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Kristin Levine
The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had (2009)
The Paper Cowboy (2016)
The Jigsaw Jungle (2018)

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(Idalia)
1. Think about the relationship between Liz and Marlee. What does it mean to be a good friend?
2. People are protesting desegregation of schools. Are justice and fairness the same thing?
3. Marlee is required to say 5 words each day. Tell me about a time when someone helped you with something that you were struggling with.
4. Liz and Marlee are really close friends. How can a friendship be better after an argument or misunderstanding?
5. What is loyalty?
6. There's a saying that you can't choose your family but you can choose the friends that become like your family. Do you agree or disagree? Explain
7. Tell me five things about someone that you love.
8. What is unconditional love? Explain
9. Marlee wants to be a rocket scientist when she grows up. Tell me about a time that you had to step out of your comfort zone. Give me 3 details.
10. Marlee is afraid of heights. Tell me about something that you fear. Explain one reason for your fear.

(Tom)
1. Describe yourself as a drink like Marlee would in the book.
2. Marlee would do time tables in her head when she was nervous. Is there something you do to help calm yourself when you are nervous?
3. Daddy told Marlee that it was best for Liz that Marlee stayed away from her. Why was it best for Liz that Marlee stayed away?
4. Mother and Daddy did not agree on the segregation of schools. Describe a time that you had a different opinion from a family member or a friend. Has your relationship changed since this difference?
5.On page 164 Marlee was thinking about what her father had said, " He'd said that things could be different in Little Rock, if only the right people could find their voice. I wanted to be one of those people." How can we find our voice to advocate for justice in today's environment?
6. Marlee and Elizabeth go to the zoo for Marlee to feel comfortable to practice her public speaking. Do you have a safe place? Why is this place special to you?
7. JT's behavior after Liz was expelled changed Marlee's perception of JT. Has there been an event in your life that has changed your perception about an individual or a group?
8. What are the impact of derogatory words on their targets?
9. Marlee's mother would not join the Women's Emergency Committee (WEC) to reopen schools because it meant desegregation. Why did Marlee's mother say no to Ms. Winthrop when the schools opening would mean Judy could come home?
10. Marlee continued to believe that her mother could change her opinion on the segregation of schools. Do you think you would be able to persuade your own parents like Marlee?

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Duncan Tonatiuh

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Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw

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(Idalia)
In the book, the author illustrates the lost year through the life of Marlee. After reading the book and exploring the resources that support the novel unit, students will  be exposed to the choices that the government, community, students and the media made concerning the Little Rock 9 and supported to construct an argument that responds directly to the prompt What is the responsibility of individuals and groups in the face of injustice?
(Tom)
The author interviewed her aunt who moved away the year before the Little Rock Nine. Her aunt said "All my life I have wondered how I would have behaved if I had been a student at Central. I know without a doubt I would not have called names or been rude. But my real question to myself is, would I have been kind? I'm afraid I would have done nothing."
If you were a students at Central High School in Little Rock during the 1950's how would you have behaved? Would you have been kind? What are some factors that would have impacted your behavior?

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Project 1 (Idalia)
Students will embark on an investigative reporting mini-project to illustrate and document the efforts by WEC to reopen schools without integrating them and research how segregation continues today. Students will examine newspapers, magazines and propaganda from that time as well as investigate red lining and other systemic, discriminatory practices that have kept schools segregated to this day.

Project 2 (Tom)
Marlee would describe people as different drinks. Students will choose 4 family members or friends to describe as drinks like Marlee. Students will work with the art teacher to create artwork of their drink choices. In class students will the write a description of each person with the explanation of why they chose these people. At the end of the project the students will present their art work along with the descriptions as an art museum for the community.

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(Idalia)
1. Facing History and Ourselves Interview Transcript: I am Elizabeth Eckford
2. NewsELA: Integrating Central High School
3. Poem Incident by Countee Cullen
4. Film The Lost Year
5. Short Story One Friday Morning by Langston Hughes

(Tom)
1.Zinn Education Project
https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/little-rock-schools-closed
2. Afaa Michael Weaver "The Little Rock 9"
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/90160/the-little-rock-9
3. Arkansas Encyclopedia
https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/lost-year-737/
4.Interview with Elizabeth Eckford of the Little Rock Nine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1Zzo_wLjX8
5.Film: Our Friend Martin

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(Idalia)
The Lions of Little Rock is a coming of age novel that invites the reader to relate to Marlee and Liz as they navigate a complicated world where they must face their fears, overcome challenges and most of all, stand up for each other and for what they believe. This novel does an excellent job in conveying the real life experiences of people of that time through characterization and theme development. It has humor but intrigues and invites the reader to think deeply about how far (or how little) our country has come in the fight for equality.

(Tom)
Entertaining and thought provoking novel on the racial tension in Little Rock Arkansas in the after-math of The Little Rock Nine.