Unit 1: Songs for a Teenage Nomad

Welcome to English 9/10 in Global Studies at Forest Charter!

Songs for a Teenage Nomad by Kim Culbertson

Complete the following questions thoroughly and thoughtfully.  

Answers should be typed and written in complete sentences.  

Study Questions Chapters 1-5  Due Sept. 9

1. What are your first impressions of Calle? Why is her song journal so important to her?
   
2. Describe what you know so far about Calle’s father. What does Calle find that is significant?
   
3. Describe Calle’s relationship with her mother. How does she feel about this new relationship with her stepfather, Rob?
   
4. How do the drama kids make her transition to the new school different from past schools?
   
5. Who are Eli and Sam and Cass? How are Calle’s interactions with them similar and/or different?
   

Chapters 6-10  Due Sept. 9

1. How does Calle react to Sam’s line about her being a “strange girl”? What does she think makes her “strange”?
   
2. Who is Amber? How does she interact with Calle?
   
3. Chapters 8-10 are entitled “Another First Kiss,” “Yellow,” and “Human Nature.” Why are these song titles meaningful in relation to the events that unfold?
   
4. At the end of Chapter 10, Calle finds the poem on the wall. She says, “I’m sitting in the night of this poem.” What does she mean by that?
   

Chapters 11-15 Due Sept. 16

1. What’s going on with Sam and his home life?
   
2. What changes for Calle’s life when she finds the letter in her mom’s drawer?
   
3. What does she learn from Tala when she has her fortune cookies read? What happens when she confronts her mother?
   
4. Where does Cass take her? What does Calle learn in this scene?
   
5. What happens with Eli? Why does this complicate things for Calle?
   6. What’s significant about what gets said over dinner between Calle, Rob, and Alyson? What’s more significant about what doesn’t get said? 

Chapters 16-20  Due Sept. 16

1. What does Sam want from Calle? How is he different at school than when he sees her outside of school?
   
2. What happens at Lucky’s? How does this change Calle’s view of both Cass and Sam?
   
3. What happens with Rob? How does Alyson react? How does Calle respond to her mom?
   
4. How does Sam help Calle? Why do you think he does this?
   
5. Much is uncovered around mothers and fathers in these chapters – for Sam, for Calle, for Cass. What do you as a reader learn?
   

Chapters 21-25 and the Epilogue  Due Sept. 23

1. Who does Calle see at the café? What happens when she chases him into the alley? What impact does he have on Calle in the early part of these chapters?
   
2. What happens at the dance? Why is it significant?
   
3. Lucky’s becomes an important setting for Cass, Sam and Calle. What choice does Calle have to make here at the end of the novel?
   
4. What does Calle find out from Sam? How does she respond to him?
   
5. How does the last scene in Chapter 25 transform her life?
   
6. Why is the Tambourine Man so important to Calle? What do we learn about him in the epilogue? 
   

Lit Journals

Lit Journal Due Dates:

Lit Journals should be at least one page each (approx. 250 words) and typed.

Section 1: Chapters 1-5 due Sept. 9
Section 2: Chapters 6-10 due Sept 9
Sections 3: Chapters 11-15 due Sept 16
Section 4: Chapters 16-20 due Sept 16
Section 5: Chapter 21-26 & Epilogue due Sept 23

Divide the novel into five parts. For each of these five sections, you will write one Lit Journal about what you have read. However, don’t simply summarize what you have read. It is more important to include analysis about what is going on in the book. Always ask yourself the question: why? Why is the character doing this? Why are events unfolding the way they are? Why do you think characters interact the way they do? Etc. And then answer these questions in thorough detail by using specific examples from the book to back up what you’re saying. You should also comment on your opinions, thoughts, and/or concerns regarding plot, character, and/or style. This is a commentary on the book at this point in the reading. Feel free to change that opinion as you read further in the book. These entries should be at least one page each (approx. 250 words) and typed.

Lit journals provide an opportunity for you to write freely (this is not an essay); don’t get stuck on a structure, but rather follow all your ideas as they come to you. There is no “right” answer. These journals are an opportunity for you to explore the novel from your own perspective and ideas without a specific topic – whatever you want to write about in regards to your reading of the novel is okay. You are choosing your topics for each entry based on what’s grabbing you during the reading.