Mosquitoland

• Genre: Fiction; young adult realistic coming-of-age
• Originally Published: 2015
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 750L; grades 6-12
• Structure/Length: 20 chapters; approximately 384 pages; approximately 8 hours, 26 minutes on audio
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: The novel follows Mim Malone, a 16-year-old girl who embarks on a solo bus journey from Mississippi to Ohio to see her sick mother. Along the way, Mim meets various characters and confronts her own issues, including her parents’ divorce. The central conflict revolves around Mim’s internal struggles and the external obstacles she encounters on her journey.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Mental health conditions and potentially problematic messages about psychiatric medications; discussions of suicide; familial discord; sexual assault; drug use; ableism; stereotypical racial tropes; profanity

David Arnold, Author

• Bio: Born 1981; American author known for his young adult novels; his work often features characters dealing with complex issues; former freelance musician
• Other Works: Kids of Appetite (2016); The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik (2018)
• Awards: Indie Next List selection (2015); Great Lakes Book Award (2015); Friends of American Writers Young People’s Literature Award (2016); Southern Book Prize (2016)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• The Search for Identity
• Coming of Age and the Road Trip Story
• Escapism

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Guide, students will:

• Consider the importance of accuracy in portrayals of mental health conditions and explore background information on the road trip trope to increase their engagement with and understanding of Mosquitoland.