1. What is there to learn from the petrol log that Dylan keeps for the Snowdonia Oasis Auto Marvel? Besides these logs, Dylan writes pen pal letters at school that Dylan’s teacher, Ms. Stannard, says are not very interesting. Is Dylan a dull boy, clever, or “some sort of genius” (p. 266), as Lester calls him? What is your evidence for your opinion? 2. How would you describe Manod? How does it fit the definition of a small town? Whom do you consider the most interesting person in town? Explain your reasons. How does your own town compare with Manod? 3. How do you think it would feel to be the only boy in Manod? Is Dylan “the loneliest boy in Wales” (p.60), as the local newspaper, Manod Month, describes him? 4. How would you describe each member of this family? How does Tom become a member of Team Hughes? What does he contribute to the family in this story? 5. How does Team Hughes try to make money to keep the Snowdonia Oasis Auto Marvel afloat? Which of these ideas do you think could have been most successful? If Dylan’s dad “can fix anything” (p. 3), why can’t he fix his own business troubles? 6. Explain the relationship between Dylan and Lester. How does it start? How would you describe their relationship at the end of the story? 7. The paintings from the National Gallery are being stored in the quarry in Manod. How does art transform the town? Which person in town do you think is most changed by viewing the art? Explain your reasons. 8. Why does Dylan’s dad go away? Is he a criminal who just didn’t get caught or an innocent, but frustrated, man? What makes him return to Manod? 9. Ms. Stannard says to Lester, “The whole of Manod is a work of art. It’s very difficult to live up here. Just being alive is a work of art” (p. 223). What do you think she means by this? In what ways could your own town be considered a work of art? 10. On page 1, Dylan says that Vincent Perugia committed the perfect crime—he stole the Mona Lisa simply because he wanted it. He didn’t try to sell it. He kept the famous painting and just enjoyed it. Dylan thinks this is where his family goes wrong—“We wanted something.” What is it they want? 11. How does Minnie become a master criminal? What is her great plan? Is it successful? Does everything get put back just the way it was as Dylan so hopes it would? 12. At the end of this book is a list called The Paintings. As noted, each painting mentioned in Framed can be viewed at www.nationalgallery.org.uk. Use this site to download a picture of each painting. Reflect on how the painting helped change the people in the town of Manod. Which painting is your personal favorite, and why? What is the “powerful stuff in those pictures” (p. 221) that has made them worthy of being shown in the National Gallery?
1. What is there to learn from the petrol log that Dylan keeps for the Snowdonia Oasis Auto Marvel? Besides these logs, Dylan writes pen pal letters at school that Dylan’s teacher, Ms. Stannard, says are not very interesting. Is Dylan a dull boy, clever, or “some sort of genius” (p. 266), as Lester calls him? What is your evidence for your opinion?
2. How would you describe Manod? How does it fit the
definition of a small town? Whom do you consider the
most interesting person in town? Explain your reasons. How does your own town compare with Manod?
3. How do you think it would feel to be the only boy in Manod? Is Dylan “the loneliest boy in Wales” (p.60), as the local newspaper, Manod Month, describes him?
4. How would you describe each member of this family? How does Tom become a member of Team Hughes?
What does he contribute to the family in this story?
5. How does Team Hughes try to make money to keep the Snowdonia Oasis Auto Marvel afloat? Which of these ideas do you think could have been most successful? If Dylan’s dad “can fix anything” (p. 3), why can’t he fix his own business troubles?
6. Explain the relationship between Dylan and Lester. How does it start? How would you describe their relationship at the end of the story?
7. The paintings from the National Gallery are being stored in the quarry in Manod. How does art transform the town? Which person in town do you think is most
changed by viewing the art? Explain your reasons.
8. Why does Dylan’s dad go away? Is he a criminal who just didn’t get caught or an innocent, but frustrated, man? What makes him return to Manod?
9. Ms. Stannard says to Lester, “The whole of Manod
is a work of art. It’s very difficult to live up here. Just being alive is a work of art” (p. 223). What do you think she means by this? In what ways could your own town be considered a work of art?
10. On page 1, Dylan says that Vincent Perugia
committed the perfect crime—he stole the Mona Lisa simply because he wanted it. He didn’t try to sell it. He kept the famous painting and just enjoyed it. Dylan thinks this is where his family goes wrong—“We wanted something.” What is it they want?
11. How does Minnie become a master criminal? What
is her great plan? Is it successful? Does everything
get put back just the way it was as Dylan so hopes
it would?
12. At the end of this book is a list called The Paintings. As noted, each painting mentioned in Framed can be viewed at www.nationalgallery.org.uk. Use this site to download a picture of each painting. Reflect on how the painting helped change the people
in the town of Manod. Which painting is your personal favorite, and why? What is the “powerful stuff in those pictures” (p. 221) that has made them worthy of being shown in the National Gallery?