Boone & Kolby Classroom Discussion
Teacher’s Corner:
A Note from Lolli
Welcome to Camp Run Amuck!
I'm Lolli, and before campfires, muddy boots, and grandkids filled my days, I spent many happy years as a third-grade teacher. One thing I learned is that some of the very best lessons don't come from a worksheet, they come from a good story and the conversations that follow.
Around camp, we never rush to the next chapter. We stop, wonder, laugh, ask questions, and sometimes change our minds. Every camper has a different idea to share, and that's exactly how great readers grow.
Inside this Teacher's Corner guide you'll find the kinds of questions we'd ask around the campfire, along with writing ideas and cross-curricular connections for Grades 3–6. There aren't any right answers here, just opportunities for thoughtful conversations.
So gather your readers, pull up a chair, and join us around the campfire.
We'll save a seat and some cookies for you.
— Lolli
Camp Run Amuck’s Official Retired 3rd Grade Teacher
Boone & Kolby Against the Wake
Before You Read
Have you ever felt like someone in your family was naturally better at something than you?
Is it possible to be proud of someone and jealous of them at the same time?
When something feels scary, do you jump in or think about it first?
During Your Reading
Brothers
Boone loves Kolby, but he also wishes he could be as fearless. Can two feelings be true at the same time?
Did Kolby realize Boone was comparing himself to him? Why or why not?
Fear
Boone keeps filling his notebook with ideas, measurements, and equations instead of getting on the board. When does planning become a way to avoid trying?
Boone thinks understanding wakeboarding will make him brave. Do you think courage comes before confidence, or confidence before courage?
Mentors
Wade and Stetson aren't Boone's parents, yet Boone trusts them. What makes an adult someone you can turn to?
Think about a teacher, coach, grandparent, or neighbor who has encouraged you. What made their advice easier to hear?
Community
The Cannonball Classic is funny, chaotic, and full of cheering neighbors. Why do you think the whole town shows up?
Which character made you laugh the most during the Cannonball Classic?
After Reading
Boone learns that Kolby has fears too. How did that change the way he saw his brother?
Boone's notebook helped him understand wakeboarding, but it didn't get him across the water. What finally changed?
What does this story say about talent versus practice?
If Boone had quit after his first fall, what would he have missed?
Do you think Boone will call the talent scout and chase professional wakeboarding, or will Blue Creek Lake always be enough for him? Why?
Why do you think some people are happiest competing, while others are happiest simply doing something they love?
Which adult made the biggest difference in Boone's journey?
How did the people of Lawhoma Hills help Boone succeed without taking the challenge away from him?
Writing Extension
Boone fills notebooks with observations and ideas.
Start your own "Boone Notebook."
Choose something you've always wanted to learn. Spend one week recording observations, questions, sketches, or ideas. At the end of the week, write about what you learned—not just about the activity, but about yourself.
Cross-Curricular Connections
ELA: Character growth, sibling relationships, theme, symbolism
STEM: Why do wakeboards plane across water? Explore balance, buoyancy, drag, and force.
Math: Graph practice times, estimate boat speed, measure angles of jumps, or create simple data tables from practice sessions.
SEL: Self-confidence, perseverance, growth mindset, healthy competition.
Physical Education: Discuss how athletes improve through repetition, coaching, and resilience after setbacks.
Campfire Question
Can someone teach you how to do something...or do you eventually have to believe you can do it yourself?
Lawhoma Hills, Oklahoma
