Topics for Discussion

1. Why does Jack want to find George again?
2. Why do you think George is disappearing?
3. How has George changed since he left Jack? How is Jack different than he was when George last saw him?
4. How does Jack’s mom’s bipolar disorder affect her behavior? How does this make her actions different from Jack’s dad’s actions?
5. How do Jack’s aunt, uncle, and step-cousins show that they care about him?
6. Jack fears that he’s “just like Mom and Dad” because he’s taken George for granted and “abandoned” him. Do you think he’s right? Why or why not?
7. Jack and George both fear what will happen if Jack stops believing in George. How do they each learn to believe in themselves during the story?
8. Which of George’s actions can be explained as things Jack actually did? Which things does he do that Jack couldn’t have done?
9. How does George free the creatures in the rainbow-world and allow them to return to the real world? What does this tell you about George?
10. When Jack leaves the zoo for the last time, he waves goodbye to his dad. From George’s point of view, Jack is waving goodbye to him. How are these two points of view about the same moment similar? How are they different?
11. Why do you think Jack and George are finally able to let go of each other?
12. What adventures do you think George will have next? What about Jack?