Q & A

What is the role of injustice in Q & A? Consider these points as you reflect on the text to answer the question.

• What injustices do Thomas and other characters experience throughout the novel? 
• How do the injustices that Thomas faces frequently change the trajectory of his life? 
• Which characters in the novel inflict physical and/or psychological damage on Thomas and Salim? 
• How does the violence in Thomas’s environment have an impact on the way he behaves toward other people? 
• How do characters and institutions take advantage of children who are orphans? 
• What institutions in the novel are corrupt? 

Teaching Suggestion: Students may benefit from a graphic organizer to analyze the examples of injustices in the novel. Consider instructing students to use a Venn diagram to analyze the different crimes by breaking them down into sex crimes, financial gain/stealing, harmful lies, and violent crime. Then, consider asking students to place people or circumstances under the four categories. A digital copy of a four-circle Venn diagram can be found here. Students can analyze injustices independently or in small groups before discussing in a larger group setting.

Differentiation Suggestion: Students with executive functioning challenges may benefit from analyzing just one, two, or three aspect(s) of injustice in the novel (depending on their abilities).