Allegra

__Page: 1-50__

//Discussion Director//
 * Who are the Characters?
 * What is their goal?
 * How does the "burnt" man effect the boy?
 * What is the story about the boy, the man, and the mans wife?

__ Page 51-102 __

//Literary Luminary//


 * "I wish I was with my mom. He didn't answer.He sat beside the small figure wrapped in the quilts and blankets. After a while he said: You mean you wish you were dead?" (p.55)
 * The son is wishing to be dead, he continues to question his father about whether or not they are going to die. The son might not fully understand what is going on but he is starting to realize more and more what is happening to them.
 * "He cocked the pistol and held it on the man and the man stood with one hand out at his side, the dirty crumpled paintmask that he wore sucking in and out." (p.62)
 * When the man eventually shoots this 'bad guy' he hardly shows any emotion. He does what he had to do to save his son and then the man grabs his son and runs away. Killing is a very painful thing to do for the father and watching somebody die is a very painful thing for the son. But both do it without emotion. That is what this world has brought them to,
 * "I've got to go look for more wood he said. I'll be in the neighborhood. Okay? Where's the neighborhood?"
 * I just thought this was a good representation of how the son really doesn't know anything before the world of 'grey and ashes'. He doesn't know what a neighborhood is therefore he doesn't get the reference.

__Page 102-153__

//Vocab//


 * Effigy: A crude representation of something
 * Gelid: Very cold, icy
 * Hasp: To close or lock with a fastener

__Page 153-230__

//Connection Master//


 * At the beginning of this section, the boy and the man find an old man on the road who claims to be 90 and named Ely. This is the first time that a name is given to us in the book. And Ely is a biblical character in the Book of Samuel (Eli). Even though his name isn't really Ely, he wouldn't tell them his real name because he didn't trust them, he brought another element of religion into the book
 * Religion seems to be an important theme in the book. It's what gives the father hope. And it seems like the boy is what is keeping the father morally correct. It is always the boy that has the morally right ideas and feelings.

__Page 230- End__

//Discussion Director//


 * What did you think the meaning in the last paragraph about the fish?
 * Was the sons choice about joining with the group the right choice? Would you have made the same decision?
 * Was is the right thing for the dad to leave the son like he did?
 * What are some questions left unanswered? Did the book end with good closure or is there still more the reader wants to know?