Flush

Flush is about having the courage to stand up for what is right in more than one kind of situation. What kind of bullying does Noah face from Jasper? How is this similar to and different from the obstacles that Paine faces because of Dusty? Do Noah and Paine use similar or different tactics to stand up for themselves and what they believe in? What do you think this book is trying to say about standing up for yourself and for your principles? Are these two things shown as being similar or different? How?

Teaching Suggestion: This prompt asks students to compare and contrast Noah’s and Jasper’s choices regarding how to stand up for what is right in two different ways. Then, it asks them to consider what Hiaasen is saying about the similarities or differences between standing up for yourself and standing up for your beliefs. Because this is a relatively complex set of tasks for middle-grade students, consider employing one or more of these strategies:

• It may be beneficial to allow students to use visual organizers before answering the question aloud or in writing.
• Students might work in small groups or pairs to organize their thoughts, even if they will be answering the prompt individually.