Discussion Director

Chasing Redbird p. 1-32

 

  1. Cause: (Pages 4-5) Zinny had the whooping cough when she was four.  What effect did this cough have on Zinny and the rest of her family?  Who did it affect the most and why?

 

  1. Main Idea:  (page 8-9) The loss of Aunt Jessie was quick and terrible for all.  Why is Aunt Jessie a great influence for Zinny? What were ways that Zinny was feeling after the loss of her aunt?

 

  1. Describe the Setting on pages 24-25 when the three rules are explained for the squirt gardens.  Why do you think the squirt gardens are so important? 

 

  1. Sequence: (page 30) When Zinny visits the Museum, Why is this important?  What does she find that will help her with a task in which she is interested?

 

  1. Describe the mood on page 31, when Zinny is talking about lying back in the grass.  How do you think she is feeling?  What do you think she is thinking about?

 

  1. On page 26-27  everyone found out about the trail that Zinny had found.  Why do you think that everyone wanted to know?  Did they really care about the trail or did they care about what it meant to Zinny?

 

Answers to Questions

 

  1. The effect was that Rose who was four caught the cough and died. This affects Zinny for many years because at that age she felt responsible.  Aunt Jessie could not deal with the pain and the grief of Rose’s death.  Zinny was affect the most because she always felt that she owed Aunt Jessie and Uncle Nate for the death of Rose.  She also didn’t know if it was truly her fault.  She felt it was but no one had ever come out and said it is totally your fault.
  2. Zinny felt at home with Aunt Jessie and she could relate to her. Aunt Jessie also taught Zinny many things and she cared for Zinny most of the time.  Zinny once again was feeling responsible for the death of her aunt.  She felt lonely, sad and hurt for Uncle Nate at the same time.
  3. The setting is how the gardens grow and why Zinny likes to grow them.  She doesn’t like to see the plain brown earth like Aunt Jessie’s grave and the fact that Aunt Jessie had introduced her to the idea of squirt gardens.  The squirt gardens are so important because Zinny has to care for them daily just like Aunt Jessie would have. 
  4. At the Museum Zinny finds some maps that will help her.  At first she was bored with the museum and then when she found the maps she was excited.  She finds a map that includes the trail that she is clearing.  She needs the map to know more about the trail.
  5. Zinny is relaxing in the grass of the field she is listening to the woods, which are behind her.  She is feeling excited and worried about the trail.  She is excited to see what is in the woods but at the same time she is worried about what might await her there.
  6. Zinny’s family wanted to know what was keeping her so busy.  They didn’t really care about the trail or the purpose of the trail like Zinny did.  Her brothers and sisters mainly didn’t want her to discover something that they couldn’t claim.  So really they were jealous.

 

Section One