Audacious
Words
Based on Cornelia and the Audacious Escapades
of the Somerset Sisters
by Lesley M. Blume
Grades: 3-6
About the book
Cornelia is a lonely eleven year old girl living in busy New York City. Her
mother, a famous pianist, leaves for extended periods of time traveling to
exciting places to perform and vacation. Cornelia is left in the care of the housekeeper. Cornelia loves
books and spends most of her days reading. She particularly loves learning new and unusual words
which she likes to use on people in order to keep them at a distance. Cornelia’s life begins to change
when she meets her new neighbors, an older lady named Virginia Somerset and her dog named Mister
Kinyatta. Virginia begins to share with Cornelia some of the amazing adventures that she and her sisters
experienced years earlier. Cornelia discovers that she and Virginia have a lot in common. Cornelia
begins to see that there is more to life than just her love of words. The more she learns about Virginia,
the more she learns about herself. Cornelia learns how to connect with other people. She learns that
her mother has been hiding behind her music; at the same time, Cornelia learns that she has been
hiding behind her vocabulary. With inspiration from Virginia, Cornelia begins a new, happier chapter in
her life.
Set the stage
Use the following to get students ready to read:
• Read the title and discuss the terms audacious and escapades. Have students come up with
synonyms for these words.
• Predict what the book is about. Discuss why a dog might be on the cover of the book.
• Use a world map to point out New York City, Morocco, France, England, and India.
Review
After reading the book, discuss the following with students:
• Describe Cornelia’s relationship with other children at the beginning of the book.
• Why does Madame Desjardins call Lucy’s piano Bete Noire (black beast)? How does Lucy feel about
the piano? Why doesn’t Cornelia want to take piano lessons?
• Why does Cornelia like to use big words? Do you ever do anything to keep people away? If so, what
do you do?
• The Somerset sisters traveled in a time when it was unusual to see women traveling alone. Compare
and contrast what it would be like for women to travel 50 years ago to today.
• When the Somerset sisters were in Morocco, they participated in a wedding. Compare and contrast
that wedding with a wedding in your home town.
• What is a souk? Why did Cornelia feel like she was in a souk when she was at the yarn factory? What
other places do you think could feel the same? Why did Cornelia daydream in that manner?
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© 2007 Scholastic Inc. 6772
Audacious
Words
Review (continued)
• While in Paris, Beatrice and Alexandra competed for the attentions of Picasso.
Have you ever competed against a sibling or a close friend? How did Beatrice and Alexander feel
about the outcome of their competition?
• When Cornelia and her mother are approached by reporters, what different side of Lucy does
Cornelia see? What do you think Cornelia thinks about her mother at that point?
• When the Somerset sisters visited India, they are face to face with the reality that people are not
treated fairly. How do they respond to this? How would you have responded in the same situation?
• Analyze the caste system by creating a graphic organizer of its main characteristics.
• How did you feel when you realized that Virginia was sick? After Virginia’s death, Patel gives Cornelia
two gifts. What are these gifts? Why are they so important to Cornelia? What non-tangible gift did
Virginia already give Cornelia?
• How was Cornelia’s relationship with her mother different at the end of the book from the beginning
of the book? Why did this change? How was Cornelia’s relationship different with other children?
What caused this change?
Find more activities at www.scholastic.com/bookfairs/books. Permission to reproduce is fully granted by Scholastic Inc.
© 2007 Scholastic Inc. 6772
Student Activities
Based on Cornelia and the Audacious Escapades of the Somerset Sisters
Audacious
Words
Related Activities
To extend students’ enjoyment of the book, try these:
• Country Corner: Have students divide into four groups. Assign each group one of the following
countries: Morocco, France, England, and India. Have groups research their country and prepare a
display. Include in the display the following: a map of the country, the flag of the country, information
about the economy, a brief history, major religions, and types of food. Have each group set up their
display in one corner of the room. Have other classes visit and ask questions of the students about
the county they researched.
• Magazine Mania: Have students prepare a human interest article about Virginia Somerset. Have
students prepare interview questions and the possible answers that Virginia might have given.
• You Are a Travel Agent!: Discuss with students the various places that they have visited. Have
students select one of the places and create a travel brochure for Gladys Somerset.
• Picasso’s Pizzazz: While in Paris, the Somerset sisters met Picasso. Show the students examples of
his work. Have students create their own painting in a style similar to Picasso’s.
• The Fabulous Four: Have students complete a character analysis of the Somerset sisters. The
analysis should address a personality description, a physical description, favorite adventures, and
their impact on other people.
Find more activities at www.scholastic.com/bookfairs/books. Permission to reproduce is fully granted by Scholastic Inc.
© 2007 Scholastic Inc. 6772
Name:
Audacious
Words
Directions: Cornelia was a lover of words. Her vocabulary was amazing. Match
the words she used with the correct definition. Use the book, a dictionary, or the
internet to find the answers.
A. nugatory
E. galoot
I. bavardage
M. defenestrate
Q. rebarbative
B. quidanunc
F. pilgarlic
J.incommodious
N. temerity
R. reprobate
C. quotidian
G. mephitical
K. cacophony
O. ludicrous
S. sagacious
D. hamadryad
H. parisology
L. portentous
P. hinny
T. prodigy
_____1. uncomfortable
_____2. to throw something out a window
_____3. pointless, trifling
_____4. a poor bald-headed man who presents a sorry spectacle
_____5. occurring everyday
_____6. crafty
_____7. a baboon
_____8. showing a sign of evil or calamity to come
_____9. foolish or empty
_____10. a person with exceptional talents
_____11. repulsive and off-putting
_____12. stinking, noxious
_____13. the use of words that are unnecessarily complicated
_____14. boldness, audaciousness
_____15. ridiculous
_____16. one who is forever anxious about everything that is going on
_____17. a clumsy oaf
_____18. hubbub, racket
_____19. the offspring of a female donkey and a male horse
_____20. wrongdoer
Challenge
Choose five words from above, and write a sentence for each word.
9.
10.
11.
12.
I
T
Q
G
13. H
14. N
15. O
16. B
17. E
18. K
19. P
20. R
Find more activities at www.scholastic.com/bookfairs/books. Permission to reproduce is fully granted by Scholastic Inc.
Answer Key:
1. J 5. C
2. M 6. S
3. A 7. D
4. F 8. L
This activity is based on Cornelia and the Audacious Escapades
of the Somerset Sisters by Lesley M. Blume.
© 2007 Scholastic Inc. 6772