Half Brother

Discuss how Half Brother is a coming-of-age story. How does Ben learn, grow, and change as a character in the story? How is Half Brother a coming-of-age story for Zan? Where and how do their growths intersect, and where and how do they diverge?

Discuss the story's conflict between scientific progress and animal rights. How does the book deal with this complicated problem? What arguments does Half Brother make to support both sides of the issue?

How does Ben's idea of family change throughout Half Brother? What events cause these changes? Use specific examples to explain your answer.

Examine the idea of the "dominant male" in the story. What does being a dominant male mean to Ben, Richard, and Zan? How do they each show their dominance, and is it effective? How do their views on being a "dominant male" shift as the story progresses?

Throughout Half Brother, both Ben and Zan wrestle with the concept of autonomy. Why do they value autonomy, and how do they seek it? How does their pursuit of autonomy impact their relationships with others?

Control is a major theme in the novel. Pick a character and choose two events where they tried to exert control over their environment or those around them. Were these attempts successful? What could the character have changed to have more success?

Analyze the character of Sarah in the story. How does she impact characters like Ben, Richard, and Zan? To what extent does Sarah control her situation? How does her influence shape the characters, their relationships, and the novel's overall narrative?

Analyze Ben's romantic relationships in Half Brother. Why do you think the text includes this element in the story? How does Ben’s understanding of romantic relationships change throughout the story?