A Curriculum Guide to
The Boy in the Black Suit
By Jason Reynolds
About the Book
Matt Miller has just incurred a serious loss—his mom died. Only seventeen, Matt has to become
the man of the house, since his dad can’t step up to the task or handle life without his wife, and
turns to bottles of whiskey for solace. Matt’s situation at home forces him to find a job that leads
to an eerie fascination with funerals. Although strange, Matt finds more than comfort at the
funeral home. He finds himself on a journey exploring new friendships, coping with loss, and
ultimately, discovering love. Who is to judge why, how, and when someone gets over the loss of
a loved one?
Prereading Activities
1. Read author Jason Reynolds’s blog on iamjasonreynolds.com and write an objective summary
about its content. Based on his posts, what is Jason passionate about? What issues are important
to him? Do you think some of these issues or passions will translate into his writing?
2. Have students study the grieving process. When reading the novel, have students create a chart
that shows how the main character goes through the grieving process. What are the stages of
grieving? While reading the book, have students take note of Matt’s various stages of grieving.
How does Matt handle his loss? How does he handle his pain? What and/or who helps Matt get
through his issues?
Discussion Questions
These discussion questions align with the following English Language Arts Common Core State
Standards: (RL.7–12.1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
1. What happens to Matt in the exposition of the novel? Does this set the tone for the rest of the
book? How are the students at school treating Matt? Are they treating him differently?
2. How do Matt’s thoughts and actions demonstrate he is a conflicted character? How does the
author let the reader know what he is thinking versus what he actually says?
3. How does Matt first meet Renee? What type of girl is Renee and how do you know?
4. Who is Mr. Ray? Describe Mr. Ray’s character using details from the story. What conclusions
can be drawn about Mr. Ray from the first few chapters in the novel?
5. The author specifically mentions the funerals for the elderly, as well as the funerals for
teenagers that have passed through Willie Ray’s doors. Use deductive reasoning to explain why
the author would mention teenagers’ funerals.
