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The Secret Life of Owen Skye by Alan Cumyn

Summary

Owen Skye lives in a small village with his brothers Andy and Leonard, their parents, and their weird Uncle Lorne. The Skye boys have a knack for turning innocent events into full-blown escapades. An argument about girls and God leads to a ruckus, and Leonard loses his glasses in the river. This induces the boys to skinny-dip, and they are promptly discovered by girls who chase them home. There they break out in a mysterious rash that confines them to bed for a week and subjects them to their mother's homemade poultices. Another time, the boys sneak out on a winter night to listen for aliens on the crystal radio in their snow fort, which necessitates a rescue by Uncle Lorne. On another occasion, a plan to sell old comics leads to a melee with bullies, a boxing lesson from their father, and an eerie moment of truth at the site of a tragic train accident. Owen's days are magical and full of adventures with his brothers as they observe the curious world of adults and ponder the secret mysteries of life, death, and love.

176 pages, 3rd grade and up

Discussion questions

  1. Which boy did you most relate to and why?
  2. Which story did you find most funny? Which was most dangerous?
  3. What does Owen like about Sylvia? Why do you think he is so surprised to like her?
  4. What did you think about Owen's parents? Do you think they understood him?
  5. Was this book a fast read for you? Why?
  6. What other adults in the book stood out to you? Why?
  7. Would you ever go skinny dipping?
  8. Do you have brothers? What is your relationship like with them?

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