Monday, Oct. 28
Moderator: Nija Branca
The breathtaking story of five brothers who bring each other up in a world run by their own rules. As the Dunbar boys love and fight and learn to reckon with the adult world, they discover the moving secret behind their father’s disappearance.
At the center of the Dunbar family is Clay, a boy who will build a bridge—for his family, for his past, for greatness, for his sins, for a miracle.
The question is, how far is Clay willing to go? And how much can he overcome?
Written in powerfully inventive language and bursting with heart, BRIDGE OF CLAY is signature Zusak.
Bridge of Clay, written by Markus Zusak, is a novel about a family of five brothers, the Dunbars, and their relationships as they search for the reason behind their father's disappearance.
The Dunbar brothers must learn to live in the adult world without guidance from their parents. Their mother, an immigrant who moved to Australia as a young girl, has passed away. After their mother's death, their father disappears and leaves the boys on their own. Each brother has his own personality and the boys find it difficult to continue their lives as a family as they get older.
This story is told from the point of view of the oldest brother, Matthew. The other brothers are Henry, the second oldest, Rory, the troublemaker, Tommy, the youngest, and Clay, the brother who does his best to build bridges, figuratively and literally, amongst his family members. In order to honor his parents, to help save himself, and to nurture and maintain relationships between his brothers, Clay builds a magnificent bridge.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR BRIDGE OF CLAY
• The book starts with a striking scenario: “In the beginning there was one murderer, one mule and one boy . . .” What expectations did this give you for the novel? Do you think this is representative of the story as a whole?
• Penny’s and Michael’s upbringings are very different. Do you see reflections of their childhoods in the way they choose to bring up the boys? What do you think was the purpose of focusing on their family history?
• Each of the Dunbar brothers seems to be connected to one of the pets. Can you draw connections between these relationships and the animals’ literary names?
• Why are Michael, and later Clay, determined to build the bridge? Do you believe that they are doing it for different reasons?
• Clay and Carey’s relationship is a cornerstone of his story—why do you think he was able to tell her things that he couldn’t tell his brothers? How do you think her death affected the remainder of his story?
• Readers go over the story of Penny’s death a few times throughout the later sections of the narrative. What more do we learn about her character and about how her passing transformed all the boys? How do each of the boys react?
This story is told from the point of view of the oldest brother, Matthew. The other brothers are Henry, the second oldest, Rory, the troublemaker, Tommy, the youngest, and Clay, the brother who does his best to build bridges, figuratively and literally, amongst his family members. In order to honor his parents, to help save himself, and to nurture and maintain relationships between his brothers, Clay builds a magnificent bridge.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR BRIDGE OF CLAY
• The book starts with a striking scenario: “In the beginning there was one murderer, one mule and one boy . . .” What expectations did this give you for the novel? Do you think this is representative of the story as a whole?
• Penny’s and Michael’s upbringings are very different. Do you see reflections of their childhoods in the way they choose to bring up the boys? What do you think was the purpose of focusing on their family history?
• Each of the Dunbar brothers seems to be connected to one of the pets. Can you draw connections between these relationships and the animals’ literary names?
• Why are Michael, and later Clay, determined to build the bridge? Do you believe that they are doing it for different reasons?
• Clay and Carey’s relationship is a cornerstone of his story—why do you think he was able to tell her things that he couldn’t tell his brothers? How do you think her death affected the remainder of his story?
• Readers go over the story of Penny’s death a few times throughout the later sections of the narrative. What more do we learn about her character and about how her passing transformed all the boys? How do each of the boys react?
Possible titles for the year:
ReplyDeleteBecoming by Michelle Obama
Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery (Dolly)
Educated by Tara Westover (Michelle)
Butterfly Girls by Rene Denfeld (Marcy)
Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell (Zach)