Belonging

In Chapter 1, even though Callie has a best friend, she wants to be part of a group. Do you think belonging to a group is important? Why?
When Chapter 10 opens, the newspaper kids are arguing. Can people who are different from one another become a group?
In Chapter 11, Mr. Fischer says that, even though The Hawke staff will be working on-line, he still would like to have meetings. How is communicating in writing different from talking? When do you think it’s better to write to someone? When is it better to talk to them?
By the end of the book, Callie has her group. What has happened to turn the “bunch” of kids into a “group”?

Bullying

In Write On, Callie Jones, there are many types of bullies. When Principal Nolan vetoes Callie’s cockroach story, is he being a bully? Or was he right to do that?
In Chapter 10, Callie says that popular girls and sports teams cut people out. Are the popular girls being bullies? Are the team members bullies? Do you think there is a difference?
In Chapter 13, when Buzz Henwick complains about the no-smoking rule, is he feeling bullied? Sometimes a rule that’s good for most people might still hurt other people. Can you think of examples?
In Chapter 16, Chief Bloodworth demands that Callie give him the names of kids calling in bomb threats. Is he being a bully? Or is he doing the right thing?
Callie says that Chief is a bully, just like his son, Junior. Is there a difference between them?
When Principal Nolan shuts down the paper, is he bullying Mr. Fischer? Or is he right to do that?
Are terrorists bullies?

In Chapter 4, Chief Bloodworth is talking about the terrorists, but Shane thinks he’s referring to the skinheads. What do you know about skinheads? Are terrorists and skinheads alike or different?
In Chapter 10, Mr. Fischer says that a responsible newspaper prints stories that some readers may not like. Do you think a newspaper should print those stories?
In Chapter 11, Callie says that a story about a small thing can be important if you care about it in a big way. In other words, if you really believe in it. What are some small things that you really believe in?
Callie writes an opinion piece about the evacuation drills, even though she knows kids will get mad at her. Do you have any opinions that other people disagree with? Would you be willing to stand up for your opinion?
In Chapter 21, Callie writes an editorial in which she challenges the other kids to stand up to bullies. Do you think the other kids will do that? What would you do?
When Mr. Fischer decides to leave teaching and take a news-writing job, is he following his beliefs or abandoning them?
Read Callie’s final rule. What do you think she means?