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Men of Stone by Gayle Friesen

Summary

Fifteen-year-old Ben can't make sense of his life. He lives in a house full of women, yet he can't talk to girls. He tries to be a jock, but can't even make the co-ed volleyball team. And ridicule from the guys has driven Ben to give up the one thing at which he truly excels ­ dance. Now, he's being bullied by a thug named Claude who's found out about Ben's ballet classes. Ben feels his anger and frustration grow with each passing day. Then Great-Aunt Frieda comes to visit and Ben learns about the old woman's life in Russia. He's surprised at how Frieda dealt with the Men of Stone ­ Stalin's agents who terrorized her community and family. As Frieda tells her powerful story, Ben begins to understand who he is and what kind of person he wants to be. But first he must get past the rage that has taken control of his life.

216 pages, 7th grade and up

Discussion questions

Spoiler alert! Some of the questions contain key elements of the plot. Do not read if you don't want to know what happens!

  1. Why is it hard for Ben to live in a houseful of women?
  2. How does Ben relate to each of the women in the house? How does his attitude toward each of them change?
  3. What does dancing mean to Ben? Why is Ben's classmate, Claude, so determined to humiliate Ben about his dancing?
  4. Aunt Frieda says that she found Ben's family "a scattered place - lives wandering in so many different directions." What does she mean by that? How does her presence help to reunite the family?
  5. Why does Ben's family never talk about his dead father?
  6. Who are the Men of Stone? What did the Mennonites represent that the Soviet government needed to repress? As Ben asks in the book, "What [makes] somebody turn to stone
  7. Describe Aunt Frieda. Why does she choose to share her story with Ben? Why does Aunt Frieda continue to have nightmares about the Men of Stone?
  8. Describe Ben's friends, Stan and Fish. How do their friendships with Ben differ? What does Ben value about each of them?
  9. What does Ben learn about himself from fighting the trainer, Alec, in the gym? Do you think that Ben could become a "man of stone" or a pacifist? Which does Ben choose? Why?

Snacks: Beth's cooking: Greek vegetarian pizza, scrambled egg wraps. Aunt Frieda's cooking: Peppermint cookies, sweet buns.

Created in part with funds granted by the Oregon State Library under the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the Oregon State Library. Send feedback to Katie O'Dell, Reading Promotions Coordinator