Think about the theme of expectation in this novel. Bud expects to be adopted one day and often experiences disappointment when going to a temporary home and not feeling wanted. Bud expects to meet his father and deals with disappointments on the way with people doubting him and questioning him. What are some disappointments the readers have had in life and are they similar or different to Bud? Have anyone some better advice to give Bud on how to handle his life's disappointments?

Bud uses his suitcase as a carryall for his memoirs of his life with his mother. Make a model of a suitcase, or use an old suitcase, and place in it the objects that would be in the suitcase if it resembled something to be taken on a personal journey. Would it have rocks or flyers, or something else and why would...