But right now there’s just this one peak. Rock and ice against the deep blue sky, the cold wind swirling around in little snow devils.
It’s getting late. The moon will be full tonight. If we make the peak, we’ll be climbing back down in the moonlight.
After a short rest I say, “Okay. I can do this, Dad, if you can.”
“I know you can,” Dad says. “You lead the way, Aaron. I’ll be right behind you.”
And that’s when I get the idea for the ending:
Atop Grizzly Peak, the bear became me, and the moon floated up into the sky where it belonged.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1.In the beginning of the story, Aaron is expelled for bringing a pocketknife to school. Consider the school’s zero tolerance policy. Write a persuasive argument for why you think Aaron should or should not be expelled (or suspended) for the knife incident. Cite evidence from the story as well as outside evidence to support your position. (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.8, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.W.1)
2.How is this adventure different from Aaron’s previous trips with his dad to Bella Bella and Desolation Canyon? Why do you think the author chose to include those differences? Cite passages from the text to support your opinions. (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.9)
3.During his adventure, Aaron sees many different animals that make him pause to think or change his actions. Pick one of those encounters, and rewrite the scene from the animal’s point of view. How does the change in perspective affect the tone and purpose of the story? (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.6)
4.Aaron talks about freedom several times in the story. What does freedom mean to Aaron, and why do you think it’s important to him at this point in his life? (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.4)
5.The author of Grizzly Peak frequently uses metaphors and similes to enrich the story.
Examples:
• “. . . paddle like demons.”
• “It’s as if the rain gods have turned off a celestial spigot.”
• “. . . the moon growing fat, like a piñata filled with candy.”
6.Find additional examples in the book. Explain what the author is trying to say with each metaphor or simile. (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.4)
7.On page 73, Dad says, “Some dreams become real. . . . They become who you are. They reflect your fears, your wishes.” What do you think the author means by that? (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.1)
8.Aaron’s dad talks about wanting to be a jazz pianist, while Aaron wants to be a rapper. How are the two styles of music similar according to the text? How are they different? Listen to examples from each genre to help you better understand the comparison. (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.7)
9.In what ways (if any) would the story have been different if Aaron had taken this journey with someone other than his father? How would the action and underlying tension have been affected if his kayaking partner had been someone he didn’t know well, like a counselor or a river guide? How would that have affected the message of the story? (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.3)
10. Why does being captain matter to Aaron? How does this relate to his life outside of this adventure? Cite details from the story to support your response. (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.4)
11. What does it mean when Aaron thinks, “I am the Grizzly” as he paddles away from the windstorm on the last lake? (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.4)
12. How is Grizzly Peak similar to another book you’ve read? Cite examples from both books to support your comparison. (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.9)
13. Read either Desolation Canyon or Bella Bella, stories about Aaron’s other two wilderness adventures with his dad. How has Aaron’s character developed over the course of these stories? How has he changed? Do you find this latest Aaron more or less relatable than who he was in the earlier books? Give examples from both texts to support your answer. (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.3)
14. What scene would you consider the climax of this story? Give details from the book to help support your choice. (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.5)
15. The characters in this story survive many difficult challenges, both physical and emotional. Describe one obstacle a character overcomes in this story. Include details from the book about the problem and how it was solved. (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.1)
16. Why did the author choose to name this story Grizzly Peak? Look for literal reasons as well as more subtle, implied reasons, and cite supporting passages from the book. (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.4, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.5)
17. Consider the story’s setting. In what ways did the setting drive the plot? Research other natural features you might find in the Canadian wilderness, and write a chapter incorporating the new setting into Aaron and his dad’s adventure. (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.3, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.6)
Grizzly Peak Page 11
