Duke and The Lonely Boy
Educator and Counselor Resources
Questions for Educators and Counselors - Download Questions Here
Who did you feel that way in relation to?
Can you imagine what Roxy was feeling when she said this, and what she meant to communicate?
Who were the people that supported you?
Did anyone pull you from that wreck? When did you know they were helping you?
What is the significance of the metaphor of pruning in relation to Tommy at the end of the book?
Tommy learns how to prune the roses to make them grow. When have you ever done “pruning” in your life?
Have you gotten on the negative coaster? How did you get off?
Find examples of distress and eustress in the book for the following characters:
Duke
Tommy
Roxy
Charlie
Where in your life do you experience distress and eustress?
What do you think are the benefits in knowing the difference?
Our own experiences of anxiety can impact how we see things, or “mindset”.
Where have you labled it distress, where in hindsight, it could have been labled eustress? What got in your way? What might have helped?
- Identity: On page 128, Roxy says, “You can believe in whatever version of me that makes you happy.”
Who did you feel that way in relation to?
Can you imagine what Roxy was feeling when she said this, and what she meant to communicate?
- The Original Wreck: Tommy’s life is told through identifying the “wrecks” in his life.
Who were the people that supported you?
Did anyone pull you from that wreck? When did you know they were helping you?
- Resilience Nan says, “It’s never too late to put your gloves back on,” (Page 164).
What is the significance of the metaphor of pruning in relation to Tommy at the end of the book?
Tommy learns how to prune the roses to make them grow. When have you ever done “pruning” in your life?
- “Negative Coaster” Larry tells Duke, “You’re on the negative coaster, little man,” (Page 154). Larry talks about making an effort to look for the good when things hard, and that it’s easier to be down on yourself and feel hopeless than it is to look at the good and figure out what is actually working. He calls this “dancing with the devil”.
Have you gotten on the negative coaster? How did you get off?
- Distress and Eustress Distress is stress that negatively affects you and eustress is stress that has a positive effect on you. Not all stress is bad for you, and learning the difference is essential. Eustress is what energizes us and motivates us to make a change. It gives us a positive outlook and makes us capable of overcoming obstacles. Distress often feels overwhelming and crummy. The way we experience stress depends a lot on our mindset. For example, Tommy experiences distress around relationships and interferes with his ability to initially connect with Duke. Roxy promotes eustress by encouraging Tommy to ride the rollercoaster with no hands (Page 39) and go nightriding on bikes (Page 148).
Find examples of distress and eustress in the book for the following characters:
Duke
Tommy
Roxy
Charlie
Where in your life do you experience distress and eustress?
What do you think are the benefits in knowing the difference?
Our own experiences of anxiety can impact how we see things, or “mindset”.
Where have you labled it distress, where in hindsight, it could have been labled eustress? What got in your way? What might have helped?
Discussion Guide - Downlad Discussion Guide Here
Duke and Charlie
In math class, Duke has an unexpected interaction with Charlie, which blooms into a sudden friendship (Page 33).
Have you ever made a connection with someone outside of your “clique” that was not anticipated?
What social constraints and expectations make this difficult?
Duke and Tommy
Initially it seemed unlikely that Duke and Tommy would become friends. What do you think was the moment where their friendship began?
Tommy and Roxy
Have you ever tried to rekindle a dissolved friendship? If not, is there one that you would?
Tending to relationships
On Page 164, Nan says that she believes that “taking time to tending to the roses is a sacrifice worth making for the beauty.”
How do you know what friendships/relationships are worth the energy that you put in? How did the characters figure this out?
On page 28, Tommy learns that Roxy has been pulling mice from the glue traps in an effort to free them. Do you see Roxy more like the mouse or the glue?
In what ways are Roxy’s glue traps and Nan’s pruning practices similar?
How are they different?
Why do you think Duke stayed for so long?
What was the “last straw” that prompted Duke to leave the relationship?
How long would you have stayed if you were Duke? What might have been the “final straw” for you?
Did you ever cover for anyone even though you thought they needed help? Why or why not?
Out of growing concern, Pop’s talked to Roxy’s parents about Roxy’s safety in their house, which resulted in the end of Roxy’s friendship with Tommy. Pop’s didn’t tell Tommy about this discussion with them.
Who was Pop’s trying to be loyal to at that moment? Do you agree or disagree and why?
When was a time you stood up to peer pressure? Were there repercussions?
Eventually, Duke tries to fix the damage he causes to Tommy’s truck (Page120).
Have you ever tried right a wrong that you did in someone’s life?
Thinking back, is there a wrong you did that you wish you had righted? How would you have done that?
Why do you do it?
Did you give it up? Why or why not?
Is there someone you know who engages in what others think is stupid, frivolous, or childish. Why do you think they do it?
What do you think are the benefits of having this type of relationship?
As a result, Duke helps Charlie by asking Tommy to tutor her as well.
Have you offered help to a peer?
Has a peer encouraged you to seek support or help? How did you respond?
Sometimes what we want for others is not a good fit for what they want or need.
What is the difference between what Tommy wanted for Roxy and what Roxy wanted for Roxy?
Have you ever been offered help that was not well received?
In hindsight, have you offered help to someone else that was not a good fit for them? How do you know?
What is the difference between loneliness and popularity?
Can you be popular and feel lonely?
If you wrote a letter to them, what would it say to them?
Imagine if you received a letter from someone from your past about a way that your interactions with them made a difference. Who would you want it be from? What would you want it to say?
- Friendship What are the qualities of a good friend? How do you see those qualities in Duke, Charlie, Roxy, Tommy?
Duke and Charlie
In math class, Duke has an unexpected interaction with Charlie, which blooms into a sudden friendship (Page 33).
Have you ever made a connection with someone outside of your “clique” that was not anticipated?
What social constraints and expectations make this difficult?
Duke and Tommy
Initially it seemed unlikely that Duke and Tommy would become friends. What do you think was the moment where their friendship began?
Tommy and Roxy
Have you ever tried to rekindle a dissolved friendship? If not, is there one that you would?
Tending to relationships
On Page 164, Nan says that she believes that “taking time to tending to the roses is a sacrifice worth making for the beauty.”
How do you know what friendships/relationships are worth the energy that you put in? How did the characters figure this out?
On page 28, Tommy learns that Roxy has been pulling mice from the glue traps in an effort to free them. Do you see Roxy more like the mouse or the glue?
In what ways are Roxy’s glue traps and Nan’s pruning practices similar?
How are they different?
- Romantic Relationships Duke and Kristy’s relationship starts out under false pretenses, which Duke was willing to abide by because he thought he was making the “right decision” by supporting Kristy. Throughout the story, Duke realizes that he doesn’t want to keep hiding from people because he feels bad.
Why do you think Duke stayed for so long?
What was the “last straw” that prompted Duke to leave the relationship?
How long would you have stayed if you were Duke? What might have been the “final straw” for you?
- Loyalty Oftentimes in the novel, Tommy is Roxy’s “secret keeper”. In an effort to protect her, he supports decisions she is making even if they appear reckless to the reader.
Did you ever cover for anyone even though you thought they needed help? Why or why not?
Out of growing concern, Pop’s talked to Roxy’s parents about Roxy’s safety in their house, which resulted in the end of Roxy’s friendship with Tommy. Pop’s didn’t tell Tommy about this discussion with them.
Who was Pop’s trying to be loyal to at that moment? Do you agree or disagree and why?
- Peer Pressure On page (Page 91), Duke steals Tommy’s truck to gain entrance into the party.
When was a time you stood up to peer pressure? Were there repercussions?
Eventually, Duke tries to fix the damage he causes to Tommy’s truck (Page120).
Have you ever tried right a wrong that you did in someone’s life?
Thinking back, is there a wrong you did that you wish you had righted? How would you have done that?
- Persistence Tommy learns that Roxy is trying to save mice from the glue traps that her parents set (Page 28).
Why do you do it?
Did you give it up? Why or why not?
Is there someone you know who engages in what others think is stupid, frivolous, or childish. Why do you think they do it?
- Siblings Jayla is a supportive sister who Duke knows “has his back” even if, at times, he seems annoyed with her.
What do you think are the benefits of having this type of relationship?
- Guidance Coach requires that Duke attend tutoring with Tommy to better his chances for college (Page 2).
As a result, Duke helps Charlie by asking Tommy to tutor her as well.
Have you offered help to a peer?
Has a peer encouraged you to seek support or help? How did you respond?
Sometimes what we want for others is not a good fit for what they want or need.
What is the difference between what Tommy wanted for Roxy and what Roxy wanted for Roxy?
Have you ever been offered help that was not well received?
In hindsight, have you offered help to someone else that was not a good fit for them? How do you know?
- Appearances Duke and Charlie have a conversation about Tommy’s lack of friends (Page 146). Duke believes Tommy is lonely and Charlie thinks he is content.
What is the difference between loneliness and popularity?
Can you be popular and feel lonely?
- Influence. A major theme in Duke & the Lonely Boy is how we indirectly impact people.
If you wrote a letter to them, what would it say to them?
Imagine if you received a letter from someone from your past about a way that your interactions with them made a difference. Who would you want it be from? What would you want it to say?
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About the Author
Lynn Langan lives in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Kutztown University with a degree in Professional Writing. Contact : LynnLanganWriter@gmail.com
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