57 pages • 1 hour read
Randy RibayAfter the Shot Drops
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2018A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
How does the author depict the setting of Whitman? What details about its surroundings tell readers about the neighborhood the main characters reside in? How does it seem like the neighborhood has changed in their lifetime?
Coach Baum tells Bunny, “People don’t want to believe that they’re unsuccessful because they’re lazy. So they have to believe it’s luck” (189). What role does luck play in a person’s success? How has luck affected the book’s characters, and how does luck factor into Bunny’s future plans? Are there real-world examples that demonstrate the role of luck in success?
Wallace tells Nasir, “You’re safe here in your warm house. You’ve got a bed instead of a couch. A fridge full of food. A mom and dad who give a fuck about you [...] We’re living in the same city, but we’re in two different worlds. You may as well be on the moon” (216). What are the basic necessities or resources a person needs in order to thrive? Is it possible for a person to thrive without them? Cite examples from the text.
The title of the novel is After the Shot Drops. What do you think this title is referring to? What does the author mean by it? Are there multiple meanings? Use textual evidence to support your interpretation.
Wallace and his grandmother are on the verge of being evicted, which would leave them homeless. How could Wallace have responded to the situation without getting involved in illegal gambling? Along with financial solutions, research tenant rights and low-income housing programs to explore different options.
Bunny struggles with whether he made the right choice to leave Whitman High and transfer to St. Sebastian’s. What are the benefits and drawbacks of his choice? If St. Sebastian’s offers a greater chance for success, how does that relate to the theme of The Trap of Poverty?
Whitman High and St. Sebastian’s take different approaches to issues concerning race and racism. Where does Ribay indicate these differences? How are race and racism treated in your experience, drawing on our school or workplace experience? For example, how might racial demographics affect the curriculum and the school culture?
Was Nasir right to ask Bunny to purposely lose the game? Was Bunny right for agreeing to? Explain your point of view. How do their choices and the outcome affect their changing perspectives about Personal Versus Social Accountability?
To what degree is Wallace responsible for his actions, and in what ways is he shaped by his circumstances? Which of his actions are understandable, and where does he cross the line? Explain your perspective.
Nasir says, “It seems backward that so many people want to help those who need it least and ignore those who need it most and then find a way to justify that in their own minds” (164). Do you agree with this statement? Who in society deserves our help and support, and why? Explain.
