teachers
Street Pharm Study Guide
Snitch Study Guide
The Vampire Stalker Discussion Guide
Here are some resources for your classes or book clubs.
Feel free to adapt them as you see fit. If you have resources you
would like to share, you can send them to me at: allisonvandiepen@yahoo.com.
Pre-reading Questions:
- 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
6. What do Ty's recollections of his first girlfriend tell us
about his views on women?
7. Analyze the interaction between Ty and Dean Baxter. What do
we learn about how Ty sees authority figures?
8. Describe Ty's relationship with his father.
pp. 71-106
8. What does Ty learn from the mushrooms incident?
10. Why do you think Ty is so deeply affected by the lesson on
Bushido?
11. What does Ty feel he has in common with Jimmy Pennington?
12. How is Alyse different from the girls Ty is used to dating?
pp. 107-146
13. 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?
14. How does Ty rationalize his involvement in the drug trade?
What do you think of this rationale?
pp. 147- 183
15. Why does Ty's mom kick him out, then change her mind and
want him to come back?
16. How do you feel about K-Ron pointing the finger at Ty?
17. How is Ty affected by the package from Jones and Menendez?
pp. 184-225
18. What effect does the shooting have on Ty's strategy for dealing
with Darkman?
19. Why doesn't Ty go back to school?
20. What happens to Jimmy Pennington and how does Ty make sense
of it?
pp. 226-275
21. To what extent does Ty feel responsible for what happened
to Rob Monfrey? What responsibility do you think he should feel?
22. Why does Ty decide to go back to school?
pp. 276-302
23. What are Ty's realizations on his walk in the park?
24. Why does Orlando react so strongly to Ty's decision to quit
the business? How would you rate Orlando as a father?
25. 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.
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.
1. What is fan fiction? Why does Amy only write Otherworld
fan fiction instead of original stories? What do you think
of her decision?
2. Amy believes that the characters in Otherworld are
so vivid they could almost be real. Have you ever felt that way
about characters? If so, which ones?
3. What factors convince Amy that Alexander is real?
4. Alexander is angry that Elizabeth Howard has written about
him without his permission. Why does Elizabeth’s depiction
of him upset him so much?
5. Describe Amy’s relationship with her friends. How does
she feel about keeping Alexander’s existence from them?
How would you feel in that situation?
6. Amy discovers that reading about Alexander and knowing Alexander
are two different things. What qualities about him does she appreciate
in the books, but not so much in real life? How do his flaws affect
her feelings for him?
7. Once the vampire killings begin, the press is eager to blame
Elizabeth Howard for promoting an interest in vampire culture.
Can you think of other circumstances when an author, musician
or filmmaker has been criticized for depicting disturbing material?
Do you think such criticisms are valid?
8. Early in the book, Ms. P. says, “The thing is, Alexander
is a very dark character. She [Elizabeth Howard] might see him
as a tragic figure.” (p. 17) What are the qualities of a
tragic hero? Which of those qualities does Alexander possess?
9. “In truth, in my world, I would never be able to associate
with someone of your character. Vampire hunting has left my reputation
beyond repair. It is considered manual labor of the most appalling
kind. People want it done, but they don’t want to know those
of us who do it.” (p. 176) In this statement, Alexander
is talking about the stigma he faces because of his vampire hunting.
Which important jobs in our society are not given the respect
they are due?
10. Sibling relationships can be complex. Discuss this statement
in relationship to Amy and Chrissy, Alexander and James (who are
like siblings), and Vigo and Hannah.
11. If you were to write a sequel to The Vampire Stalker,
what would happen in the first chapter?
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