Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

In the three years since the main character of Girl, Stolen lost her eyesight, she has developed her other senses keenly. Think of an object that helps you navigate and understand everyday life, such as a car, television, cell phone, or computer. How would you compensate if you were unable to use it? How would you do your schoolwork, get around, or entertain yourself?

• Teaching Suggestion: You may want to have students take turns brainstorming everyday  objects that help them on a day-to-day basis. Partners may also wish to share their ideas about the coping methods they would use. You may call on individual students to share their ideas with the whole group to stimulate students’ reflections on Turning a Disadvantage Into an Advantage and Seeing Things From a Different Perspective, two of the novel’s themes.
• “Ten Advantages of Being Blind,” written by a man who is vision impaired, describes 10 advantages to being blind. The blog may further students’ understanding of the main character’s blindness and touches on the themes of Turning a Disadvantage Into an Advantage and Seeing Things From a Different Perspective.