Willmar Public Library Reads discussion

1. The book tells Joseph’s story, but is told from the point of view of Jack, who is two years younger than Joseph. Why do you think the author chose to do this?

2. What do you think about the way Joseph is treated by his teachers and peers? How is this different from the way he is treated by Jack and his parents?

3. Mr. Canton tells Jack, “I respect your parents. I really do. They’re trying to make a difference in this world, bringing kids like Joseph Brook into a normal family. But kids like Joseph Brook aren’t always normal, see? They act the way they do because their brains work differently. They don’t think like you and I think. So they can do things…” What do you think he means by this statement? Do you agree with him?

4. Have you ever had a student in your class who went to jail or was a teen parent? How did other students and teachers treat them? What did you think about them? How does this compare to the way Joseph is treated?

5. When Joseph almost drowned in the lake, he told Jack he went on the ice because “Maddie liked to ice skate.” Do you think he was telling the truth?

6. How do you feel about Joseph and Maddie’s relationship? Do you think their parents treated them fairly after finding out about them?

7. What was your first impression of Joseph? After hearing his story about Maddie and Jupiter, did your opinion of him change?

8. When Jack warns Joseph about the 8th grade boys, Joseph tells him, “Listen, with guys like this, you take the first punch and break the closest guy’s nose. Then the other guys will all get nervous because there’s blood and this is a lot more than they thought they were getting into, so they back off.” Do you agree with this statement? What would you do if you were Joseph?

9. What did you think about Jack helping Joseph when he was being beaten by the 8th grade boys? Do you think Jack did the right thing? What would you have done?

10. Do you feel like Joseph is a bad influence on Jack like Mr. Canton says? Why or why not?

11. Why do you think Joseph reacted the way he did in the church after hearing the story of Joseph and Mary and the angels?

12. What did you think about Joseph’s father? Did you think he was right to take Joseph back?

13. How do you feel about Joseph running away to Brunswick to look for Jupiter?

14. When Jack meets Jupiter’s foster mom, she tells him, “[Joseph] can’t love [Jupiter] for just himself. He has to love her for her, too.” What does she mean by this? Do you think she is right?

15. How does Joseph change throughout the course of the book? How can you tell? Do you think Jack changed as well?

16. How do you feel about Joseph leaving with his father? What would you have done in his situation?

17. How do you feel about what happened to Joseph and his father?

18. What do you think about Jack’s parents adopting Jupiter? Do you feel like this was a good ending to the story?

19. Did you notice any messages or themes throughout the story? What were they and do you agree with them?

20. Did you like the book? Why or why not?