About This Book
In Lois Lowry's autobiographical novel, six-year-old Elizabeth moves to Autumn Street in Pennsylvania with her pregnant mother and sister when her father deploys for WWII. Living with her stern grandparents, Elizabeth befriends Charles, the Black grandson of their cook, and confronts the realities of racial prejudice and segregation. The story explores themes of grief, coming of age, and the loss of innocence as Elizabeth experiences multiple tragedies, including Charles's murder. This poignant historical fiction offers a deep dive into difficult topics, making it suitable for mature middle-grade readers aged 8-12, and an excellent choice for opening conversations about war, racism, and processing loss.
When her father goes to fight in World War II, Elizabeth goes with her mother and sister to her grandfather's house where she learns to face up to the always puzzling and often cruel realities of the adult world.
Concepts
Sadness & GriefSelf-Confidence & IdentityFriendship & LoyaltyLove & FamilyFear & BraveryEmpathy & KindnessJustice & FairnessResilience & PerseveranceLoneliness & BelongingGood vs. EvilCuriosity & WonderDeath of a Loved OneGrowing UpBeing DifferentCultural IdentityNew SiblingMovingFamily & SiblingsFriendship & Social
Character Death
Violence
racism
war_themes
peril_danger
separation_from_parent
Scary Scenes
illness
Discussion Prompts
1
How does Elizabeth's understanding of the world change from the beginning to the end of the book?
2
Discuss the friendship between Elizabeth and Charles. What challenges do they face, and how do they support each other?
3
The book deals with racism during World War II. What examples of racism do you see, and how do they affect the characters?
4
What does the 'dark woods' symbolize in the story?
5
How does Elizabeth cope with the difficult events and losses she experiences? What can we learn from her resilience?
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