Estimated Time: 45 minutes

Think about and discuss these questions from your reading with your teacher.

1. Saroo has very clear memories of his life at age 5. What memories do you have around that age?
2. Saroo writes a lot about hunger. How would constant hunger affect a child?
3. In Chapter 2, Saroo writes that "The world of adults was closed to me, so I continued to try to solve my problem by myself." How does this make you feel?
4. Saroo writes about two men who had been father figures to him since his father was absent. Have there been adults in your life, other than your parents, who have invested in your life? Why is that important, and how did it affect you?

Freewriting

After you have pondered and discussed these questions with your teacher, choose one to complete a freewrite. If you are unfamiliar with freewriting, here are a few tips:

• Keep your pencil moving. Don’t stop. Just brain dump onto your paper.
• Have a set amount of time. Set a timer and write for the full amount of time.
• Ignore all grammar and spelling. Don’t let editing slow down the process. The goal is to get thoughts on paper. Spelling and grammar are not important in this instance.
• Pen and paper aren’t the only ways to freewrite. Feel free to type on the computer. Not only does this accomplish the task, but it builds typing skills.

Share your freewrite in the comments below.