bLooMabiLiTy - Sharon Creech

BloomabilitySetting the Scene1. Why does Dinnie refer to her time with her parents as her“first life” and her time in Switzerland as her “second life”? Ifher “third life” begins at the end of the book, how do youthink it would differ from the first two?2. Dinnie observes that both Lila and Guthrie have very strongpersonalities, and worries about whether she is as interesting asthey are. Toward the end of the book, she is surprised whenGuthrie calls her interesting. Why does he think this? Do youthink Dinnie is interesting? Why or why not?3. What appeals to Dinnie about struggling? How does she usebeing “full of struggles” to help her deal with her new life inSwitzerland (p. 107)?4. To Dinnie, Switzerland is a strange and unfamiliar place thatgrows to feel comfortable. What similarities does she discoverbetween Switzerland and her various homes in America? Whatdifferences? How do both the similarities and differences helpDinnie appreciate her experiences there?Domenica Santolina Doone, also known as Dinnie, is used to traveling from state to stateevery time her father finds a new “opportunity.” But when she has an opportunity of herown—to go with her aunt and uncle to an American school in the Italian-speaking town ofLugano, Switzerland—she’s not very happy about it. Once in Lugano, Dinnie struggles withhomesickness, fears being forgotten by her family, and questions who she really is. But withthe help of her new international friends, Dinnie comes to love her beautiful surroundingsand focus on the positive, learning to embrace this new opportunity.Before ReadingHave students examine the rendering of Domenica’s map of Lugano in the front of the book.What hints does the map offer about what will follow? Next, draw their attention to thequotation from Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Nature” that precedes the Contents page: “I becomea transparent eyeball.” Ask students to think about what this quote might mean.Discussion Questions6. Explain the contrasting perspectives of Lila and Guthrie,taking into consideration Guthrie’s story of the two prisoners.How does Dinnie’s personality complement theirs?7. Discuss Uncle Max’s graduation speech about variety(p. 250). How do variety and acceptance at the internationalschool affect Dinnie? How is it different from her previousexperiences? Consider Stella’s advice on moving to a newplace and fitting in, such as “expect the worst” and “dressplain the first day” (p. 78). How does it make Dinnie feelabout herself?8. Dinnie observes that “for all our differences in nationality, inlanguage, in culture, and in personality, we were all morealike than not” (p. 256). Explain what she means by this.Why is it so important to Dinnie to have a sense ofbelonging?9. How do Dinnie’s dreams illustrate her concerns and thoughts?Select some examples to discuss.5. After Guthrie is rescued from the avalanche, Dinnie has adream that her bubble is gone (pp. 228–29). What does thatsignify to Dinnie? How do the preceding events lead up to thisrevelation?10. By the end of the book, Dinnie resolves that she no longerfeels like a stranger, even while moving from place to place.Like a snail, she carries her home on her back. What does shediscover about the notion of home? How do her experiencesin Switzerland lead her to that conclusion (p. 261)?

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