1. Ari and Dante

2. Journal Share
Turn to your neighbor and share one passage and response.
Pick one person to share out with the whole class.

3. Bernardo Conversation
Ari confronts his mom about Bernardo. She claims that Bernardo and his father’s private war have nothing to do with how he’s feeling or his inability to discuss how he’s feeling.
Who’s right?
What change is revealed in Ari?

4. Sponge Bath Why does Ari agree to let Dante give him a sponge bath?
Why does Dante cry?
How does Ari feel? Why?

5. The Sketchbook Why does Ari throw Dante’s sketchbook?
Why does Ari choose to look at Dante’s sketchbook with Dante?
What does he discover?

6. The “L Word” Why does Dante say he loves swimming AND Ari?
How does Ari respond?
What does Ari realize after Dante expresses himself?

7. Gina and Susie What are Gina and Susie like?
Why does Ari lie about the accident? What does he discover about the truth?
Gina asks Ari if his injuries still hurt, and he says no. In his narration he reveals, “the real answer was longer and more complicated” (163).
What does he mean?