Judy Moody Was in a Mood. Not a Good Mood. A Bad Mood.

Analyze the role of empathy in the book. How does Judy struggle and succeed in empathizing with other characters’ feelings such as her brother, Stink, and her initial nemesis, Frank Pearl? How does this contribute to her maturation and character arc?

Judy loves her little brother but also finds him annoying. How does she show that she is learning to be gentler with Stink and include him more? Find two examples from the book and explore their significance to Judy’s growth.

Throughout the novel, Judy is learning how to manage her feelings better. Find an example of how she overcomes frustration and anger and explain what happened. If Judy had encountered this same situation earlier in the book, how would she have responded?

Examine moments of foreshadowing in the book. How do these instances hint at Judy’s ultimate emotional growth or the resolution of a conflict? Citing specific examples from the text, discuss how foreshadowing helps build narrative tension or anticipation for the reader.

McDonald includes multiple characters in the novel who influence Judy’s growth. How do Stink, Rocky, Frank Pearl, and Mr. Todd each affect Judy’s character development? How are the characters’ influences on her are similar and different?

Judy works hard on her “Me Collage.” How does the school project connect to Judy’s anxiety? Consider how it both heightens and calms her anxious feelings.

Does the setting of Virginia influence the book? Why or why not? Would the narrative change if it was set elsewhere? If so, how?

Analyze the role jealousy plays in the book, particularly in the sibling relationship between Judy and Stink. Why is Judy jealous of Stink and vice versa? How does jealousy impact Judy’s struggle to or ability to manage her feelings?