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SNITCH STUDY GUIDE
Pre-reading Questions:
1. a) Based on the cover and the title of the book, predict what it will be about.
b) Now read the blurbs on the back cover. How does this information fit with your prediction?
2. Describe what you think the life of a young gang member would be like. How do you feel about gangs? What factors have influenced your views? How do you think reading this book will affect your views?
Homework Questions:
pp. 3-33
1. What do we learn about Julia and her personality in the first scene?
2. Describe Julia’s home life and her relationship with her father.
3. In what ways do gangs affect Julia’s daily life? How does Julia deal with the popularity of gangs at her school?
pp. 34-66
4. Analyze Julia’s friendship with Black Chuck. Why do you think they are such good friends despite their differences?
5. What are Julia’s expectations for the party? In what ways does Eric fulfill (or not fulfill) those expectations?
pp. 67-104
6. Identify at least two new things Julia learns about Eric in these chapters. Why is she so impressed by him?
7. Contrast Q’s relationship with her mom with Julia’s relationship with her father.
pp. 104-146
8. In the chapters Jumped In and Low, why does Julia feel betrayed by both Eric and Black Chuck?
9. What important decision does Julia make at the Lava Lounge? What would you have done if you were in her place?
10. What do you predict after reading page 129?
11. Why does Julia come to accept Eric as a gang member? How do you feel about her change of heart?
pp. 147-185
12. What happened in the locker room and what is your reaction to it?
13. How does Q react to what happened to Julia? Does this surprise you? In her position, what would you have done?
14. Why does Julia decide to join? What factors were key in influencing her decision?
pp. 186-217
15. Identify several ways in which Julia’s life changes after she has joined the Crips.
16. What does Julia learn about the gang’s activities? How does she deal with it?
17. What are some ways in which Eric proves himself to the gang in these chapters?
pp. 218-251
18. How does Julia handle Marie’s threats?
19. What startling information does Julia discover while researching gangs?
20. Describe Julia’s encounter with Scrap. Why doesn’t she tell anyone about it?
pp. 252-297
21. What shocking news does Julia receive when she returns from the game?
22. What does Julia think of Black Chuck’s accusation that Eric is a snitch?
23. How do the Crips treat Julia at school?
24. Summarize Eric’s reasons for doing what he did.
25. How does Julia bargain her way out of being jumped out officially?
Discussion questions or essay topics:
1. The use of first-person narrative allows readers to put themselves in the place of the main character. How well did you identify with Julia throughout this book? Were there times when you found her decisions difficult to relate to? Explain your answer.
2. Discuss the relationship between Julia and either Q, Black Chuck, or Tony DiVino.
3. Examine Julia’s relationship with the Crips throughout the novel. How does her view of them evolve over time?
4. Discuss the impact of Julia’s family life on her decisions. Do you think she would have made different decisions if her mother had been alive, or if her father had been more attentive?
5. Discuss the character: Q. Did your feelings about her change throughout the book? Explain your answer.
6. Compare the conflicts Julia faces in this book to conflicts that you have faced. How was your situation similar or different to Julia’s?
7. At one point, Julia describes her world as Livin’ in the Gray (p. 222). What do you think she means by this? In what ways can you relate to this feeling?
8. Analyze Julia’s relationships with her teachers in this book, specifically Ms. Ivey.
9. Predict what’s in store for Julia in the next year or two of her life. Will she adjust to her new high school environment? Will the Crips leave her alone? Will she and Eric continue their relationship?
10. Analyze the character: Eric. How did you feel about him at the end of the book? Is he a sympathetic or unsympathetic character? Explain your answer.
11. How has this book changed or reinforced your views about gangs?
Creative Writing Assignments:
1. Write a deleted scene that might have been in the book.
2. Write an epilogue that could take place one year or more after the book ends.
3. Write a scene from Ms. Ivey’s viewpoint. Include her thoughts on Julia and how she believes Julia has changed.
4. Write an alternate final scene.
STREET PHARM STUDY GUIDE
Pre-reading Questions:
1. a) Based on the cover and the title of the book, predict what it will be about.
b) Now read the blurbs on the back cover. How does this information fit with your prediction?
c) Have you read other books that touch on similar topics? How much did you enjoy or dislike those books?
2. Have you, or someone you know, ever done something that was against the law? How did you or your friend justify what you were doing at the time? How do you feel about it now?
3. Describe what you think the life of a teenage drug dealer might be like. How do you feel about people who deal drugs? What factors have influenced your views? How do you think reading this book will affect your views?
Homework Questions:
pp. 1-30
1. What is your initial reaction to the character of Ty Johnson? Do you like or dislike him, and why?
2. How does Ty keep his true activities from his mom?
3. What is Ty’s attitude toward school?
4. How does Ty feel about Michael Brown’s arrest? What does this say about Ty’s character?
5. What do you think is the author’s purpose in showing this flashback?
pp. 31-70
1. What do Ty’s recollections of his first girlfriend tell us about his views on women?
2. Analyze the interaction between Ty and Dean Baxter. What do we learn about how Ty sees authority figures?
3. Describe Ty’s relationship with his father.
pp. 71-106
4. What does Ty learn from the “mushrooms” incident?
5. Why do you think Ty is so deeply affected by the lesson on Bushido?
6. What does Ty feel he has in common with Jimmy Pennington?
7. How is Alyse different from the girls Ty is used to dating?
pp. 107-146
8. What is Ty’s explanation for not wanting to have Kevin King killed? Do you think he has other reasons for not wanting to do it?
9. How does Ty rationalize his involvement in the drug trade? What do you think of this rationale?
pp. 147- 183
10. Why does Ty’s mom kick him out, then change her mind and want him to come back?
11. How do you feel about K-Ron pointing the finger at Ty?
12. How is Ty affected by the package from Jones and Menendez?
pp. 184-225
13. What effect does the shooting have on Ty’s strategy for dealing with Darkman?
14. Why doesn’t Ty go back to school?
15. What happens to Jimmy Pennington and how does Ty make sense of it?
pp. 226-275
16. To what extent does Ty feel responsible for what happened to Rob Monfrey? What responsibility do you think he should feel?
17. Why does Ty decide to go back to school?
pp. 276-302
18. What are Ty’s realizations on his walk in the park?
19. Why does Orlando react so strongly to Ty’s decision to quit the business? How would you rate Orlando as a father?
20. What do you think of the way Ty has chosen to show Alyse that he has turned his life around?
Discussion questions or essay topics:
1. Ty Johnson’s story is told in the first person. Why do you think the author chose to tell it this way? What are the advantages and disadvantages of using the first person?
2. Discuss the character: Orlando. How has he influenced Ty’s views on life?
3. Why would the author choose someone like Alyse as Ty’s love interest?
4. Loyalty plays an important role in this novel. Discuss the place of loyalty in at least three relationships. For example: Ty and Orlando, Ty and Clarissa, Ty and Monfrey, Ty and Michael Brown, Darkman and Crow, etc.
5. The Art of War by Sun Tzu is Ty’s bible. What about it appeals to Ty? Do you turn to a certain text, religious or otherwise, for advice on how to lead your life?
6. Consequences play a crucial role in this novel; Ty discovers that no action is without them. Describe a time where you came to understand the meaning of consequences.
7. Discuss the character: Rob Monfrey. How does Ty’s interaction with him over the course of the book show the evolution of Ty’s character?
8. Discuss Ty’s relationship with three teachers and/or school administrators. Can you relate to his interactions with them?
9. Discuss the character: Sonny. How do his best qualities also contribute to his death?
10. Ty believes that his intelligence is enough to keep him from falling victim to the possible downfalls of his line of work. Is this a realistic view, in your eyes?
11. Why do you think Alyse gives Ty another chance? Has she made a wise decision?
12. The ending of Street Pharm has been praised for being hopeful and redemptive, and criticized for being Hollywood and unrealistic. Why do you think the author chose to end Ty’s story this way? How do you feel about the ending?
Creative Writing Assignments:
1. Write a deleted scene that might have been in the book.
2. Where do you think Ty will be five years down the line? Write a scene that could be added as an epilogue.
3. Rewrite a scene from the viewpoint of another character.
4. Write an alternate final scene to this novel in which Ty comes to a very different end.
Projects:
1. Individually or in small groups, write a rap song or a spoken word poem about Ty’s journey throughout this novel, and present it to the class.
2. Read reviews of STREET PHARM listed on websites like amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com. Make a list of elements that you think should be in an effective book review. Next write a book review of your own.
3. Create a graph reflecting statistics that relate to this novel – murder rates in various cities, teen pregnancy rates, prison statistics. Write a summary of what can be learned from your graph about social conditions.
4. Create a mini graphic novel or comic depicting the main events of the book.
5. In small groups, adapt a scene into a script and perform it in front of the class.
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