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Things to Notice and Talk About

You'll want to focus on the Foxman as the book does. What caused his disfigurement? Notice the ways in which he deals with it, living away from society, hiding his face even hiding himself so that the boys don't have to look at him. Find examples of his behavior which show his constant awareness of his physical appearance. Imagine the horror of being horrible to look at.

Look at some of the minor characters here. The uncle is concerned about the boy. He asks if he is happy and if he knows the woods well enough now so that the uncle can relax a bit when the boy is gone for long periods of time. Does the uncle know about the Foxman?

What about the person who brings the supplies once a year to the Foxman? What does he/she know? How does that person deal with it? How was the routine established? Did the Foxman go to town once?

The Foxman says at one point, "Science kills beauty." What does he mean? What is his example of knowledge ruining wonder? What are some other examples? Talk about the effects on both boys of knowing the Foxman. Why is Carl's reaction different than his cousin's? What will change in the boy's life after this book? Will he stay in the north? with the family? alone? Will he go back to his alcoholic parents? Finally, there is the burning of the cabin with the Foxman and all he owns inside. Is that what Foxman wanted? Why did the boy take only the fox pelt? Was he right?

Another quote says that the storytellers are "plucking roses from manure." What about that one? Can you cite examples of it in the book and in life? There is violence throughout this anti-war novel. Pick out the references to it and debate their cause and effects. Speaking of alcoholism, investigate Alanon and Alateen. Could they have helped the boy? The battle of Verdun in World War I is talked about in the book. Find out what you can about it. We're hearing a lot about poison gas now in the Middle East. What was said about it then? Why was it outlawed? Can there be rules to war? Who makes the rules? The work on the farm is important to the book. Everyone does his or her share, even the animals. Talk about the draft horses. Do some research on the different breeds and their particular strengths. The cold plays a part in this story. He talks about the blue of cold. What does he mean? Frostbite is dealt with. Is rubbing snow on frostbite recommended? At one point the boy is freezing to death. Are his experiences consistent with those of real people in the cold? What about snow-blindness? Is it a real thing? Talk to an eye doctor about it. How would the author have known about such things?

A distinction is made in the book between killing and hunting animals. How do you feel about it? Is hunting still necessary? Is there a connection between the killing of animals and the killing during war in Foxman? Is trapping necessary? Why? Is there a humane trap? Contact animal rights organizations and furriers to get their sides of the debate. There are some pretty graphic descriptions in the book of preparing killed animals for food. Who prepares the meat you eat? There are other disfigured characters in literature and in real life: the Elephant Man, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Phantom of the Opera, the boy in "Mask." Compare their handling of the problem with that of Foxman. What would you do?

Related Books

Tree by Leaf by Cynthia Voigt Macmillan, 1988 ISBN 0-689-31403-5. Compare the Foxman to the father in Tree by Leaf. The father was also gassed and is hiding out in the boathouse rather than facing his family. Collected Stories by Richard Kennedy Harper, 1987 ISBN 0-06-023256-0. This book contains a story called "Oliver Hyde's Dishcloth Concert". In that story Oliver hides his face with a dishcloth, not because of a physical disfigurement, but because of an emotional one. Fireweed by Jill Paton Walsh Farrar, 1988 ISBN 0-374-42316-4 This novel deals with war more directly Keeper of the Doves by Betsy Byars Viking, 2002 ISBN 0670035769 Another novel which focuses on an outcast.

Other works by Gary Paulsen Read some of his other books (they're all good) and see if you can decide what his values are. Related Areas of Carol Hurst's Children's Literature Site

US History. Featured Subject with related books, activities and links. Farms in Children's Literature. Featured Subject with related books, activities and links. Work and Occupations. Featured Subject with related books, activities and links. Alida's Song by Gary Paulsen. Book Review. Call Me Francis Tucket by Gary Paulsen. Book Review. The Haymeadow by Gary Paulsen. Book Review. The Monument by Gary Paulsen. Book Review. Popcorn Days and Buttermilk Nights by Gary Paulsen. Book Review. The Winter Room by Gary Paulsen. Book Review. Woodsong by Gary Paulsen. Book Review.