Critique This novel presents an excellent opportunity for students to explore stereotypes and prejudice while examining their own sociocentricity. Although background information enhances the understanding of the novel, students have a deeper understanding of the issues presented in this novel and the relevance of these issues in their own lives by sharing a more active role in the gathering and evaluation of the information. The background information will be more meaningful if presented after students are engaged in the above issues and if they play an active role in gathering that information. In small self-selected groups, students identify the social groups at Vintage High School. They list several characteristics and several values of each group.
Students discuss the following questions.
A representative from each group shares the group's observations and conclusions with the entire class. The class discusses the implications of these observations and conclusions. Then, as background preparation for reading, students could do their own research about the Depression and the South, sharing their results. Students can compare the social distinctions in the book to those of their school. The class can take specific points made in the two sets of discussions, and see if they apply to the other context.