Queenie Peavey
Burch, Robert
Main Character: Queenie Peavy - 8th grader - age 13
Setting: Small rural town named Cotton Junction
Readability: 8

Queenie Peavy had a deadly aim. The fact is, she was the only glrl in Cotton Junction who could hit a target dead center whether it was with a rock or tobacco juice.

"You've only been In the eighth grade a month," said Mr. Hanley, principal of the county school, "and you've been sent to this office more than a dozen times. It's shockingl It's absolutely shocking. Throwing rocks at the boiler room door, I didn't realize girls ever did such things!"

Queenie Peavey, an unhappy eighth grader at the county high school in Cotton Junction, is continually plagued by a group of classmates because her father is in jail. She is an intelligent girl, but devotes much of her energy in "getting even" with those who torment her.

Because Queenie is always living in "the shadow of the jail", Judge Lewis points out to her that she will always have to face this problem while her father is in jail. Queenie responds to his suggestions and decides there is a better way of doing things. She cooperates with Judge Lewis even though her father is returned to jail after he breaks his parole. Queenie and her mother are able to improve their surroundings and their life style after her mother receives a promotion at the cannery.

Questions:

1. What lesson could be learned from the experiences of Queenie Peavey?


2. Why did Little Mother faint?


3. Who broke the windows in the church?


4. Why was Queenie's father returned to jail?


5. If you were Queenie, what would be your reaction to the problem of Cravey Mason?