When I Was the Greatest

When We Were the Greatest is a novel narrated in first-person point of view by a 15-year-old boy. Consider the tone author Jason Reynolds uses throughout the novel. How does the writer’s tone contribute to your feelings about Ali, and how can you tell that this is a young person’s view of the world? Consider these points as you formulate a response.

• Where in the novel does Ali use humor, and why?
• How does his commentary on adults add to the overall effect of his character?
• When does Ali act tougher or older than he actually is?
• What character traits, feelings, and behaviors does Reynolds give Ali that are most relatable?

Teaching Suggestion: Depending on the age of your students, this question may be challenging for them. Consider rewording some of the thinking questions to frame the story in their view, such as “How does this character act/sound like you or your friends?” It might also be helpful to provide specific quotes from the text and ask students to focus on them as opposed to the text as a whole.

Differentiation Suggestion: For students who would benefit from an extra challenge, consider having them evaluate the bias that may come with first-person narration.