This novel by Gloria Whelan is excellent as either a class or group novel and also makes a terrific read-aloud. It is a great comparison for the recent situation Syrian refugees are experiencing, too. This study unit includes the following:- Focus questions for every chapter,- Discussion and writing topics, including compare/contrast, analysis, creative writing, and prediction, aligning with CCSS ELA Writing W 1,2,3,- Word study including spelling ladders, and fill-in-the-blank context sente