Tar Beach Questions

Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.

  1. How is the New York City setting important to the story?
  2. Look carefully at the pictures on each page. Which details feel timeless? Which details are clues that the story is set in the past?
  3. Do you personally like the artwork? Why or why not?
  4. Do you like the way the author combines elements of the past, present, and future? Or is it too confusing? Explain your answer.
  5. How does the artist use color, pattern, and visual repetition to pull readers into the world of the story?