Megan Reed
EDCI 4120
6/20/08

Cadnum, M. (1991). Calling Home. New York: Puffin Books.
Grade Levels 9-12
Category Realistic Fiction
Read Alouds pp. 1-8(first and second chapter); pp.42-52(Teacher questions drug use in school & first interrogation by detective); pp. 119-131(Peter tells Lani and then Mr. McKnight what happened to Mead)
Summary Peter has a drinking problem. One night he was waiting in an abandoned house for his best friend Mead to show up. Mead was an hour late and Peter was angry. They argue a bit, Mead drops the bottle of alcohol and Peter punches him one time in the face and kills him. Peter then starts worrying about Meads father being in a frail state and he doesn’t want to be the cause of his death too, so Peter starts calling Meads house impersonating him so his parents don’t think he is died. Peter starts struggling with this because he starts to feel as if Mead is really part of him and Mead is trying to take over. All the while Peter is continuing on as if nothing has happened, he goes to school, and hangs out with his other friends.
Discussion Questions Would any of this had happened if Alcohol wasn’t involved? Why would Peter think its better to lie to everyone when he doesn’t care what happens to himself anymore? If it wasn’t for his friend Lani, would he have ever told anyone?
Reader Response This book was pretty good. However I was disappointed when I first started to read this book because after reading the back cover I thought the book was going to be something entirely different. The back of the book said “Peter brought Mead back to life. Now all he has to do is keep him alive.” To me that is saying that there was an accident and Peter actually brought Mead back to life. What it really means is Peter is impersonating Mead so his parents think he is alive. A little misleading if you ask me.