The Rich Part of Life, by Jim Kokoris

Characters
Pappas Household	Others
Father Amy – mother –d deceased Teddy – narrator Tommy – The Nose Picker Aunt Bess Uncle Frank   Maurice – bodyguard   Sylvanius	Bobby Lee Anderson – Teddy’s biological father Carl – Bobby’s brother   Dr. Spiral – Teddy’s therapist   Mrs. Wilcott Benjamin   St. Pius Miss Grace – Teddy’s teacher Ergu – Teddy’s Christian pen pal Charlie Governs – friend who liked to draw Johnny Cezzaro

 For discussion:

1.            Why did Aunt Bess wait until they won the money before she stayed with them?  Obviously they needed help earlier.

2.            Discuss the various characters, their actions and their motivations.

3.            Did you relate to one character more than the others?

4.            Discuss Mrs. Wilcott.  What do you think were her motivations?

5.            Should mom and dad have told Teddy about his father sooner?

6.            Discuss the father.  Should he have been more open with Teddy about the custody battle?  Were you surprised that he was giving money away all along?

7.            Do you think Bobby would really have hit Teddy outside the bar?   Discuss Bobby’s motivation – was he interested in the money or his son?

8.            Was Teddy a believable character?

9.            What was your reading experience with this book?  Positive, negative or mixed?