80 pages • 2 hours read
Kwame AlexanderBlack Star
Fiction | Novel/Book in Verse | Middle Grade | Published in 2024A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
In the novel, societal expectations shape masculinity and femininity. Analyze the societal factors (e.g., family, culture, and institutions) and the figures (e.g., parents, community leaders, or friends) who shape or reinforce traditional gender roles. How do certain characters conform to these expectations, and what motivates them to do so? In contrast, examine the characters who defy these gender norms and how their actions impact their relationships and sense of self. What commentary does Black Star offer about both the fluidity and rigidity of gender roles?
Analyze Charley’s character development as she learns about issues like racism and bigotry. What experiences and lessons does she internalize, and how does she grow from them? How is Black Star a coming-of-age novel? Provide textual support in your response.
Black Star is set against a distinct historical backdrop. Choose one historical figure, activist group, event, or law presented in the novel to research. How does this research enrich the novel’s exploration of Jim Crow-era segregation, sexism, racism, and migration? How do these systems of oppression shape the experiences and choices of the characters in the novel, and what parallels can be drawn to present-day issues of racial and gender inequality?
The novel frequently shifts between different perspectives and voices. How do these shifts impact your understanding of the narrative and its characters? What is the effect of seeing events through multiple viewpoints? How would the narrative change if it were only told through one point of view? Cite examples from the text to support your answer.
Identify and analyze a symbol or theme that is not included in this guide. If it’s a symbol, what does it represent, and why? If it’s a theme, how does the novel present it, and what is the message? Use textual evidence to support your response.
The novel highlights moments of solidarity and conflict between different groups and individuals. How do moments of unity and collective power serve as a counterpoint to the enforced racial divisions that exist? Analyze how characters form alliances or find common ground despite their differences. Consider how characters are both limited by and subvert expectations of the period. What do these moments reveal about Courage Against Racial Injustice?
Compare and contrast two characters from the book. Examine at least three specific scenes that define each character’s personality and motivations. How are the characters similar? How are they different?
Geographical settings in Black Star are integral to the narrative. How do specific locations (e.g., Charley’s home, the two baseball fields, the church, etc.) enhance the novel’s explorations of systemic racism, community belonging, and resilience? Discuss how the author uses place to deepen the novel’s exploration of oppression and opportunity.
Related Titles
By Kwame Alexander
