Tobias Wolff

Here are some short stories by Tobais Wolff from his collection Our Story Begins that we could use.
1. Leviathan
2. Say Yes
3. Mortals
4. The Other Miller

Every Man for Himself

The Unbeatable by Mo Willems

1. What super power would you choose to have and why?

2. When someone challenges you or picks on you at school what is your response?

3. Bill’s powers have the limitation that any pain he inflicts on someone else he feels like it was happening to him. He decides that is not worth it to get back at his classmates but what is the cost?

4. How are you limited in the real world? Do you have family that depends on you? What makes you hold back and think before you act?

5. Would you have fought the bullies at school if you were Bill? Even if you knew that it would hurt you? Why?

6. Do you experience situations like this in real life, situations where people abuse power or where they know how to use it well? Who are those people? Why do you think they choose to abuse their power or use it well?

7. Why does Bill confess to Rose? What makes him trust her?

8. At the end of the story, when his limits are lifted, why doesn’t Bill take his revenge on his classmates? What would you have done?

No More Birds Will Die Today

Characters: Charlie, Liam, Chevey

1. What kind of man is Chevey? What do you remember about him from the story?
2. Is he a good father? (buying his kids presents vs killing the birds)
3. Why do Charlie and Chevey decide to tell Liam his mother died? What do you think of their decision? What would you have done?
4. What happens with the BB guns? Why does Chevey start shooting birds? What is Charlie’s reaction?
1. Why does Charlie care about the birds?
2. What does Charlie do? What would you do?
3. What is Chevey’s reaction (to Charlie’s actions)? Why do you think he feels that way?
4. Does this change the relationship between Chevey and Charlie? How? (beer)
5. Why does Charlie make fun f the movies on TV?
1. He saved Liam from hurt with the birds
2. He purposely tried to hurt Liam with his words about the movies
3. He is trying to be a “man” with this father
6. How do you think Chevey defines being a man?
7. How do you define being a man? What are some of the things men do or don’t do?
8. Do you think Charlie is a man at the end of the story?
9. Who are some men in your life? Why do you think of them as men?
10. Are you a man? (obviously not for girls)

"Halfway" by Coe Booth

Do you remember getting your drivers license? What did it mean to you?
If you don’t have a driver’s license do you want one? Why or why not?
Who taught you how to drive? (or who will?)
Driving makes the narrator feel “free”. When do you feel free?
What does the driver think about driving without a licensed adult in the car? Is that illegal? Do you think it is wrong? At what point is something bad enough that it becomes wrong?
What would you do if you were the main character? Would you visit your dad to tell him off? Visit him and not be able to stay mad? Or turn around?
At the end of the story the main character makes a choice? What do you think that choice is really about? Visiting his dad or the way his life is headed?