Consider Julian’s experiences and relationships throughout the story. What does being a hero mean to Julian? How does his idea of his own heroism change over the course of the story?

Teaching Suggestion: If students responded to the Personal Connection Prompt before reading the novel, they might reflect on their answers now that they have finished reading and note the ways in which their earlier responses compare to Julian’s changing understanding of being a hero.

Differentiation Suggestion: For visual or advanced learners, or to evoke in-class discussions, this prompt can be extended to include a Venn diagram or a similar visual representation that compares students’ responses to Julian’s understanding of heroism.