After Read Discussion

Know Wonder Front Cover

Know Wonder

Jesse’s story glitters in sparkling trails of stardust as he captivates our hearts and souls with his everyday magic. Even in the inescapable ‘dark’ portions, Jesse’s Light only flashes all the brighter. This is the fabled sphere of storytelling. Know Wonder is like a long-lost gem, shining on the values we cherish, all that was so fine in the everyday magic of childhood, perfectly innocent and wholesome. This is how we all Know Wonder.

After reading Know Wonder, use these questions to help discuss the many facets of his story.

Discussion Questions

  1. In the first chapter, Jesse is faced with the baffling behavior of Gemma, who grimly rejects Jesse and his attempts to help her. Have you ever had an experience like this with someone you love? Do you remember how you felt?
  2.  After Jesse ran away from Gemma, when did you feel Jesse had come back to knowing his Light? What were some of the things he felt? What were some of things he did that showed he had his Light again?
  3.  As Jesse recalls Gemma’s story from her youth, how do feel about her tragic circumstances? Does Jesse feel that this explains her behavior now?
  4. What did you think when Jesse found the boy in the porch chest? What do you think of the boy as he speaks to Jesse? How does he engage with Jesse in other episodes? Do you want to see more of the boy? Why or why not?
  5.  How did you feel about Gemma’s nasty behavior at Windy Hill and her lovely behavior at the hotel? How does Jesse feel? Is she fair to Jesse? Why or why not?
  6. How did Jesse eventually change his feelings about Morton Mealy?
  7. How does the farm life at Windy Hill teach Jesse lessons like attention and responsibility that he will later use, for example, at the hotel? Have you ever made what seemed like a small, unimportant decision, and it turned out to be very important? Explain.
  8. What made you laugh in this book? Did your laughter arise from the characters or situations – or both? Give examples.
  9. What made you gasp in this book? Did your surprise arise from the characters or situations? Or both? Give examples.
  10. Do you think Jesse is a clever boy? Give examples.
  11. In what ways is Jesse’s mother – Jane – a very important characters in the book even though she never appears in person?
  12. From the moment Jesse meets Professor Eisley and his wife, Jesse has interesting things to tell them, in his own Jesse way, about scientific subjects. Are you surprised by Jesse’s talks? Did it make you think about interesting subjects you like to talk about?
  13. What does Jesse mean by the ‘power of words’? How does Jesse explain it when he doesn’t want to talk about his episode driving the Filchen’s van? Also, what are Dearie’s ‘Remarkable Gates’ that he speaks about with Greta?
  14. When Jesse has a challenge trying to deal with Gemma’s terrible moods, how does he recall Dearie’s explanation of choosing ‘good or bad’ – ‘happy or sad’? How does Jesse make his choices? Does it work out for him?
  15. After listening to Tilly’s story about her young life and her lost love, what do you think Jesse understands? What can we learn about ourselves when we listen to stories about other people’s lives?
  16. In all Jesse’s escapades and puzzles, we learn that Light is deeply important to him. How does Tilly explain his Light? What does Jesse get from knowing his Light. How does it affect others? How would you explain his Light?
  17. Jesse has learned from his Dearie that life is like a Circle of Lights – shining together … some people are alive and some are dead … some are bright, and some are dim. How do you see your family or friends? Like bright Lights? Dim Lights? How far back in your family tree do you know your relatives? Did anyone have an impact on you or your family?
  18. After foiling the Filchens and driving away in their van, what happened to Jesse? How would you explain this? What does Chief Patrulha think of Jesse? How does Tilly explain Jesse?
  19. What are the clues that Jesse puts together for : – realizing the Filchens are not who they say they are? – for discovering the secret treasure cupboard in the barn? – for figuring out how to read the inked blots in the Bible? – for becoming aware of who Lyla Rose and Avery truly were? – for figuring out who the boy really was?
  20. What a day! Jesse says in the last pages. What are the things that Jesse has discovered?
  21. Throughout the story, Jesse runs up against different problems. What does Jesse still want to solve? Do you agree when Jesse says that he Knows Wonder?
  22. Have you read the first two books in this series: Becoming Jesse and The Secrets of Windy Hill? If you have, does it help you better understand the characters and the story?
  23. If you have not, do you have questions about how the characters have sorted out their relationships? What are they?
  24. This is the third book in the series, Becoming Jesse. How do you think Jesse is still becoming?