42 pages • 1 hour read
Betsy ByarsA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Why is Tom reluctant to go to the farm, and what does this reluctance imply about his character? Using key moments from the text, identify at least two character traits that shift during Tom’s time on the farm.
How do Tom’s parents try to get him excited about the farm, and how does Tom push back?
What makes Tom and Petie’s friendship so strong? Does their time apart change their friendship in any way? Use at least three examples from the text to support your interpretation.
Identify and examine at least two pivotal events that enhance Tom’s experience on the farm.
Analyze the detailed descriptions of Tom’s room and the room of Millie’s son, Bubba, and discuss the key differences between the two boys.
On the farm, Tom is fully immersed in nature and has nothing in particular to do. How does this “new normal” change his view of the world in lasting ways?
What impact does the black fox have on Tom, and how does his character evolve with each new encounter? Use specific examples from the text to support your analysis.
How does Tom adapt to the new environment on the farm, and how does this experience affect his view of life once he returns to the city?
Why does Tom never share his experience with the black fox with his family and friends in the city?
By Betsy Byars