Teaching The King of Jam Sandwiches by Eric Walters: A Novel Study Guide
Eric Walters is one of Canada's best-loved authors for young readers, and The King of Jam Sandwiches is one of his most powerful books. It's short and honest, and middle school students recognize the pressure Robbie lives under right away.
What it's about (no big spoilers)
Robbie is thirteen, and he runs his own life. His dad has a mental illness: some nights he wakes Robbie up at all hours, and sometimes he disappears for days. So Robbie cooks, does the laundry, goes to school, works a part-time job, and makes sure nobody finds out. Then he meets Harmony, a tough, fast-talking new girl at school with a hard home life of her own, and keeping the secret gets more complicated.
Big themes to teach
Mental illness and family: how one person's illness changes life for everyone around them.
Poverty: what it costs a kid to worry about money all the time.
Secrets and asking for help: why Robbie hides, and what it would take for him to tell someone.
Friendship: how two kids with hard lives find each other.
Courage and self-worth: what Robbie believes he deserves, and how that changes.
Discussion questions that go past "what happened"
Robbie works hard to make sure nobody finds out about his dad. What is he afraid will happen if they do? Is that fear fair?
The title calls Robbie "the King of Jam Sandwiches." Is that funny, sad, or both? Why?
What makes Robbie and Harmony trust each other when they don't trust anyone else?
Is Robbie a kid or an adult? Find evidence for both, then decide.
Which adults in Robbie's life could he turn to? What would you want a trusted adult to do in his place?
How does the book change the way you think about mental illness?
Activity ideas
Quotables wall: students collect one line per chapter that hit them, then the class votes on its top three.
Character traits with evidence: every trait a student gives Robbie or Harmony needs a quote to back it up.
Plot placemat: students build the plot diagram as they read instead of after.
Opinion piece: "Should Robbie have told someone sooner?" A strong prompt for opinion writing.
Teaching with care
Mental illness, poverty and a parent who disappears may be close to home for some students. Remind the class who they can talk to at school, never ask anyone to share personal stories, and keep the discussion on Robbie rather than on students' own families. In Canada, Kids Help Phone is available any time at 1-800-668-6868, or by texting CONNECT to 686868.
The complete novel study
My King of Jam Sandwiches novel study has 137 pages: plot diagram and story element placemats, a Quotables handout, character trait organizers, chapter summaries students can write or draw, vocabulary by chapter, chapter quizzes and comprehension questions, deeper-thinking discussion questions, reading infographics and article studies. It focuses on figurative language, theme, character analysis, plot and opinion writing, and works for partner work, small groups, class discussion or independent study.
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