Book Discussion Guide

Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco

Pink and Say

Pink and Say is an important story about two soldiers in the Civil War: Sheldon Curtis (Say), a Union soldier, and Pinkus Aylee (Pink), a Union soldier in the 48th colored regiment. Pink finds Say wounded on a battlefield and pulls him to safety at his mother’s home. During Say’s recovery, Pink and Say spend more time learning about each other and developing a deep friendship. Eventually, the boys are caught and separated, unsure and concerned about the other’s fate. This heartwrenching story will remind families of the brutalities that took place during the Civil War. As your family experiences the account of these soldiers, you will be reminded of the great sacrifices that were made during the war. You and your child will learn more about the conditions of the Civil War, sharing rich discussions about racism, war, service, and friendship.

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Questions To Talk About
While Reading

Vocabulary

It's important to make sure that your child has an understanding of key words in the book. Talking about words while reading is a great way for your child to learn new words.

In this book, you might talk about these words:

  • unconsciousness (pg. 2)
  • marauders (pg. 4)
  • quartered (pg. 24)
  • nconsolable (pg. 25)
  • ransacked (pg. 30)
  • cleaved (pg. 40)
  • smote (pg. 40)

You might use a question like:

In the book, what does the word inconsolable mean? How do the words and images on page 25 help you to figure out what it means?

Key Ideas and Themes

In addition to words, it's important to talk about key ideas and themes and how they develop over the course of the book.

Here are some examples to get you started:

  • 1

    How does the author introduce this story? Talk with your child about the mood created from the beginning of the story, through the words and images on the opening page.

  • 2

    The context of this book is very important. Talk about the context with your child, including the war and events surrounding the war. Ask questions like: What war is happening when this story takes place? How do you know On page 4, Sheldon says, “I had never seen a man like him so close before. His skin was the color of polished
    mahogany.” What does this tell you about the relationships between whites and blacks around the time of the war?

  • 3

    How did Moe Moe Bay and Pinkus take care of Sheldon? Talk with your child about what this shows about their characters. Encourage your child to use words like, “helpful” or “charitable.” Encourage your child to use descriptive words instead of words like “nice” or “good.”

  • 4

    From the time the marauders show up at Moe Moe Bay’s home to the end of the story, there are many important, action packed events. Talk about the events of each of these scenes with your child. Ask him or her to explain how each event builds off of the previous event. What is the outcome of these events?

  • 5

    How were Pinkus and Sheldon each treated at the Andersonville Confederate camp? Talk about why they might have received different punishments. What details in the story help you understand this scene?

  • 6

    The author of this book, Patricia Polacco, weaves many themes throughout this story. Use the list below to talk about some of these themes. As you talk with your child about these ideas, ask him or her to point out scenes or moments in the story that relate to the theme. Ask, “What lessons can we learn from these characters? How does this story relate to our lives now?”

    Possible themes to talk about:
    1. Racism during the Civil War created many unfair conditions for black soldiers.
    2. True friendship is built on kindness and understanding.
    3. Slavery is and was an inhumane practice.
    4. Meaningful friendships can be developed, despite differences in race, religion, or culture.

Extra Activities

  • 1

    Patricia Polacco gives readers a glimpse into the difficult lives of Civil War soldiers. As a family, review primary documents including letters and pictures from other Civil War soldiers. You can find them on the Library of Congress website with this link: http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/primarysourcesets/liljenquist-civil-warphotos/, or by searching for “Civil War Soldiers’ Portraits: The Liljenquist Family Collection”.

  • 2

    After reviewing these documents, talk about the similarities and differences between the perspectives of these soldiers and the experiences told in Pink and Say.