Skip to content
Melody Maysonet – Official Site

Melody Maysonet – Official Site

Novelist for Young Adults

Menu
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Buzz
  • About Me
  • Interviews & Features
  • Media Resources
  • Discussion Guide
  • Helpful Links
  • Author Visits
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Menu

Discussion Guide for A WORK OF ART by Melody Maysonet

Posted on October 10, 2015March 21, 2017 by Melody Maysonet

1. In the book’s opening paragraph, Tera says that painting her dad is “all about mood.” What mood does the author create in describing this painting? After reading this paragraph, how do you think Tera sees her father?

2. In chapter three, Tera’s dad is teaching five-year-old Tera to draw a self-portrait. In what ways does this chapter foreshadow their relationship?

3. Tera spends the first third of the book trying to protect her dad from the allegations against him, even using her money for art school to hire an expensive lawyer. Do you think she has blinded herself to her father’s misdeeds? If so, why do you think that is?

4. How has Tera’s dad manipulated Tera’s relationship with her mother?

5. Why do you think Tera’s mom doesn’t do a better job of protecting Tera? Do you think her mother redeems herself at the end?

6. Do you think Haley was a bad friend to Tera? Why or why not?

7. Most of the book is told in first person, but the flashback chapters are told in third person. Why do you think the author chose to put Tera’s memories in third person? Similarly, why do you think the flashback chapters have titles, whereas the other chapters do not?

8. Tera references several famous paintings in the book, including Salvador Dali’s Persistence of Memory (more commonly known as “Melting Clocks”) and Picasso’s Guernica. Why do you think Tera is drawn to these paintings?

9. In the flashback chapter titled “Tin Man,” a young Tera compares herself to several Wizard of Oz characters, including the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion. What similarities does Tera have to these characters? What differences?

10. How would you describe Joey? Why is Tera is drawn to him?

11. What are some of the parallels between Tera’s relationship with her father and Tera’s relationship with Joey?

12. Dogs crop up again and again in A Work of Art. As a child, Tera had a dog that ran away. Joey’s uncle has a dog named Po’Boy. Tera’s father tells her to imagine she’s a dog when he’s trying to get her to pose for a photo. Tera’s mom tells her she follows her dad around like a dog. Tera tries—and fails—to sculpt a dog from clay. Discuss the symbolism of dogs in the book.

13. At the beginning of the book, Tera describes her art teacher Mr. Stewart as her mentor, but she’s angry with him for much of the book. Do you think he proves to be a good mentor to Tera? Why or why not?

14. Mr. Stewart tries to get Tera to improve her art by digging deeper into her emotions. Why does Tera resist his advice?

15. As an artist, Tera’s world is very visual—yet the author never describes her physical appearance. Why do you think that is?

16. Why do you think the author chose “A Work of Art” as the book’s title? Do you think it’s a fitting title? Why or why not?

17. What do you think is the overall message, or theme, of A Work of Art?

Continue Reading

Next Post:
Writing About the Taboo

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Follow Me

Melody’s Latest Tweets

  • Tweet Avatar
    melodymaysonet
    @melodymaysonet
    Me and my awesome husband and sisters. Life is good. https://t.co/7MZQbC13ul

    6 months
  • Tweet Avatar
    melodymaysonet
    @melodymaysonet
    A rare night out for Adam and me. Spent the evening with friends and saw a great band—Private Stock with Jim Dix, h… https://t.co/xRGGxq9dxR

    11 months
  • Tweet Avatar
    melodymaysonet
    @melodymaysonet
    Writers, don’t lose hope! It took almost 4 years (and several deep revisions) to land this book deal, and I couldn’… https://t.co/0Kccj5TTp7

    11 months
  • Tweet Avatar
    melodymaysonet
    @melodymaysonet
    I’ve been with this man for half of his life, and it just keeps getting better. Happy 51st birthday, Adam, the husb… https://t.co/4PLhxvj4To

    11 months
©2023 Melody Maysonet – Official Site | Built using WordPress and Responsive Blogily theme by Superb