Although the protagonist only spends one summer with the Larsons, the experiences he has are transformative and lasting. While living on the farm, the protagonist learns of The Importance of Friendship, develops a feeling of Home, Family, and Acceptance, and begins Growing Up as he approaches adolescence. Why do you think that his time on the farm was so impactful? Identify some of the large and small ways the Larsons treated the protagonist as part of the family.

Teaching Suggestion: For this discussion prompt, encourage students to consider the entire breadth of the novel and how the protagonist felt when he first arrived, where he came from, and what exactly about the Larsons’ actions and character made him feel so welcome. Encourage students to connect to all three themes in their responses.

Differentiation Suggestion: Students who would benefit from additional writing support can pair up with a partner and generate ideas using the following sentence frames:

• “Harris shows the protagonist true friendship when…”
• “The Larsons treat the protagonist like a member of the family when they expect him to…”
• “The protagonist shows he appreciates the Larsons’ kindness when…”

Students can be encouraged to brainstorm together and either write down their ideas or share them orally.