STONEWOLF

Teaching Guide to STONEWOLF

1. I was inspired to write STONEWOLF in part by reports of conditions in orphanages in the countries that made up the former Soviet Union and Yugoslavia in the early 1990's, conditions which ranged from indifference to cruelty. How are orphans dealt with today in these countries? Compare these orphanages with those of modern Europe, the United States, African countries. How are they different? The same? If you were an orphan in the U.S. without family to take you, what system would you prefer?
2. I based the character of Matron on someone I once knew. Pick someone you know and write a page from the first chapter with your character in place of Matron. How does this change the story? Now rewrite the same page using opposite qualities of your character. How does this change the story? Which character do you think is the worst in the castle? List each character's traits, good or bad. Vote for the worst and best characters.
3. Why do you think Nicholas was unable to read MOBY DICK? Describe how he feels about a girl coming to the castle.
4. Do you think Turstin raised the alarm when Nicholas and Larka escaped? Find instances of foreshadowing to bolster your opinion. Can you find other instances of foreshadowing?
5. Nicholas and Larka escape in high summer. List details that reveal the season. Describe their escape if it happened in midwinter and autumn. What problems might they have had in these other seasons?
6. Nicholas has conflicting feelings about Larka. Describe them and tell why. How does he resolve his conflict?
7. Write a newspaper article about the escape and rescue of Nicholas and Larka as it might appear in USA Today, the NY Times and on CNN.
8. How would you characterize this book, as mystery, suspense, thriller, gothic, sci-fi, fantasy, romance? Why?
9. Listen to a recording of Mahler's Lieder. Do you agree with Larka's assessment? Listen to Bartok. Do you have the same feelings Larka had?
10. STONEWOLF ends with Nicholas saying, "You can't fool dogs." Do you agree? What do you think this means?
11. Where do you think the castle is located? Why?

Quotes to Question and Discuss:

Kindness to me then was the absence of pain. p 13

"The very name is anathema to a chef. We would not serve gruel to a pig here." p 15

"He does not have the key. To learn, one must have a key," Ranik said. p 44

It is surprising how something that previously has been great fun can suddenly become a chore. p 68

My heart flew through the stone walls of the castle and out into the wild, stormy night to that other life I couldn't remember and I felt joy. p 72

The castle walls had sprouted eyes. p 75

"We do not want to kill the goose that holds the golden egg," Ranik said. p 78

In that way I learned that things don't always do what they are supposed to or what we think they do. p 85

"He's in the limousine dreaming of heffalumps." p 97

From books I learned to question everything and that saved my life. p 100

This was the worst night of my life - and the best. p 140

There were other kinds of hunger. p 143

"So it doesn't matter that I'm a snitch if you're not trying to hide anything from me." p 144

Nothing is copacetic or ever will be in this castle. p 148

"We don't want to agitate the boy, fill his brain with unnecessary biochemicals." p 156

I had never looked like anybody before. p 225

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