PARTA.Coming-of-age stories have similarcharacteristics. For example, mostprotagonists go through a period of physical or emotionalseparation from family members. Or, they begin to challengean adult’s teaching. Begin this activity by brainstorming a list

of coming-of-age novels and films with which you arefamiliar. Consider what characteristics the stories have incommon. Do the characters have similar experiences andemotions? Are there similarities in what the characters learnon their journey to maturity?

Reproducible Master

PARTB.After viewing The Lovely Bones, considerthe following in a class discussion:

• How do Susie’s interactions with family members,although mystical, facilitate the coming-of-agetheme?

• How are the supporting characters used as agents inSusie’s own progress and development? Include inyour discussion Susie’s mother, who finds many ways

to escape her now tragic life; Jack, Susie’s guilt-riddenfather; Lindsey, Susie’s sister, who wants justice yetalso wants to go on with her life; and hergrandmother who feels compelled to move in withthe family and help out.

• Are any of the characters going through transitionslike Susie’s, and if so, how do Susie’s experiencesdiffer from theirs?

Based on the critically acclaimed best-selling novel by Alice Sebold,and directed by Oscar® winner Peter Jackson (The Lord of the Ringstrilogy), The Lovely Bones centers on a young girl, Susie Salmon,who has been murdered and watches over her family—and herkiller—from heaven. She must weigh her desire for vengeanceagainst her need for her family to heal.

The Lovely Bones is a coming-of-age story, which means thatadolescent characters mature in some way—either by takingresponsibility or learning a lesson. In most societies, the teen andearly adulthood years are traditionally associated with coming-of-age rituals and lessons. But in The Lovely Bones, even the adultslearn that coming of age is a lifelong process as they deal withdeath, justice, and the differing paths to peace.

© 2009 YMI, Inc.

ACTIVITY ONE COMING OF AGE

Coming-of-Age Stories

1.

2.

3.

Plot Similarities andDifferences

Protagonist Similaritiesand Differences

What Does theProtagonist Learn?

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PARTA.Get to know theSalmons and their

struggle to cope with Susie’s death.Read the descriptions of the maincharacters in The Lovely Bonesprovided below. Then use the termsprovided (or your own terms) to createa web diagram showing each familymember’s emotional connection to thetragedy that has shattered their lives.One spoke of the diagram has beenfilled in to help you get started.

When Susie Salmon, age 14, dies asthe result of a crime, she leaves behinda grieving mother, father, and youngersister and brother, whom she watchesover from heaven. As she struggles toaccept death and leave her lost lifebehind, she observes the sorrow, anger,

and confusion that consume her family.She desperately wants her family to findpeace and go forward with their lives.

Susie’s father Jack is consumed withguilt over not having been able toprotect his daughter. He remains onextended leave from work, increasinglyisolating himself at home. He won’tgive up trying to solve the crime.

Susie’s mother Abigail cannot dealwith both her own grief and the sorrowof her family. She moves to California,leaving her children in the care of herhusband and their grandmother.

Susie’s sister Lindsey is a year youngerthan Susie. She wants justice for Susiebut also wants her old life back.

Susie’s young brother Buckley is 10years younger than Susie. He takescomfort knowing she is in the“in-between.”

Susie’s Grandma Lynn comes to livewith the Salmon family after Abigailleaves. She feels family members needher to keep them moving forward.

After you’ve completed the webdiagram, use the results to examine theforces that hold the family together andpull them apart. Have a class discussionabout how the characters and theirrespective roles in the family dynamicmight intensify or calm the family’s stressand willingness to move forward.

ACTIVITY TWO A FAMILY IN CRISISReproducible Master

© 2009 YMI, Inc.

The Lovely Bones is the saga of the Salmon family torn apart by the untimely and tragic death of Susie Salmon. The storytraces the lives of each member of the family—including Susie—and shows how each person deals with the repercussions ofa devastating loss, both as individuals and as a family.

PARTB.After viewing The Lovely Bones, break into small groups and discusshow the film depicted each family member’s emotional state. To gain

a better understanding of each character’s response to Susie’s death, your groupshould select one family member and develop a defense of his or her reaction andeventual resolution.

Vengeance Guilt Pity GriefFrustration Anger Denial Acceptance

EMOTIONAL CONNECTIONS

Jack

Lindsey

Abigail Susie

Buckley GrandmaLynn

The Death ofSusie Salmon

Pity

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Susie’s mother, Abigail, becomesreclusive after Susie dies. She cannotcope with simple daily tasks. Her sadnessencompasses her, immobilizes her, andultimately draws her further away fromthose who need her most.

Stage of Grief: ______________________________________

My Advice: _________________________________________

___________________________________________________

Susie’s father, Jack, seeks justice fromthe moment he learns of Susie’s death.Although the police department buriesthe case, he will not stop until it issolved.

Stage of Grief: ____________________

My Advice: _________________________________________

___________________________________________________

Susie’s sister Lindsey, feeding off herfather’s energy, notices odd reactionsfrom community members and friends.As she begins to intensely study Susie’scold case, she desperately wants to findjustice for Susie, and at the same time,wants life to go back to the way it wasbefore the tragedy.

Stage of Grief: ______________________________________

My Advice: _________________________________________

___________________________________________________

Susie’s brother Buckley, too young toactively participate in the investigation,feels Susie’s presence in “the in-between.”He takes comfort in knowing that Susie iswatching out for him and his family.

Stage of Grief: ______________________

My Advice: _________________________________________

___________________________________________________

ACTIVITY THREE LESSONS IN LOSSReproducible Master

Death is a tragedy that affects us all. We must all learn to cope with loss. In The Lovely Bones, Susie and her family learnthis lesson in different ways. While one person accepts the loss, another is determined to avenge it. While one tries topretend it never happened, another feels compelled to solve the crime.

PARTA.Elisabeth Kübler-Ross identified five stages of coping with loss in her famous 1969 book, On Death andDying—denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance—providing a basic description of the grieving

process that is still in use today. Do some research to learn more about these “stages of grief.” Then read the characterdescriptions below and decide which stage you think each member of the Salmon family is experiencing. Finally, pretend thatyou are a psychologist counseling the Salmon family through their loss. What advice would you give each family member?

PARTB.After viewing The Lovely Bones, select one of the characters and write, in the space below, what youthink life is like for that person 10 years after the film’s ending.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

© 2009 YMI, Inc.

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