“My old school, St Stella’s, only goes to Year 10 and most of my friends not go to Pius Senior College, but my mother wouldn’t allow it because she says the girls there leave with limited options and she didn’t bring me up to have limitations placed apon me. If you know my mother you’ll sense there’s an irony there, based on the face that she is the Queen of Limitation Placers in my life”
Francesca is in the beginning of her second term at an all boy’s school that has just started accepting girls. She still missed her old friends, and to make things worse, her mother has had a breakdown and can barely move from her bed.
But Francesca had not counted on the fierce loyalty of her new friends, or falling in love, or finding that it’s within her power to bring her family back together.
1. What mood does the opening sentence of chapter 1 establish?
2. Based on what Fancesca says in chapter 1, what type of person do you think her mother is?
3. What school does Francesca go to? Why does she go to this school now?
4. How do the girls feel about being at this school? How do they feel they are treated?
5. What differences exist between the characters of Justine Kalinsky, Siobhan Sullivan and Tara Finke?
6. What is Francesca’s mother’s profession?
7. “Someone a bit like me” (5) What is Francesca’s opinion of herself?
8. “My dad’s a builder” – What characteristics do you stereotypically associate with someone in this profession?
9. “They are eternal arguers” – Why do you think this may be the case?
10. “and worse still, vulnerable” (8) – Why do you think Francesca thinks her mother seeming vulnerable is worse than her seeming ‘sick and helpless’?
11. What are some things that Tara Finke is annoyed about in relation to her school?
12. “Thomas Mackee enters the class and burps in my ear” (10) – What is your first impression of Thomas based on this?
13. How does Francesca describe William Trombal?
14. Describe Ms Quinn.
15. Why is “Your grandmother stole my grandmother’s S biscuit recipe as you well know” (16) in italics?
16. “There has never been silence at our dinner table” (17) What does this tell us about Francesca’s family?
17. Why is Francesca’s idea community “anywhere but here” (21)?
18. Why do you think Jimmy Hallier has an ‘evil grin’ (23) on his face when he turns around?
19. Why do you think Francesca is scared (p25)?
20. In what ways are the lyrics that end chapter 3 relevant to Francesca’s life?
21. “But a person with a social conscience is from Pluto” (30) Why do you think people with a social conscience are perceived in this way?
22. Why do you think Francesca tells herself not to “look away” when she is talking to William Trombal?
23. How did “Luca” get his name? Who is Luca’s role model?
24. Why does Francesca think “God’s not listening” (37)?
25. “There is no mercy” (39). Why do you think the boys show the girls no mercy during the basketball game?
26. “I want to hear her say...” (44) Why do you think Francesca wants to hear Mia say these things?
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