80 pages 2 hours read

Barbara O'Connor

How to Steal a Dog

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2007

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Discussion/Analysis Prompt

Explore the concept of prejudice in the novel. Which characters exhibit prejudice toward others? Which characters are able to see past the exterior of individuals and show compassion? What does Georgina learn is the most important thing about a person’s behavior with regard to prejudice?

Teaching Suggestion: Several characters make judgments about individuals in the novel without understanding why they behave or look the way they do. It may be helpful for students to create a list of characters and their reactions to different scenarios in the novel before addressing the prompt. This may also benefit students in the following Activity.

Differentiation Suggestion: Students who might benefit from additional assistance with analysis may find it helpful to create a graphic organizer in the form of a T-chart. Small groups could write “prejudice” on one side and “compassion” on the other, and then they could describe the behaviors of different characters and their reactions below those titles.

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By Barbara O'Connor