QUAKING Discussion Questions
- How
would you describe Matt when she first comes to live with the
Foxes?
- Describe
Matt's appearance. What does this say about her personality?
- Her
real name is Matilda. Why do you think she wants to be called
Matt?
- On
the surface, Matt seems very different from the Foxes. But we
learn that they are not as different as they seem. In what ways
are they similar? In what ways are they different?
- The
Rat induces extreme fear in Matt. What is it about him and
what he does that scare her so much?
-
Why are the LifeSavers so important to Matt?
- Matt
tells Jessica that she hates cheese. Why does she do this?
- In
the beginning of the book, Matt assumes that Sam is not smart.
Why do you think she makes this assumption? What causes her to
change her mind?
- Jessica
slowly earns the respect of Matt. How does she do this? What
about Jessica does Matt come to admire?
- What
significance does the apple crisp have for Matt?
- What
does Maggie Mahone's shawl represent to Matt?
- What
is the purpose of the Blob? Why do you think Matt is so
disgusted by him? What makes her come around?
- What
role do the invisible characters (Matt's mother, Matt's
father, George Fox, Fatima) play in the story?
- Matt
finds a lot of strength throughout the book. How does she find
this strength?
- Matt
tells Mr. Morehead that she is a Quaker. Do you think she is a
Quaker? Why do you think she tells him this?
- In
the Meeting House, Matt is distracted by a bird. What do you
think is the significance of this bird?
- Before
reading this book, what did you know or think of Quakers? How
have your ideas changed?
- Violence
is a major theme in Quaking.
How does violence affect each of the major characters? Think of
Matt, Sam, Jessica, even the Rat and Mr. Morehead.
- How
do you think you'd handle being in Matt's situation? What
would you do? Who or what would you turn to for help?
- Imagine Matt five years from the end of the book. Where do you see her?