These are a collection of stories that the Johnson County Library has used at the Johnson County Juvenile Detention Center as part of our Read to Succeed program. This is meant as a resource for librarians but is available for everyone to use.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

You Hear Me?


Questions for You Hear Me?

“Joker”
  • Do you know someone who is a funny guy?Are you?
  • How do you use humor?Why?
  • Do you use humor to hid your feelings or insecurities?

“My Pockets Ain’t that Phat”
  • What defines you?Your clothes?Your cologne/perfume?Your ride?
  • What do you think is important?
  • Where do you get your personal sense of style?

“Sleep”
  • What kinds of things make you want to escape?
  • How do you escape?Sleeping?Reading?

“People Got More”
  • Where do you think these neighborhoods are that he is talking about?
  • Who are “those people”?
  • Do you see this anywhere else?School?Work?
  • Why does he want to make KC worth something?
  • Do you want to make KC worth something?
  • How would you change KC or your neighborhood?

“Bumming Through Pittsburg? Maybe Not.”
  • Where will you be in five to ten years?
  • Will you go to college?Have a career?
  • Will you be happy?

“Dear God”
  • What do you want?
  • What do you want for the people you know?
  • How do you want to be remembered?

“Black Boy Blues”
  • How do you get past your childhood?
  • Because your childhood was bad does that mean the rest of your life will be too?Why?

“Ascension”
  • What does this mean?
  • What do you think he is talking about?

General Questions
  • What do you think this poem means?
  • How do you think the author was feeling when he wrote this?
  • Have you ever thought about writing poetry?
  • What do you think of poetry?