1. Ken changes from an immature dreamer to a responsible boy in the course of one summer. Do you think this is convincing? Why or why not? Relate this change either to another book about coming of age or to personal experience.

2. The Wyoming landscape almost becomes a separate character in My Friend Fticka and its two sequels. How does the setting contribute to the enjoyment and understanding of the books?

3. Compare the Ken we see in My Friend Flicka, whose fanatic determination to possess his own horse changes his life, to the older Ken in Thunderhead, whose motive is ultimately to let a stallion lead a natural life in the wild.

4. The world of ranching as shown in My Friend Flicka is sometimes harsh; many of the animals suffer and die.

Assess the effects of violence and death on Ken...