The Other Wes Moore

Introduction

1 What was the title of the article published in the Baltimore Sun in 2000?

2. Where did the author attend college?

3. Where can we find the other Wes Moore?

4. How did the author originally contact the other Wes Moore? Was this effective?

5. How is the book divided and why?

6. What does Wes never want us, as readers, to ever forget?

7. What can we find in this book beside the story of their lives?

8. What did both Wes Moore’s find they had in common during the first visit? How did their views differ on the subject?

The Other Wes Moore

Chapter One (pages 6-16)

1What does Wes do to Nikki that has his mother so angry? Why was she so upset about this?

2When did his mother first come to US and where is she from?

3What did she do to try to fit in?

4How does his mother meet her first husband?

5What did she hope to do in this marriage?

6Why did this relationship end?

7Do you agree with the way Wes’ father handled the situation? Why or why not?

8What does Wes’ father do for a living?

9Why do you think Wes Moore’s father died?

The Other Wes Moore

Chapter one(pages 16-25)

1.Why does Wes like to go over to his grandmother’s house?

2.What did the letter that Mary was hiding state?

3.What did the author mean by “John Hopkins was the beautiful campus you could walk past but not through?

4.Moore says the riots of the 1960’s were “sparked” by MLK Jr.’s assassination, but what did he say fueled it?

5. Describe Mary’s teen years. What were some parallels from her life to her mother’s life?

6. Describe the relationship both Wes Moores’ mothers had with their child’s father.

7. How old was the other Wes Moore when he met his father for the first time?

The Other Wes Moore

Chapter Two (26-35)

1.Describe where Tony lives.

2.What does Tony want to instill (get through to) in Wes?

3.Describe Tony (characterization).

4.What does Tony wish for his own life?

5.Why do people have an “ice grille”?

6.Describe the difference between Cherry Hill and Northwood.

7.What is Murphy Home’s law?

8.How did the altercation end?

9.How old is Wes at this time?

The Other Wes Moore

Chapter Two (35-45)

  1. How has Wes’ mother changed since the death of her husband?
  1. How did Resident Jimmy Carter describe the Bronx?
  1. Why didn’t his grandparents move back to their home countries after they retired?
  1. How has the Bronx changed since Wes’ mother was there last?
  1. How does Wes’ father feel about the Bronx?
  1. What are West Indian rules?
  1. Describe Wes’ first experience on the basketball court in the Bronx.

The Other Wes Moore

Chapter Three: Foreign Ground-1987 (46-55)

  1. What do Justin and Wes have in common?
  1. What is the name of the school he goes to?
  1. Describe the school Wes attends .
  1. Why does Wes get suspended from school?
  1. Why does he tell his friends the “story” about his suspension?
  1. What was significant about the panhandler?
  1. How did Wes’ Uncle Howard try to help Wes cope with his two worlds and how did it

turn out?

  1. What is significant about the reading scores of third graders?
  1. How are Wes’ grades and how does his mom feel about it?

The Other Wes Moore

Chapter Three: Foreign Ground (p 55-62)

  1. What were the two reasons Mary moved from the city?
  1. How does Wes rationalize his involvement in drug dealing?
  1. Describe Wes’ first interaction with drugs?

The Other Wes Moore

Chapter Four: Marking Territory 1990 (p 62-75)

  1. What caused Tony and Wes to get into an altercation?
  1. What was Mary’s initial reaction and what did it later cause her to do?
  1. Who do you think is to blame for Wes’ new found lifestyle?
  1. What did Wes learn on the Bronx streets?
  1. Why did Shea and Wes get thrown in a cop car?
  1. Create a T-chart showing the effects this had on Shea and Wes.

The Other Wes Moore

Chapter 5: Lost 1991

  1. What events led Wes’ mother to send him to military school?
  1. What happened between mother and son after Wes slapped Shani?
  1. What is the name and place of the military school Wes attended?
  1. How did Wes feel about his first days of military school?
  1. What trick did Sergeant Austin play on Wes?
  1. Why was Wes impressed with Cadet Captain Ty Hill?

The Other Wes Moore

Chapter five: Lost 1991 (p 97-107)

  1. What happens within two months of Alicia and Wes’ meeting?
  1. Why does Tony think this is funny?
  1. What is the outcome of Wes’ sexual encounter with the girl without a name?
  1. What do you think is significant about his mother’s statement to Tony at the end of chapter five?