Before reading

1. The story takes place in a very unique setting—a coastal town in far north Queensland. As a class, discuss some of the elements that make this part of Australia so special. What kind of animals might you expect to find? What is the landscape like? (You might need to do some research!)

2. The Sugarcane Kids and the Red-bottomed Boat is a mystery novel. Make a list of some of the things you’d expect to find in a mystery.

3. What does the phrase ‘innocent until proven guilty’ mean? As a class, discuss the concept of justice, and come up with some of the reasons that people might be unfairly or incorrectly imprisoned.

While reading

1. Who are the ‘Sugarcane Kids’? Who gives them their name?

2. Why is Eli so quiet?

3. Do Andy and Terry get along? Make a list of some of the clashes between them. Does their relationship change by the end of the book?

4. Why does everyone think that Jacob is guilty? Do you blame them?

5. ‘Raymond Royce is not popular in town because he wants to build a massive hotel’ (p. 21). What does this tell you about the kind of person Raymond Royce is?

Continue reading the teacher’s notes here…

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