"A Pickpocket's Tale" by Karen Schwabach

A Pickpocket's Tale

Book by Karen Schwabach

148/213 # of pages read

Job: Discussion Director

Hi again,

In literature circles we read “A Pickpocket’s Tale” which is a story about a young girl who gets shipped off to America and will be a sold as a slave. Molly lived in a life of crime and can pick a pocket very carefully and well, but did that change? When Molly moves to New York her new family introduces her to the Jewish culture and actually have manners and bath her but she doesn't seem to like it, resulting her to do many unexpected things.

Here are the questions that I have prepared for the discussion:

1. Why was Molly surprised when Mrs. Bell said that it’s fine to have all the Jews running around on a Saturday to find a little girl in a market? And would you break the rules in order to find someone?

(Me) Shelly – I think that this is partially because of her kind heart and also because Rachel is her daughter and she already lost one child before. I would break the rules (tradition) in order to find someone because people can’t really wait, but as Ms. Bell said, god can.

Gemma – I would break the rules, and she did it because someone life is more important and she already lost 3 children already.

Yoon-ji – Because she lost many children already and because breaking the rules is fine when there is an emergency.

Sarah – Because it’s her daughter and because she cares more about her daughter than the religion, I would break the rules.

2. Why did Molly want to run away?

(Me) Shelly – Molly ran away because she felt as if she wasn't accepted in New York and was not used to the lifestyle there, and as she said, she belongs to the Bells and is a slave. I actually think that they treat her very well though, better than she would have been treated back in London.

Gemma – She didn't like life in America and missed being a thief, felt uncomfortable.

Yoon-ji – Because she is very homesick, slightly neophobic (scared of new things)

Sarah – Molly wanted to run away because she was afraid the people would punish her,

3. What was in the warehouse and on the rope coils? And why was Molly confused of what they were?

(Me) Shelly – There were kittens on the rope coils and Molly didn't know what they were because they were really tiny and she has never seen kittens so small.

Gemma – Kittens, confused because they looked really gross and young.

Yoon-ji – Kittens, because they looked like rats and she never saw kittens so young.

Sarah – Kittens, because she never saw pet cats.

4. What happened when Captain Duguay entered the warehouse and why did Mr. Bell and Captain Duguay argue?

(Me) Shelly – Captain Duguay wanted to drown the kittens but was looking at Molly and making her feel uncomfortable, also knowing her from their last talk of her wanting to go back to England. Next he tried to make Molly come with him to go see the ship but Mr. Bell argues with him not to touch or speak the women in his family although she is a servant. Now, Captain Duguay will buy from other merchants because of the argument that changed his thoughts about Mr. Bell.

Gemma – Captain Duguay wanted to drown the little kittens and was making Molly feel strange and they argued because he behaved not very well to the women in Mr. Bell’s family, causing Captain to buy from other merchants.

Yoon-ji – Wanted to drown kittens and was being really creepy to molly, argued because not to touch the women from his family.

Sarah – I think he was going to drown the kittens and also Mr. Bell argued with Captain because he was harassing the women in his family.

5. Why did Molly’s stomach flip when she thought of ham?

(Me) Shelly – Molly’s stomach flipped when she thought of ham because she couldn't eat it as long as she was with the Bells, due to the fact that it isn't Kosher. Because the Bells are Jewish she has to stick to the dietary rules, which is hard for her.

Gemma – Because she has been normalized not to eat ham and was converted to Judaism due to the fact that she lives with a Jewish family.

Yoon-ji – I think that that was because the ham is not kosher and she couldn't eat it.

Sarah – Because living with the Bells, having to follow their eating habits changed her diet and she missed ham/pork.

That’s it for this blog post! We’re reading a different book next time, I will finish the book but this is the last post, hope you enjoyed reading our thoughts about the book!

Shelly :)