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Discussion Questions |
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Chapter One |
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What do the items in Abby Kate’s suitcase reveal about Texas life in the year 1900? |
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Why is Mrs. Linden so worried this particular morning? |
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Why does Abby Kate get off the train in Houston? |
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What do you think will happen next? |
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Chapter Two |
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What is her first impression of the members of the Wilson family? |
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What nickname has Houston earned, and why did it earn such a name? |
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What does the railroad conductor tell Abby Kate and Louis about the growth of the railroad? |
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Chapter Three |
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How did people keep food cold in 1900? |
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What do we learn about Abby Kate’s relatives in this chapter? |
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What surprises Abby Kate the morning after she arrives in Galveston? |
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Abby Kate and her cousin Jane explore many parts of the island in this chapter. Which do you find most interesting? |
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Chapter Four |
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What does medical student Ian Blackwood tell the Linden girls regarding yellow fever? |
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What is Jane’s newest hobby and how does the rest of the Linden family view it? |
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How does Abby Kate react to the letter from Austin? Why does she feel that way? |
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What happens at the beach? |
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Chapter Five |
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What is coquina stew, and how do you make it? |
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What does Uncle Robert tell the girls about the Civil War? |
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Describe where the different occupants of a 1900 clipper ship live and work. What job/position would you have wanted on the ship and why? |
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What role do outhouses play in this chapter? |
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Chapter Six |
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What do you think of the decision to go to the beach? |
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How does the author show you in this chapter that the storm is getting dangerous? |
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What do you think will happen next? |
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Chapter Seven |
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How did you feel about what happened in this chapter? |
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Is there anything you wish you could change? |
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What types of problems face the people of the island? |
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Chapter Eight |
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What similarities do you see between how communities dealt with disasters in 1900 as compared to current day? |
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How is it different today when disasters strike? |
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Do you think a hurricane like this could happen again? |
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Chapter Nine |
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Do Abby Kate’s feelings in this chapter seem realistic to you? |
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What do you think will happen next? |
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Chapter Ten |
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What do you think of how the story ends? |
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Do you have any ideas for a different type of ending? |
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General Questions |
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What examples of foreshadowing can you find in the book? Is it effective at setting the stage for events that happen later in the story? |
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Does anything in the book remind you of your own life? |