Deadwood
on Goodreads (86)
What’s inside...
There’s something evil in Deadwood Park. Martin Cruz, new to town, discovers a curse associated with the Spirit Tree, which the high school football team carves each year, coinciding with a losing streak. As the curse intensifies, causing business failures, toppled trees, and sinkholes, Martin teams up with Hannah Vaughan to heal the tree and break the curse, or risk being trapped in Deadwood Park under the power of the malevolent entity behind it.
Age
8-12
Length
250 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think the main character learned by the end of the story?
How do you think the forest feels about the characters’ actions?
If you were in the story, what would you have done differently?
Why do you think the author chose the title 'Deadwood'?
What part of the story made you feel the happiest, saddest, or most excited?
Tip: Role play these questions
Start by asking your child what they liked most about the book to establish a positive conversation.
Use open-ended questions that require more than a yes or no answer to encourage your child to think critically about the story and its themes.
Discuss similar real-life situations to make connections between the book and your child’s experiences to deepen their understanding.
Encourage your child to imagine alternative endings or plot twists. This fosters creativity and helps them engage more deeply with the narrative.
Praise your child’s responses and thoughts to build their confidence and encourage a love of reading and discussing books.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of teamwork
Explanation: In 'Deadwood', the characters must work together to solve the mysteries of their eerie surroundings, demonstrating how collaboration can lead to success.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by participating in group activities at school or in sports, learning that cooperation can achieve common goals.
Example Lesson: Courage in the face of fear
Explanation: The protagonist shows bravery while navigating through frightening situations, teaching readers to confront their fears.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children understand the value of facing challenges in everyday situations, be it trying out new activities or standing up for themselves.
Example Lesson: Resilience through obstacles
Explanation: As the characters encounter various challenges, their perseverance shows the importance of resilience.
Real-World Application: Children learn to keep trying despite difficulties, whether in completing a hard task or dealing with personal setbacks.
Example Lesson: Problem-solving skills
Explanation: The plot involves solving puzzles and mysteries, which highlights the effectiveness of strategic thinking and creativity.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to use critical thinking and creativity to solve problems in schoolwork or in resolving conflicts with peers.
Example Lesson: Respect for different perspectives
Explanation: Characters in the book come from various backgrounds, and their diverse viewpoints help in resolving the conflicts in the story.
Real-World Application: This can teach children the value of considering different perspectives and foster a more inclusive attitude towards peers from diverse backgrounds.