Use the following questions to facilitate group discussion, or have students write responses to the questions individually.
- Where did this story happen?
- Do you think the granddaughter enjoyed helping with the maple syrup each year? Why? Why not?
- The most likely reason the author wrote this book was to ___________.
- How would you describe Grandfather?
- Grandfather describes what it was like in the year of the fire. Discuss what life was like during that time.
- Why did the grandfather’s father think that Mr. Richardson started the fire?
- Do you think Mr. Richardson started the fire?
- What do you think the cause of the wildfire was?
- Do you see any similarities with how wildfires are fought today and how the fire in the story was fought? Do you see any differences?
- Describe the fire and what happened that night.
- What can you tell about what the animals did during the fire? What helped you to know about the animals?
- How did the fire get put out?
- How did the snow help the fire? Did it hinder the fire being put out under the ground? What happened to the roots of the trees?
- How did the fire impact the grandfather and his family? What about Mr. Richardson? The community?
- What were the signs that the forest was coming back to life?
- Why did grandfather think it was important that the story be told for other generations?
- In what way is climate change important in the text?
- What do you believe can be learned from reading this book?
- What did this story reveal about families?
- If you could ask Grandfather anything, what would you ask him?
- Reflect back on the title of this book? What do you think it means now?