Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.
- Why do you think that Paulsen chooses to tell the story of his life indirectly, by talking about his time with dogs?
- Do you think that all the dogs that Paulsen profiles in his book have a lot in common? Or does each dog stand out as really different from the last?
- Why do you think that Paulsen included dogs that didn't actually belong to him?
- Do you think there's a real difference between dog people and cat people? In what ways does Paulsen's personality fit the profile of a typical "dog person"?
- Why do you think Paulsen wrote the book as chapters focusing on one dog each?
- How does Paulsen's writing style make his stories about the dogs seem so authentic and believable?
- Why do you think Paulsen pretty much leaves people out of these stories (except for himself)?
- What seem to be Paulsen's feelings about humans in general?