Sadie

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. What is a “vigilante”? Why are some people strongly for vigilante justice, and why are others strongly opposed?

Teaching Suggestion: Sadie deals with vigilante justice; writing about or discussing this topic may raise upsetting questions, as it requires students to consider the violent actions of others. Students who have been seriously impacted by violence may need to be excused from such a discussion or writing activity. Alternatively, these students could discuss public reception of popular vigilantes in film and literary fiction, as it may add emotional distance. Before beginning, you may wish to provide clear guidance about appropriate ways for students to discuss this topic.

• This article from The Crime Report explores the links between vigilantism and hate crimes. Note: This article discusses the hate-crime murders of several Black men.
• This 3-minute video from NowThis Originals discusses vigilantism as portrayed in Western culture and provides both modern and historical examples.

2. How effective is the American justice system at identifying the perpetrators of violence against women? In what ways does this system prevent or limit them from victimizing women in the future?

Teaching Suggestion: The protagonist of Sadie pursues her own version of justice after her mother’s male partner commits multiple acts of sexual assault against her and then kills her younger sister. Having already considered the problematic aspects of vigilantism, students now have the opportunity to build empathy for Sadie’s perspective by learning more about the culture of violence against women and women’s limited recourse to official sources of justice. As before, students who have been seriously impacted by violence may need to be excused from writing about or discussing this topic. Alternatively, to add emotional distance, these students could approach this prompt in a more scientific way; you might consider asking them to conduct research and report on statistics related to violence against women between different states and/or countries in recent decades.

• This article from the ACLU discusses structural factors in violence against women, particularly women of color and trans women.
• This factsheet from the National Organization of Women explores several facets of the problem of violence directed against American women.
• This article explains the credibility barrier women often face when they testify against their abusers.
• This factsheet from Humboldt University lists statistics related to sexual assault and prosecution in the United States.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the text.

Do you think you could ever be tempted to mete out your own vigilante justice? What circumstances might tempt you? If you can’t imagine yourself in this situation at all, explain why—what are your beliefs about vigilantism and your own role in seeking justice?

Teaching Suggestion: Now that students are more thoroughly informed about arguments for and against vigilantism, this prompt asks them to come to a personal conclusion. Whether they find that their own beliefs create more or less empathy for Sadie, having a chance to consider their own perspectives will increase their investment in the book’s plot and themes. This prompt lends itself to a lively debate, although students will likely benefit from guidelines about how to have an inclusive and productive discussion.