Harbor Me

Ms. Laverne plays a small but significant role in Harbor Me. Using details from her few spoken lines as well as the comments other characters make about her, describe Ms. Laverne as a character. Why do you think she created the ARTT sessions?

There are several notable fathers referenced in Harbor Me: Haley’s father is incarcerated; Amari’s father attempts to teach him the reality of racial discrimination in the United States; Ashton’s father had to move his family to Brooklyn after losing his job; and immigration officials have detained Esteban’s father. Choose at least two of these fathers. Using the details the novel shares about these characters, describe their commonalities and key differences.

The children in the ARTT group have the opportunity to tell stories that define what makes each member of the group distinct. At the same time, they form a strong bond and collective identity. Describe what unique contributions Haley, Holly, Amari, Esteban, Ashton, and Tiago make to the group that results in such a strong bond.

The ARTT group models thoughtful, respectful discussion. Find and discuss examples of how the group creates a supportive, safe space, including when they disagree. What works for the group? What damaging or hurtful behaviors do they avoid?

The notion of “harboring” is briefly referenced several times. How would you define this term? How does the ARTT group exemplify the concept?

Harbor Me is structured as a recurring alteration between dialogues with the ARTT group and Haley’s internal reflections. Why do you think Woodson chose this structure? How does it serve the novel’s key themes?

The timeline of Harbor Me can be depicted as a circle that follows the cycle of the seasons and of the academic year. This structure is emphasized in the way that the novel begins with its ending, when Haley’s father has returned home. How does the structure of the timeline relate to any of its key themes, and why is this relationship important?

The arts feature prominently in Harbor Me, through Amari’s drawings, music in Haley’s family, and the poetry that Esteban shares. What role do the arts play in relation to the novel’s themes related to social justice?