Some questions about the first ten chapters

1. The Wooden Barn is a school for “emotionally fragile, highly intelligent students.” In what ways do you think intelligence is helpful or harmful for people trying to deal with traumatic events?

2. Whose life seems more stressful to you--Casey's or Sierra's? Why?

3. In Chapter 8, Mrs. Quenell asks the students if they think that "Plath's depression is a kind of unfinished grief." (94) What would "finished" grief look like?

4. How would you describe the relationship between Jam and DJ? How does it change over the course of the first 10 chapters?

5. In Chapter 10, Jam figures out that nothing new can happen in Belzhar. Why is this important, and what does it suggest about how Belzhar can and can't help the students deal with the things that have happened to them?