Stone Fox

Consider Little Willy’s naivete and eagerness to follow Grandfather’s every word. Why does Gardiner write Willy in such a way? Would things have gone differently if Willy had not listened to Grandfather?

Compare and contrast Grandfather and Stone Fox. How do the two men represent silence and muteness? What is Gardiner attempting to convey to the reader with these different depictions?

How does race and privilege function in Stone Fox?

Examine the questions that the novel poses around assistance. Compare and contrast the type of help that Little Willy receives from society, the government, and the community.

The year in which the novel takes place is unknown. Does this change the reader’s perception of the story? Do the issues presented in the novel still exist today?

Track Searchlight’s intimate connection with Little Willy. How does this connection manifest in physical, emotional, and mental ways?

What might Searchlight represent in Little Willy’s life? Does her death mark the end of Little Willy’s childhood? What might Willy carrying her over the finish line ultimately represent?

Examine the character of Grandfather. What role does he play within the novel? How does the audience perceive him?