Stone Fox: Discussion Guide - hard copy

Discussion Guide: Stone Fox

by John Reynolds Gardiner

Grades 2-3
     Little Willy and his dog Searchlight live in Wyoming with Willy's Grandfather. One day Grandfather doesn't get up because he is sick. He won't talk and the doctor says he has given up the will to live. Little Willy can't understand why until he discovers that Grandfather hasn't paid $500.00 worth of back taxes and will lose the farm if they don't pay it.
     Little Willy decides to enter a sledding race since the prize in $500.00. However, he must compete against the famous Indian sledder, Stone Fox, who is said to have never lost a race. Little Willy's perseverance inspires his Grandfather and in the end he gets better. However, Willy's dog dies in running the sled race. The true character of Stone Fox comes out as he sees Willy stopped near the end of the race with his dead dog. The 12-page guide includes discussion questions for each chapter, plot and story mapping, character analysis and writing prompts.