The story takes place in 1932, when America was in the depths of the Depression. Readers learn about that era, as well as about the seeds of World War II, Hitler and the Holocaust. The story is sort of a modern day Frankenstein tale. The chapter on the history of each sport is very informative. Both sports are especially enjoyed by females, and the girls in your class may appreciate a sport discussion that is directed toward them for a change.
Sports are a particularly good way to get through to boys, who are frequently reluctant students.
And these days girls are just as likely to play or root for a team as boys are. Have the students read a newspaper article about last night's game. Make up questions to test their comprehension of the article. Challenge the students to figure out the name of the athlete. Or have the kids pick the name of a famous athlete and see how many words they can make from the letters of that name.