Discussion+Questions

Discussion Questions

Hudson Bridge's Discussion Questions Chapters 1-3
 * Why do you think the Ashanti warriors are siding with the whites? What do you think they will be getting out of this? I think the Ashanti warriors are trying to protect their own village. I also think they will be betrayed by the whites and become slaves as well.
 * Who are the whites and where are they taking the Ewe? Why do you think the Ewe children and adults were not spared? I think that the whites assumed that the children would not make the journey and they would be hard to control. I also think that the the middle aged adults could pose a threat towards the whites.

Chapters 4-6 Chapters 7-9 Chapters 10-12 Chapters 13-15 Chapters 16-18 Chapters 19-21 Chapters 22-24 Chapters 25-27 Chapters 28-30 Chapters 31-36 Chapters 37-42
 * After the Ashanti warriors helped the white men, they were put on the ship as slaves. How do you think the white men tricked the Ashanti warriors to kill their own people and get nothing in return? I think the Ashanti warriors wanted the protect their own village and they probaly assumed they would be friends with the white men. I think their betrayal was unexpected.
 * Do you think Amari and Besa will be permently seperaated? Do you think they will see eachother again? I don't think they will see eachother again because once they get sold, they will most likely be sold to places very far away from eachother.
 * Why do you think the orange haired man who is being nice to Amari told her to scream? I think he told her to scream to make it seem like he was doing something bad so the other white men don't think he is trying to help her.
 * How long do you think the journey will take and where do you think they are going? I think the journey will take another week and I think they're going to America.
 * Do you think Amari and Afi wil be sold to the same plantation, or do you think they will be seperated? How will Amari be affected if they are separated? I think, chances are, they will be seperated. If they are seperated, I think it will be very hard for Amari until she mets new people that she talks to and until she learns english well.
 * Do you think the Americans who authorize slavery have any idea how cruel the journey over is and slavery in general, or do you think they are oblivious to what is going on? I think that the Americans who authorize slavery were raised to think that African Americans aren't people. I think they also train themselves to think that they are helping them by giving them food and a place to live.
 * How do you think Polly and Amari will act towards eachother in the future? I think that Polly will learn to like Amari after she is introduced to the cruelty of slavery and after Amari can speak good english.
 * What do you think makes Clay so mean towards others. Who do you think influences him to think like this? I think that he is greatly influenced by his dad, partially because right now he doesn't have a mom.
 * Do you think Amari will ever try to escape slavery? I think that the slavery will get so bad that she will try to escape. I dont think she will be the only one.
 * Do you think Amari will ever return to Africa again in the future? No I don't. I think it would be too difficult to return to Africa mainly because know one would allow her to take a ship back to Africa.
 * Do you think Polly will ever work in the Mr. Derby's house? What will she do to try to get there? If she does work there, how long will her job last? After Amari spilled the pie, I think that Polly lost her chance. I think that she will try to work there, but I think she knows pretty well that her chance is gone.
 * If Amari works in the rice fields, how do you think she will handle it? Do you think she will run away? First of all, I don't think she will work in the rice fields. But if she does end up working the rice fields, I think she will eventually try to run away.
 * Why do you think Mrs. Derby doesn't like to eat much? I think that she feels uncomfortable around Mr. Derby and she is unhappy. I think she feels like she isn't treated as a person but instead as an object.
 * What do you think makes Clay hate Mrs. Derby so much? I think one aspect of his hate towards her is the fact that they are only three years of age apart. I also think that she Clay is used to his mom and Mrs. Derby has a very different personality from his old mom.
 * Do you think Amari, Teenie, and Polly will be severly punished? If so, do you think they will try to run away? Yes, I do think that they will be severly punished and if they are, they will try to run away.
 * Do you think Sara Jane will be killed too? Yes, I think Mr. Derby's anger will get the best of him and he will kill Sara Jane.
 * What do you think about Amari, Polly, and Tidbit planning on heading to the south? I think that it could either work really well, or they will be caught by a local and be turned in for reward money.
 * Do you think Fort Mose really exists? I think that there is a place called Fort Mose, but I don't think that it is as nice as Cato described it.
 * Do you think it is unrealistic that Hushpuppy appeared from the woods? Yes, I think that in real life, a dog would not be smart enough to know to follow their trail. Usually dogs stay with their homes.
 * Do you think Clay is still alive? Do you think Clay will try to pursue them? If Clay isn't at the plantation, then who is controlling it? I think clay was killed by the snake, but if he is alive, I don't think he will ever find them. I don't understand who else would control the plantiation now that Mr. Derby is dead except that the slaves don't want to be caught trying to run away or they don't want to go away from their families.
 * Do you think Nathan will try to see Polly again? I think he wants to but I think it would be too hard for Nathan to come all the way down to Fort Mose to see Polly. Maybe in the future Polly will try to find Nathan. This seems more realistic than Nathan trying to find Polly.
 * Do you think Fort Mose will be free forever? During the Civil War? I hope it will be free, but you never know what could happen when the south breaks away from the Union. They might be desperate for more slaves so they might look at Fort Mose.

Sophie Vick's Discussion Questions Chapters 1-3 Chapters 4-6 Chapters 7-9 Chapters 10-13 Chapters 14-15 Chapters 16-18 Chapters 19-21 Chapters 22-24 Chapters 25-27 Chapters 28-30 Chapters 31-36 Chapters 37-42
 * What did Amari's Village think of the mysterious white people? They didn't know what to expect or think of them, at first.
 * What did her tribe think the white people were going to do? with them? They thought that they were just going to be friendly and trade with them.
 * Where are they going? Are they going to get split up? Some of them will go to United States of America and they will most likely be split up.
 * What's going to happen to Besa? Amari? Besa will be sold into slavery too and we think he might die on the slave ship (mentally or physically).
 * Has Amari ever been far away from her village before this? It seems like she hasn't ever been far away, because she hasn't ever seen a large ship, a shark, or even the ocean before now.
 * Why would the sailors make them dance? rape the women? make the men stay below with all of that stuff down there and not even clean it? They would make them dance and rape them just to amuse themselves for the long journey. I'm not sure why they left the men down below and would bring the women up on the deck. They never cleaned it because the sailors thought of them as slaves, worthless people, and they didn't care in general about the slaves well-being.
 * Will Besa and Amari ever be reunited? or married? if they are do you think they will remember eachother? They probably won't ever see eachother after this and if they do they will be in shock and possibly not reckognize eachother.
 * Why did the sailors all of a sudden stop abusing the Africans? They wanted them to be healthier, so they would make a larger profit off of them.
 * Whose Polly? She's an indentured servent, and that's about all we know about her so far.
 * Why does Clay keep acting different? To impress his dad and show off to people Amari. We don't know exactly why he was being nice to Polly at the beginning though.
 * Why does Teenie tell her to play dumb? So Amari won't be told to do more things or go into the rice fields sooner.
 * Did Polly know why Mr. Derby bought Amari for Clay? She didn't know at when she was at the slave auction or when they first arrived, but when Tidbit told her to wake up Amari and send her to Clay's room she finally got it.
 * Why would Clay think that Amari would actually like/love him? I think that he just wanted someone to love him.
 * Wouldn't it be hard for Amari to remeber Africa after her familly and village was killed? She would try to remember the "happy thoughts" instead of that horrible night.
 * What was the tension in the room like when Amari was being whipped by Mr. Derby? Everybody was terrified. Even Clay seemed angered by his father whipping his birthday present, or atleast he showed a little concern for her.
 * How could Clay use Tidbit as gaitor bait? We are not very sure, but we think it was because he's just a slave. That's still horrible!
 * What's going to happen if Mr. Derby finds out about the baby? He's going to over react!
 * What would Mr. Derby have thought if he was there when the baby was born? He would have been shocked and there is a slight possibility that he would have let the baby live and possibly even love it like it was his own child.
 * How could he have killed the baby? was he stunned after? (like oh my gosh I can't believe i just did that!) We think that he was shocked a little bit after, but while he was doing it he was so angered that he didn't care at all.
 * What was it like for Teenie to know she was about to loose her only son? or for Tidbit and loose his mom? did Tidbit realize that he was being taken away from his mom or did he understand while it was happening? It was horrible for Teenie I can't even imagine what it was like. Just the same for Tidbit, and he didn't realize he was being taken from his mom until the next day when it happened.
 * Why does the doctor let them go? He doesn't believe in slavery and he has already watched the murder of a slave and a baby the night before.
 * How did Hushpuppy find them? We are not really sure, but we think that he followed their scents and footprints or something like that.
 * Why did Nathan help them? Will he go look for Polly when they leave his farm? We think that he will go look for Polly and he helped them, because he thinks Polly is pretty and it seems like they have a connection.
 * What happened to Besa? We think he acted the way he did, so Amari would forget about him and he died mentally.
 * What's going to happen to Amari and Clay's baby? We have no clue, but we think she should write another book telling what is going to happen to the baby.

Emily Wigdale's Discussion Questions- Chapters 1-3 Chapters 4-6 Chapters 7-9 Chapter 10-13 Chapters 14-16 Chapters 17-19 Chapters 19-21 Chapters 22-24 Chapters 25-27 Chapters 28-30 Chapters 31-33 Chapters 34-37 Chapters 37 till end of the book
 * What if the men with skin white as goat milk attacked Amari's tribe early? Instead of waiting until the celebration. Would the out come be the same? We think more people the Ewe tribe would have survived, meaning they could have ran away or hidden somewhere.
 * When the tribe was attacked why did they kill everyone and not let the children survive? Our feeling was that the child or the elders could not have survived the journey to the new world and also they could not live on their own.
 * Where is Amari's tribe located in Africa? They are located of the coast of the Atlantic, but far enough in that they never saw the ocean. Around Nigara.
 * Why in the city do African Americans walk hand in hand with whites? How could this be? We think it is all a trap and that in the end the whites will brand them and take them to the new world.
 * Do you think she will ever see Besa again? No once a slave your family and friends are gone.
 * Why was Bill nice to Amari? Why did he want to teach her english? Bill must not believe in slavery, this job must be the one way he can make money for his family. He wants to help the slaves.
 * When the man was checking all the slaves before being branded was he a doctor? What was he checking for? He was the doctor but we still don't know what we was looking for, all we know is that is could be a possible disease.
 * Why is Afi always so negative, why does she think she is going to die? Afi must know Amari fate, and if she knows Amari fate some how some way she must have a clue about hers.
 * Who is Teenie and why is she so important? Teenie is the main cook, she helps the girls and tell them what to do, she is like their boss.
 * When Polly arrives, why does she automatically think she gets the better job? She is like everyone else, she always thinks highly of herself just because she is white.
 * When Clay and Amari talk at night, is it every night they talk or is it just once in a blue moon? We think they talk when Clay had some what of a good day, he is then in a good mood.
 * Where are the rest of the slaves, where are their houses compared to Amari and Polly's? They are down the path, and they work in the rice fields all the time.
 * Does Amari still wish to die? Yes and no, she wants to stay alive for the sake of Afi and her wishes, but wants to die so she can have freedom.
 * If Mrs. Derby is pregant isn't that considered rape? No cause she just turned 18 and the law hasn't been made.
 * In the bushes who was talking? It was for sure Miz' Isabelle but the mans voice we still have know clue. Not Mr. Derby for sure.
 * Has Polly finally realized what it is like to be a slave? Do you think she ever wants to go back into the main house? Not after the night before, she wants nothing to do with Mr. Derby and his punishments.
 * Who do you think is the dad? How can this be? Noah is the Dad who else could it be, must have happened before he came to the plantation with Isabelle.
 * How long had Miz' Isabelle been at the plantation? Not very long, if she had a African American Baby.
 * HOW CAN MR. DERBY KILL A BABY? He has a heart of rocks, thats what he has.
 * What is Mr. Derby going to do to the slaves that were all trying to help the baby and Noah? Hurt them like he hurt Amari but into extreme conditions.
 * Does Clay have real feeling for Amari? Or is he just pretending? I think Clay has feelings for Amari, he just doesn't want to admit it.
 * How does Amari no the star structure so well in land she has only been in for not even a year? Africa, has the same star light, they also are taught through story telling.
 * Do you think Polly will ever see Nathan again? Yes, Nathan is a good boy and knows what is right, he'll find her some how.
 * Do you think Clay will find them? If the snake got him, then who would run the plantation? I think the snake got him, but the plantation is a good question. If Miz' Isabelle is still alive, i would think she would take over and treat the slaves with respect.
 * When Besa says he found a good woman, does he mean Fiona, or another slave that he is in love with? another woman, the give away sentence was, "she has no dreams like I do."
 * When will the fighting start, will their be enough time for them to get used to the society and settle in? Why must fighting start now when the just get there? The fighting is over land, U.S verse Spain. I also think that they will be able to have a couple years of peace before.

Annelise Gehl's discussion questions- Chapters 1-3 Chapters 4-6 Chapters 7-9 Chapters 10-12 Chapters 13-15 Chapters 16-18 Chapters 19-21 Chapters 22-24 Chapters 25-27 Chapters 28-30 Chapters 31-36 Chapters 37-42
 * Do you think Amari liked her marriage to Besa? I think she does because it seems like she really and truely cares for him.
 * What do you think Amari was thinking and feeling when she saw her family dead? I think she was stunned and upset that she wasnt dead to be with her family.
 * How do you think Besa felt when she saw Amari? I think he wanted to go get her and protect her, but he couldnt.
 * Why would the man examine Amari's mouth so thoroughly? he was probably looking for diseases in her mouth.
 * Why do you think that the man helped Amari instead of hurting her? Maybe he helped her because she was so young and he was a very nice man.
 * Why do they rape the young and old woman? They probably do it for amusement and pleasure.
 * What will happen to the slaves that the people don't want? Will they be killed? I think that they will stay on the island until another auction goes on and see if they get bought then.
 * Do you think Amari will be separated from Afi and Besa? i think they will get sepaated because the people don't buy slaves in pairs.
 * What do you think Amari will have to do for Clay? I think she will have to do stuff for him and give him pleasure.
 * How do you think Amari and Polly will get along? i think after awhile they will become better friends and get along, but it might take awhile.
 * Why do you think Mr. Derby married Isabelle? At first he probably married her for the money but then he started to really care and love her.
 * Why did Clay want to know if Amari loved him? He wanted to be loved and he actually does like her.
 * Do you think Isabelle will help Polly and Amari? Maybe she will help them to escape or get them to work in the main house.
 * Will Amari end up in the rice fields? No think Clay will help her and she will get away from it and stay and help clay.
 * Why does Mr. Derby protect Isabelle so much? He knows she is carrying "his" baby and he thinks she loves him and he just wants to make sure she is taken care of and given the best.
 * Why is Clay so proud of Amari? I think he is so proud of her because she is his slave and maybe he thinks she is very valuable.
 * What will happen to all of the slaves who helped Isabelle hide her baby? Maybe Mr. Derby will sell all of them or whip them very badly.
 * What will Isabelle do now with knowing the baby is dead and no more? She probably thinks that she will just die and there will be no more for her.
 * Do you think Isabelle will help them get out of the smokehouse? She will maybe try to but Mr. Derby will hold her back and watch over her a lot.
 * Will Teenie try to escape too? I think she will have to stay because Mr. Derby will watch over her too a lot.
 * Why did they try to hit Nathan what was the use of that? It probably showed that they attacked him and that he couldn't go looking for them.
 * Do you think Nathan's dad will find them? I think he wont just because they went into the swamp and he wont be able to make it across the swamp.
 * What do you think Besa means when he says he found another woman? I think that means that he found love somewhere else and that he can never take back Amari.
 * How do you think Amari will handle have 2 children? I think Polly will help her a lot and maybe she will find love and they can help too.