The Bell Bandit

Explain why the New Year’s Eve bell ringing is important to Jessie and Evan. How do traditions help people build a sense of belonging and community? What traditions do you participate in that help you to feel connected to those around you?

What do puzzles symbolize in the text? How are puzzles used throughout the text to illustrate how the characters navigate challenges?

How are Evan’s and Jessie’s understandings of and approaches to their grandmother’s memory loss different? How do their experiences shape their understanding of her memory loss, and how do they grow throughout the text?