For a long time, Mr. Maxwell sees Mark as a “spoiled” and “lazy” child and doesn’t consider him worthy of respect. Why does Mr. Maxwell feel this way about Mark? What do his feelings and actions toward Mark indicate about a larger issue regarding classism?

Mark decides in advance that he doesn’t want to become involved with anything or anyone at Hardy Elementary, but when Mr. Maxwell writes Mark off because of it, Mark reverses his steps and strives to earn his teacher’s respect. What does Mark’s decision to open up to the possibility of fitting in at Hardy Elementary indicate about his character?

Why does Mark choose to sleep in the barn alone? What does he learn from the experience about himself, about the outdoors, and about Confronting and Overcoming Fears? How does the experience prepare him for his week in the woods?