How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
[Reynie] had often wondered what life might have been like at a school where the other students didn't find him so odd. (1.14)
This makes us wonder why it is, exactly, that the other students at the Stonetown Orphanage find Reynie so odd. Is it because he's inquisitive? Or because he has a sophisticated vocabulary? Because he spends so much time reading? Aren't these all the qualities of a good student? We're curious as to whether you see other kids being teased (or maybe just ignored or not included) because they're, well, bookish. And if so (or even if not), we're wondering why you think that might happen.
Quote #5
At dinner, an older boy named Vic Morganoff had tormented Reynie for using the word "enjoyable" to describe the book he was reading. Vic thought it too fancy a word to be proper, and soon had gotten the entire table laughing and saying "enjoyable" in mocking tones […]. (1.10)
The more we hear about the students at the Stonetown Orphanage, the more we get the feeling that this school, this institution of learning, is actually anti-intellectual. What do you make of that? How can a place that's supposed to encourage learning be against, um, learning?
Quote #6
"'Rules and schools are tools for fools—I don't give two mules for rules!'" (4.59)
These are great rhymes and very entertaining, and they definitely give us some insight into just how stubborn and contrary Miss Contraire can be. But is there something more going on here? Do you get the sense that maybe, just maybe, Trenton Lee Stewart might agree with Constance's assessment of rules and schools? Why or why not?