Don't Call Me Ishmael!

Don't Call Me Ishmael!

by Michael Gerard Bauer

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About
By the time ninth grade begins, Ishmael Leseur knows it won't be long before Barry Bagsley, the class bully, says, "Ishmael? What kind of wussy-crap name is that?" Ishmael's perfected the art of making himself virtually invisible. But all that changes when James Scobie joins the class. Unlike Ishmael, James has no sense of fear—he claims it was removed during an operation.Now nothing will stop James and Ishmael from taking on bullies, bugs, and Moby Dick, in the toughest, weirdest, most embarrassingly awful . . . and the best year of their lives.

Discussion questions for Don't Call Me Ishmael!

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  1. 1

    Ishmael's name is the first challenge he faces. How does the novel explore the power of names and labels, both those given to us and those we give ourselves? Have you ever felt defined or limited by a label, positive or negative?

  2. 2

    James Scobie claims his fear was "removed during an operation." How does this unique characteristic influence the dynamic between James and Ishmael, and what does it reveal about different approaches to courage in the face of adversity?

  3. 3

    The novel tackles bullying directly through Barry Bagsley. Beyond simply identifying the bully and the victim, what deeper insights does the story offer about the dynamics of bullying, including the roles of fear, power, and even bystander inaction?

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