The Fourth Stall

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. How are criminal organizations like the Mafia depicted in pop culture? How do crime families typically function? What is the primary purpose of crime organizations?

Teaching Suggestion: Mac and his best friend Vince run an underground Mafia-like operation in their school. The novel explores the power dynamics between Mac and his adversary, Staples. Consider discussing pop culture references to crime families and describing the stereotypical function of a crime family. Then consider using the resources below to explore this topic further. It may be helpful to create a chart to compare stereotypical crime operations to Mac and Vince’s operations as the novel progresses. Modulate the prompt as needed for younger classrooms.

• This article describes the Mafia, its historical rise to power, and how a crime family functions.
• This 12-minute video explores the five Mafia families in the United States and their roles in society today.

Short Activity

What types of problems might an underground student organization be able to solve in a school? Consider these questions in your response:

• How might an underground organization fight crime?
• What kinds of problems might arise for such an organization?
• How might the organization help students who need it?
• What services or products do you think would be in high demand?
• How might a powerful underground organization affect the power dynamics of a school?

Teaching Suggestion: Mac’s underground business helps students in exchange for favors or money. However, Mac encounters a problem when a student asks for protection from a rival leader, Staples. Consider discussing the kinds of problems or services Mac’s organization may offer. One way to complete this activity is to allow students to brainstorm. Consider providing students with a large piece of chart paper where small groups can respond to the questions by writing their answers on the chart paper to share in class. Consider revisiting the chart papers periodically throughout the novel to compare responses to events that occur.

Personal Connection Prompt

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

How important do you think trust is in a friendship? Can you think of a book or movie that showed what happened when trust with a friend was broken or strengthened? How does this affect the relationship and the way people approach other friendships going forward?

Teaching Suggestion: Mac and Vince have had a strong friendship and business relationship since they were young children. Vince, however, breaks Mac’s trust when Mac discovers money missing from their business stash. Consider discussing the importance of trust in friendships and how trust can break.