Dash

Larson also titles her chapters. Thus, Chapter 4 is “Bad News on the Telephone Pole,” while Chapter 14 is “Stealing Home.” How do the chapter titles foreshadow what will happen in the chapter? How do they inject the bleak story with humor? What’s ironic (or unexpected) about many of the chapter titles?

Books symbolize guidance, and Larson includes a bevy of books in Mitsi’s story. Read one of the books—like Caddie Woodlawn or Thimble Summer—and explain its relationship to Mitsi and what Mitsi, or a person in her situation, can take from it.

Larson loves dogs and has authored other books about dogs and World War II. Read one of those books—whether it’s Duke or Code Word Courage—and compare and contrast the narrative to Mitsi’s and Dash’s situations.

Books, Dash, and creativity are three key symbols, but think of other symbols in the book. What does the locket symbolize? What does Ted’s magic represent? How do the additional symbols support the book’s main themes?

Pretend you are in Judy’s and Mags’s position. How would you stick up for Mitsi? What would you say to Patty? Identify the factors that would help you defend Mitsi, and name the elements that’d pressure you to act like Judy and Mags do in the story?

Anne Frank was a little bit older than Mitsi during World War II. As she was Jewish in Nazi Europe, she spent around two years hiding in an attic, and she recorded her experiences in a diary published after her death, The Diary of a Young Girl (1947). Bring Anne and Mitsi together. How does Anne combat her bleak surroundings? How does she create and form friendships? How does she demonstrate her love for animals?

Larson uses imagery to depict the callousness of the concentration camps. Select a few of the ghastly images and tell why they’re impactful.

Unpack Mitsi’s relationship with Debbie. How did they become friends? Why do they stay friends? How are their personalities alike, and what do they have in common?