Do you think it's strange that Cassie doesn't seem to have a BFF? Her closest ties are with her family (Stacey, Christopher-John and Little Man). She rarely does anything without one of them, and she doesn't form close ties with anyone at her school. Considering the risks we see with friendships outside the family (think Stacey and Jeremy or Stacey and T.J.), it's probably no accident. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry shows that friendship can be a dangerous thing if you're not 100% certain of the other person involved.
Questions About Friendship
- Compare the friendship between R.W. and Melvin and T.J. to the friendship between T.J. and Stacey. How do you think Taylor is defining a "true friend"?
- Who are Cassie's "true friends"? How can you tell?
- Why do you think Lillian Jean misreads Cassie's intentions so badly? Why is Cassie surprised that Lillian Jean didn't know her "friendship" toward her was just a game all along?
- What's the significance of Jeremy Simms saying he imagines he can see the Logan house from his treehouse?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
In the world of the novel, true friends can be determined by the sacrifices they are willing to make for you.
The relationship between T.J. and Stacey shows that some friendships are just not worth the risks.