Chapter 9 - Allies and Enemies

Allies - 1. Ishmael and his friends encounter an old man who helps them heal their wounds and blisters on their feet. Would you help the boys? Would you think that the boys were rebels? Would you do anything different if you were the old man?

Enemies - 2. The village leader decides to confiscate Ishmael's sandals so that he has to walk barefoot throughout the jungle and on the hot sand. Why is this worse then just killing him? What would you do if you were Ishmael?

Chapter 8 - The Feared Seven

Chapter eight closes with the image of villagers running fearfully from Ishmael and his friends, believing that the seven boys are rebels.
1. How do they overcome these negative assumptions in the villages that begin to associate the boys' appearance with evil?
2. What lessons could world leaders learn from them about overcoming distrust and the importance of judging others individually rather than as stereotypes?

* Extra Credit *

Make a text - to - self connection from what we have read so far in the book.


- question submitted by Mark