Trapped

As the narrator and protagonist, Weems is the character the reader gets to know the most about. How would you judge Weems?

• What does Weems do that you judge him for?
• In what ways is he commendable?
• How would you describe Weems?
• Does he change during the story, and how do you know he has changed?
• How reliable is his account of the events of the story?

Teaching Suggestion: This prompt asks students to evaluate the character, which requires a high level of thinking. During this analysis, it could be tempting for some to fall into the trap of labeling, which goes against the theme of Labels Don’t Define People. One way to ensure the class focuses on complex evaluation is to ask students to describe Weems. The class could brainstorm the list together, encouraging as many responses and subtle observations as possible. A think-aloud could also help, reading a short section and discussing how different details reveal aspects of Weems’s character. Afterward, students could review the list and get specific evidence from multiple scenes to share in the later discussion, with the goal of uncovering something about the character they had not noticed before.

Differentiation Suggestion: English learners, students with dyslexia, and those with executive function differences could find looking back through the entire book overwhelming.