novel, acclaimed author Ellen Wittlinger explores how a loved one’s death impacts those who are left behind.

About the author:

Ellen Wittlinger is the critically acclaimed author of the teen novels Lombardo’s Law, Sandpiper, Heart on My Sleeve, Zigzag, The Long Night of Leo and Bree, Razzle, What’s In a Name, and Hard Love (an ALA Michael L. Printz Honor Book and a Lambda Literary Award winner), and the middle grade novel Gracie’s Girl. She has a bachelor’s degree from Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois, and an MFA from the University of Iowa. A former children’s librarian she lives with her husband in Haydenville, Massachusetts.

Author Interview:

Author Interview for BLIND FAITH

1. After writing so many books for teens has it gotten easier?

The way in which the writing gets easier is that I trust myself more now to be able to finish what I’ve started. I’m more confident that I can write myself to an ending. But the day to day work hasn’t changed. Sometimes it flows; sometimes it’s an uphill slog.

2. What five books would you take with you to the afterlife if you could?

Only Five? Surely there’s a celestial library where I can borrow more? Okay, well…

100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, one of my favorite books which would surely stand up to repeated readings.

The Collected Stories of Grace Paley because I love her voice and the humanness of her characters and would be happy to spend the afterlife with them.

Remembrance of Things Past by Marcel Proust because I haven’t taken the time to read it but I’d like to, and in the afterlife I’ll have lots of time.

The Collected Works of William Shakespeare because that alone could keep me laughing and weeping and pondering throughout eternity.

Hard Love by me, to remind myself what my work on earth had been.

3. You tackle some weighty topics in this novel. What inspired you to do so? What do you hope it accomplishes?

A few years ago a friend of mine had started attending a Spiritualist church where she felt she had gotten in touch with some of her dead relatives. Even though I’m a skeptic about such things, I went with her a few times to see what it was all about. What struck me was, once I was there, I wanted to believe what the preachers said too! Being in the church atmosphere where everyone else believed was very powerful, though once outside again I went back to my skepticism. I thought it would be valuable to talk about this in a book: why do people believe what they believe? Why is blind faith so helpful to some people but not others? I didn’t mean to give any definitive answers, just to pose the questions.

4. Do you worry about censorship with this or any of your novels?

None of my novels have been formally challenged or censored, that I know of. But I don’t worry about it too much—you can’t allow other people to dictate your book to you. A challenge usually just brings more publicity for the book anyway. Not that I want my books challenged—I certainly don’t, because that means there will probably be some people who are kept from reading them. And, even worse, it probably means that some valiant teacher or librarian has to put her/his neck on the chopping block on my behalf, which would be terrible.

5. What are you working on now?

The next book to be published will be Parrotfish in summer, 2007, a book about a female-to-male transgendered teenager. This book, which explores the meaning of gender, is very close to my heart. The novel I’m working on now doesn’t have a title yet. It’s a companion book to Hard Love, but this time I’m writing from Marisol’s point of view. The story continues about four months after Hard Love ends.

About this 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 family, friendship, spirituality, death, and hope.

Pre-reading:

What does it mean to have blind faith? What does it mean to have any kind of faith? How does some one get it?

Discussion Guide:

1. Why do you think Wittlinger opens the novel with a funeral scene? What are we able to learn about each family member because of it? If you had to describe each member of Liz’s family in one word which one would you choose after reading the beginning of the novel?
2. Describe the relationship Liz has with her mother. Compare it to the one Christine and Bunny shared. Why do you think it hasn’t trickled down into the next generation?
3. Who is Monica Winters? What does she offer Christine? Do you believe in a spirit world? Can some people see more than others? What makes you think so or not?
4. How does Liz feel about boys? Roxy, her best friend, feels differently. How has this changed their friendship? Does this often happen between girls? Does it  affect boy’s friendships too?
5. Who are Nathan and Courtney? Why have they landed in Tobias? Where does Nathan feel like he really belongs? What do you think it would be like to live with Mrs. Crosby?
6. Why is Liz’s dad so angry over Singing Creek? Do you think he’s overreacting?  Is he being fair to Christine after her recent loss? What’s his story from childhood?
7. What happened at the recital? How would you feel if this had happened to you? Are you willing to share your most embarrassing moment? Why or why not?
8. Do you think Roxy is a good friend to Liz? Would you want to be Roxy or Liz’s friend? Why? Do you think their friendship will last? Does it too deepen by the events of the novel? Why doesn’t Liz ever tell Roxy that she too makes her mad sometimes?
9. Liz says, “I might have believed almost anything he told me- at least while I was inside the church, under his spell- because I wanted to believe…” (p. 106) Is this true of all faiths? Is this why organized worship is so important? Do you think this is how people become brainwashed into cults and other dangerous organizations?
10. Do you think Nathan and Liz make a good match? Are they good for each other? Will their relationship survive all the conflict in their lives? Predict what you think their lives will be like a year from now.
11. Do you blame Liz’s dad for leaving? Is there ever a good reason for parents to split up a family? How does it change Liz too?
12. Courtney often surprises everyone with her ability to see beyond her years. Do you think this is a natural ability for some people or do their lives force them to see things differently? Defend your answer.
13. Liz finally calls her mother out about their relationship (reread p. 230) Why does it take her so long to say what she’s been thinking? Is her assessment of their relationship accurate? How does her mother react? How would yours?
14. Who would you have been mad at during the funeral? In your opinion, should Courtney ever be introduced to Singing Waters? Do you think it is a black and white problem between Liz’s parents or are their shades of gray? Why?
15. How does Liz change from the beginning of the novel until the end? Which event changed her the most, Bunny’s death or Nathan’s mom? What makes you think so? How can the death of a loved one really change those left behind?

Projects:

Language Arts:

Write five journal (or blog) entries that Liz would create over the course of the novel. Have several of the other characters also respond.

Music:

Create an I-pod playlist for Liz. Which songs do you think she would choose? Which ones would you choose for her? Why? Listen to the Mozart pieces that she mentions playing in the novel and write a response to them. Include these responses in a brief journal which you also turn in with the playlist.

Art:

Create a piece of art which represents Liz’s internal conflicts. In a brief artist’s statement explain why you made the color, form, media and style choices that you did.

Drama:

Write a scene between any two characters from the novel. It can be before it opens, during the novel or after it closes. Be sure to use standard play format.