There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom

There are several books and articles about the imputed problems with boys and men, like Peggy Orenstein’s “The Miseducation of the American Boy” (The Atlantic, 20 Dec. 2019). Read a book or an article and compare the arguments to Bradley’s story. How do Bradley’s problems reflect the issues brought up by the text? How do the solutions link to the story? Do the fixes connect more with Carla Davis or the Concerned Parents Organization?

In the story, Bradley reads a rather quirky book, My Parents Didn’t Steal an Elephant. Based on the excerpts, relate the novel to Sachar’s novel. What do they have in common? How are they different?

In Chapter 22, Bradley makes a long list of topics he can discuss with Carla. Review the list and explain what it says about Bradley’s character and his life.

There are several funny moments in Sachar’s novel. Identify a handful of humorous moments and explain what makes them funny. One moment might be when Bradley tells Carla his parents feed him dog food. Another moment could be when the parent talks about a child biting a teacher’s butt.

Sachar has published several other books. Read another Sachar book and link it to There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom. Compare the themes, symbols, characters, and so on.

Read another book that tries to depict young people realistically, then place that book in conversation with There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom. Some applicable titles include Harriet the Spy and Janitor’s Boy.

For Bradley, doing homework and attending Colleen’s birthday party are transformative moments. Consider moments that changed your identity and explain how your feelings compared to Bradley’s emotions.

Sachar uses lists, letters, and excerpts from another book to tell Bradley’s story. Explain how these forms contribute to the narrative and help make it realistic.