Download printable pdf<\/a><\/p>\nQuestions for Discussion, by Chapter<\/span>
\nChapters 1 – 8<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- On the first page of the novel, Tia says: \u201cMore than anything, I wanted to be a great singer. Not a rock star, but a singer who\u2019d change the world with my voice, like Nina Simone, Whitney Houston, Adele, or Mahalia Jackson.\u201d How do our dreams and goals define us? What roles do our heroes play in creating our ideas about who we want to become?
\nPersonal Thoughts: What is one dream or goal that you have? Name three people that embody that dream or goal.<\/em>
\nActivity<\/em>: Listen to music by each of the four singers that Tia names.<\/li>\n<\/p>\n
- Does Tia\u2019s environment shape her identity? If so, how?
\nPersonal Thoughts: Has your environment shaped your identity? What different qualities might you have if you\u2019d grown up elsewhere?<\/em><\/li>\n<\/p>\n
- In addition to our identity as individuals, there are also cultural identities that encompass groups of people who share common history or qualities. Sometimes these group identities allow us to celebrate our differences, but other times they can come between us. In the start of the book, Keisha and Mary-Kate argue over whether white people should be allowed to sing gospel music since this type of music has its roots in African American history. What do you think? Should people be allowed to participate in traditions that are not their own?
\nPersonal Thoughts: Have you ever felt excluded from something?<\/em><\/li>\n<\/p>\n
- In the beginning of the book, we see Tia lying. What kind of identity is she trying to create with her lies?<\/li>\n
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- Tia\u2019s mother also uses lies as a means of communication. Why do you think she continues to lie about why Tia\u2019s father is in prison?
\nPersonal Thoughts: Have you ever lied about something? What made you do it?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nChapters 9 \u2013 15<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- After learning the truth about why her father is in prison, Tia is drawn to visit the Raven woman. Why does she identify with this woman even though she doesn\u2019t even know the woman\u2019s real name?<\/li>\n
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- After the shooting, Tia\u2019s identity within the community changes. How do you think they see her?
\nPersonal Thoughts: How do you think your community sees you? Do you wish they saw you differently?<\/em><\/li>\n<\/p>\n
- As Tia begins asking questions about her father, she struggles with anything that might portray him in a positive light, such as the photo of him as a happy young man. Why do you think this is hard for her? As a society, do we prefer people to be either all good or all bad?<\/li>\n
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- In Chapter 14, Ms. Evette questions whether the police arrested the right men. Do certain groups get judged differently based on stereotypes? Is a stereotype different from a cultural identity? <\/li>\n
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- Why is it hard for Tia to believe that someone in prison might sing? Why would learning the truth about her father stop Tia from singing?
\nPersonal Thoughts: Have you ever felt as if you didn\u2019t deserve something good?<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\nChapters 16- 23<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- Ms. Loretta and Ms. Evette argue over Tia\u2019s identity. One sees her as a potential threat and the other says she\u2019s a \u201cgreat kid\u201d. Why might they see the same person so differently? How has history shaped their viewpoints?<\/li>\n
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- Ms. Marion believes that: \u201cNo one shines unless we all shine.\u201d In many cultures, people take their identity from the group, but in our culture, we are used to thinking in terms of individuality. We\u2019re taught that the highest good is to be \u201cthe best\u201d. Do you participate in any activities where your identity as a member of the group is more important than your individual identity? (For example, girl\/boy scouts, a musical ensemble\u2026)<\/li>\n
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- Just as Tia is judged because of her father\u2019s crime, Kenny is judged because of his stutter. Have you ever been judged? How did it shape your identity?
\nPersonal Thoughts: In Chapter 17, Tia and her mom talk about reinventing themselves in California. Have you ever wanted to reinvent yourself? What type of person would you want to be?<\/em>
\nActivity<\/em>: Draw an alternative you.<\/li>\n<\/p>\n
- Why do you think Tia feels the need to apologize for something she didn\u2019t do? And why did it hurt to be recognized by Danielle\u2019s grandfather?<\/li>\n
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- In chapter 19, Tia makes a concerted effort to stop lying. In the beginning of the book, we discussed why Tia needed to lie. Now, why does she need to stop? How does telling Kenny the truth help her heal?<\/li>\n
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- When Khalil cheats on Keisha, how does this betrayal change how she sees herself? Do you think this change will be permanent or temporary?
\nPersonal Thoughts: Have you ever gone through something (good or bad) that changed the way you saw yourself? Was that change permanent?<\/em><\/li>\n<\/p>\n
- Tia\u2019s mother\u2019s identity has been shaped both by Lyle\u2019s crime, and by how she responded to it. How might Tia\u2019s life have been different if her mother had responded differently?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Chapters 23 \u2013 30<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- Danielle\u2019s parents have been profoundly changed by what Tia\u2019s father did. How did they choose to respond? How else might they have responded?
\nPersonal Thoughts: Do you know anyone in real life who has overcome a tragedy? How did they keep going?<\/em><\/li>\n<\/p>\n
- On page 161, Dwayne talks about the ways that Tia changed after her father\u2019s crime. Although many of those changes were negative, one change was in her singing. Is it possible for positive changes to come out of bad experiences?<\/li>\n
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- After Keisha experiences the effects of Khalil cheating, she feels terrible. But eventually, this experience allows her to develop empathy. She realizes how much she judged Tia\u2019s mom, and can see how unfair her judgement was. Can making mistakes truly make us better people? If so, why do we try so hard to get everything right?
\nPersonal Thoughts: Are you ever afraid of making mistakes? What was the most recent mistake you made and how did you feel about it? Did it change the way you saw yourself?<\/em><\/li>\n<\/p>\n
- In chapter 24, Tia recognizes her singing as a gift that she can give to her community \u2026 In many ways, this brings the story full circle, back to the opening quote where Tia talks about changing the world with her voice. Only this isn\u2019t quite what Tia had imagined. How do you think Tia\u2019s identity has changed from the beginning to the end of the novel?<\/li>\n
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- In Chapter 26, Tia has a second experience with the men who scared her in the beginning of the book. This time she sees them differently, but she still makes choices to keep herself safe. What role do fear and safety play in how we view others?<\/li>\n
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- This is a book where almost all of the characters have communication barriers that they must overcome. The Raven woman doesn\u2019t speak English. Tia loses her ability to sing. Kenny stutters. Tia\u2019s mother hides from the world. Lyle Frank is behind bars. What does communication have to do with identity?
\nPersonal Thoughts: Have you ever been in a situation where it was hard to communicate? What other forms of communication do you rely on besides words?<\/em>
\nActivity<\/em>: Listen to Pyramid. Play charades!<\/li>\n<\/p>\n
- Why was it important to end the story by giving the Raven woman and the baby their rightful names? <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Pieces of Why Penguin Young Readers Group, September 2015 Buy the Kindle edition Buy the NOOK Book Buy the audiobook Check out KL’s Pieces of Why playlist: Tia lives with her mom in a high-risk neighborhood in New Orleans and … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":14,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/klgoing.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1109"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/klgoing.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/klgoing.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/klgoing.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/klgoing.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1109"}],"version-history":[{"count":82,"href":"https:\/\/klgoing.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1109\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1402,"href":"https:\/\/klgoing.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1109\/revisions\/1402"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/klgoing.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/klgoing.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1109"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}