P.S. Be Eleven

What role does school play in Delphine’s shifts in identity? Is school a good, bad, or neutral force in Delphine’s life? Support your interpretation with specific examples from the text.

Research the social and cultural significance of the Jackson Five and explain why the Gaither sisters are so fascinated by the band.

Discuss the impact of larger events like the Vietnam War on the Gaither family. Why is the Gaither family unprepared to help Darnell in the way that he needs?

Discuss the role of fairytales and fantasies in the Gaither sisters’ developing sense of the world’s complex social dynamics.

Analyze at least three scenes in which the Gaither sisters’ understanding of Black Power politics shapes their relationships with others.

Throughout the novel, Delphine remains preoccupied with the concept of oppression. Identify and analyze at least three scenes in which she feels herself to be either oppressed or an oppressor. How are these scenes similar, and what broader social issue is indicated?

Why does Big Ma leave the family at the end of the novel, and how does her departure exacerbate the existing cracks in the family dynamics? Compare and contrast the ways in which she, Marva, and Delphine all contribute to the traditional maternal role of the family.

What impact does Marva’s presence have on the Gaither family dynamics, and how do her views align with the Black Power politics that the girls learned in Oakland?