Book Club Discussion Questions for How to Dodge a Cannonball by Dennard Dayle

Book Club Discussion Questions

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Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

1. What's the regiment of your bookclub called? I.e. "Harrow's Harriers" fit in beside "The Wild Cat Regiment" and "Corn Exchange Regiment." Put it to a vote with your reading group. If voting fails, fight it out.
2. What follows Anders around the war? What's his Catch-22?
3. In many ways, Anders is a classic satirical fool. But they're rarely wrong about everything. What intelligence is Anders missing, and what intelligence does he have? What does he learn? Make your diagnosis.
4. What about other fools throughout the book? Do they learn anything?
5. Allegiances to nations, armies, families, religions, races, genders, systems of government, and employers are freely adopted and abandoned in How to Dodge a Cannonball. What loyalties survive scrutiny, if any? Why?
6. Several unbalanced adults pitch their way of life to Anders. Who makes the best pitch? Worst? Why?
7. Letters, fliers, reviews, and an entire play are littered throughout the book. How did the collage of formats impact your reading experience? Any favorites?
8. On said play: which ending of The Mechanical Abacus is closer to your vision of the future? How would your version end?
9. Play some rounds of Marry/Date/Kill:

   Round 1 - Thomas, Joaquin, Mole
   Round 2 - Lee, Pickett, Ewell
   Round 3 - Harrow, McClellan, Columbia I
   Round 4 - Gleason, Wendy, Slade

10. After chasing valor, Anders concludes that earning your freedom is an insult, and dying for it is a tragedy. Not quite the company line. Do you agree with that sentiment? Why?
11. If it weren't besieged, could San Valentin be saved? Should it be? How do you save a state in cult-like denial about its own origins and fortune?
12. Gleason answers Anders's not-so-hypothetical question on race with "I'd stay white" (pg. 277). What do you think of his reasoning: "Black Anders is a confused mockery of Northern and Southern values. And ours" (pg 278).
13. How exactly do you dodge a cannonball?

Click here for the publisher's downloadable reading guide with additional content.

Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Henry Holt and Company. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.