Jess

AUTHOR: John Heffernan PUBLISHED: 2004 PUBLISHER: Scholastic Books
 * TITLE: A Horse Called Elvis

1. Elvis means alot to Matt, even though the horse causes a lot trouble. Why do you think that Matt is still so desperate to hang on to Elvis? Are friendships between kids and their pets important? **
 * Matt was so desperate to hold on to Elvis because Matt thought it was his job to 'complete' Elvis's life, and if Matt gave Elvis away, Elvis would do everything wrong and would get quite 'lost' in life. **


 * 2. Nick and Matt are close. Why do you think that Nick is so important to Matt? How does Nick help and comfort him? **
 * Nick and Matt are so close because Nick always believed in Matt and he was always there for Matt when needed. Nick always says comforting words to settle Matt down. **


 * 3. Matt's parents aren't good at getting along with each other. Write a list of the things that they disagree about. What could they do to improve how they get along? **


 * 4. At the end of the story, Matt tells us that Elvis helped him to be brave and face life. He says that 'for a brief time he showed us all how to swim together.' This makes us sad because it suggests that Matt's family doesn't manage to stay together. It also makes us wonder what happens next. Write a short plot outline for what you think might happen to Elvis and Matt next. **