Resources for Sampson County Schools Protected Book List
Grade 6
Letters from Rifka
4.2
660
Letters From Rifka (1992) is a historical young-adult novel by Karen Hesse. It was a recipient of a National Jewish
Book Award and several other honours. In the "Author's Note" to the novel, Hesse claims that it was based on the
personal account of her great-aunt Lucille Avrutin's immigration to America.
In 1919, Rifka and her family must flee Russia or face death from the anti-Semitic government; Rifka tells her story
in a series of letters to a cousin she must leave behind, written in the blank spaces of an edition of Pushkin's poetry.
Rifka's brother Nathan has deserted the army when her brother Saul would have been conscripted; this puts the
whole family at risk, and they escape Russia, hoping to join the three older sons who have been living in America
for years. Along the way, they face cruel officials, typhus, hunger, theft, ringworm, and a separation that threatens to
keep Rifka from ever rejoining her family. She is constantly reminded she must be clever and brave, but her true
salvation can only come when she learns compassion.
A series of lesson plans: http://teacherlink.ed.usu.edu/tlresources/units/byrnes-literature/RAdair.html
How to write a family history – interview questions
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Hills/6658/famhist2.html
Immigration – A living mosaic
http://library.thinkquest.org/20619/index.html?tqskip=1&tqskip1=1&tqtime=0104
An interactive tour of Ellis Island http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/immigration/tour/index.htm
A study guide for the book http://www.babaganewz.com/teachers/pdfs/54book.pdf
Number the Stars
4.5
670
Number the Stars is a work of historical fiction about the Holocaust of the Second World War
by award-winning author Lois Lowry. Ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen is the central character,
who lived in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1943 and was caught up in the events surrounding the
rescue of the Danish Jews. She and her family risked their lives to help Annemarie's best friend,
Ellen Rosen, by pretending that Ellen is Annemarie's older sister; the sister had died earlier in the
war during her work for the Resistance.
Ideas for activities and questions: http://www.carolhurst.com/titles/numberthestars.html
A treasure trove of online activities, printable questions and powerpoints
http://www.mce.k12tn.net/reading23/number_the_stars.htm
Many age-appropriate integrated activities and ideas:
http://www.cdli.ca/CITE/number_the_stars.htm
Resistance to injustice http://www.classzone.com/novelguides/litcons/number/guide.cfm
A webquest about the Holocaust
http://www.bgsu.edu/colleges/library/crc/webquest/number%20the%20stars/Homepage.ht
ml
Where the Red Fern Grows
4.9
700
Where the Red Fern Grows is a children's novel written by American author Wilson Rawls
about a boy who buys and trains two Redbone Coonhound hunting dogs. It was made into a
popular 1974 film. The film was remade in 2003 and starred Joseph Ashton, Dabney Coleman,
Ned Beatty and Dave Matthews. This book is a popular choice for early middle school reading
classes, with a reading level appropriate to grades 4 and up.[1] Both the more proficient readers
and under performing students find the material interesting without being too simple or difficult
to enjoy.[2]
Questions, powerpoints, and interactive activities
http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/fern/where_the_red_fern_grows.htm
Quotes and more quotes
http://classiclit.about.com/od/wheretheredferngrows/a/aa_redfernquote.htm
A webquest
http://teachers.northallegheny.org/LTokarczyk/where%20the%20red%20fern%20grows%20
webquest.htm
Study guides http://www.gradesaver.com/where-the-red-fern-grows/
A global bookclub on this book http://www.ncsu.edu/globalbookclub/home.html
Devil’s Arithmetic
4.6
730
The Devil's Arithmetic is an historical novel written by Jane Yolen in 1988. This book tells the story of a
Jewish girl, Hannah, who is transported back in time to Poland in 1942, as World War II rages, and ends
up in a Nazi Concentration Camp. In the process, she learns to appreciate and treasure Jewish customs.
Lesson plans and links http://www.geocities.com/mshayes611/The_Devils_Arithmetic.html
An excellent webquest
http://www2.fultonschools.org/teacher/ottg/Devil's_Arithmetic/Devil's_Arithmetic.htm
Reading strategies and a unit plan:
http://english.byu.edu/Novelinks/reading%20strategies/TheDevilsArithmetic/The%20Devil%27s
%20Arithmetic.html
An array of sites about Judaism and the Holocaust
http://www.uen.org/utahlink/tours/tourViewSite.cgi?tour_id=15534
A unit on discrimination
http://www.lessonplanspage.com/SSHolocaustUnitDiscrimination57.htm
A Wrinkle in Time
4.7
740
It was a dark and stormy night; Meg Murry, her small brother Charles Wallace, and her mother had
come down to the kitchen for a midnight snack when they were upset by the arrival of a most disturbing
stranger.
"Wild nights are my glory," the unearthly stranger told them. "I just got caught in a downdraft and
blown off course. Let me sit down for a moment, and then I'll be on my way. Speaking of ways, by the
way, there is such a thing as a tesseract."
A tesseract (in case the reader doesn't know) is a wrinkle in time. To tell more would rob the reader of
the enjoyment of Miss L'Engle's unusual book. A Wrinkle in Time, winner of the Newbery Medal in 1963,
is the story of the adventures in space and time of Meg, Charles Wallace, and Calvin O'Keefe (athlete,
student, and one of the most popular boys in high school). They are in search of Meg's father, a scientist
who disappeared while engaged in secret work for the government on the tesseract problem.
A Wrinkle in Time is a science fantasy[1] novel by Madeleine L'Engle, first published in 1962.[2] The book
won a Newbery Medal, Sequoyah Book Award, and Lewis Carroll Shelf Award, and was runner-up for the
Hans Christian Andersen Award.[3] It is the first in L'Engle's series of books about the Murry and O'Keefe
families.
Spark Notes commentary http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/wrinkle/
A chapter by chapter study guide:
http://www.lifestreamcenter.net/DrB/Lessons/Wrinkle/guides_index.htm
Quotes http://classiclit.about.com/od/wrinkleintimelengle/a/aa_wrinklequote.htm
A Quest for A Wrinkle In Time
http://www.lifestreamcenter.net/DrB/Lessons/Wrinkle/index.htm
Vocabulary and other things: http://www.easyfunschool.com/WrinkleInTime.html
Another study guide: http://www.gradesaver.com/a-wrinkle-in-time/
Tuck Everlasting
5.0
770
A story about an immortal family, the Tucks (Jesse, Angus, Mae, and Miles) and their friendship
with a girl named Winnie. Winnie, a free soul born a little bit too early for her time, is upset with
her mother and her rigid upbringing and escapes in the woods, where she meets the Tuck family
and spends with them some of the most remarkable time of her life. She also falls in love with
Jesse. Meanwhile her parents try with all means to find her and her father makes a deal, selling
his woods to the 'Man in the Yellow Suit' in exchange of him bringing Winnie back. What he
doesn't know is, that the man seeks a spring in the woods, which water makes people who have
drank from it immortal.
Upon finding Winnie, the 'Man in the Yellow Suit', tries to take her against her will, but is killed
by Mae Tuck. Mae is caught and is supposed to be executed, but released by her family and
Winnie, who cannot let her be executed, because she cannot die. The family must then escape.
Jesse tries to persuade Winnie to drink from the spring and run away with him when she gets
older. However, she does not do it, after reconsidering Angus's words that 'all living things
change' and that Tucks just 'are'.
The book skips to the epilogue in which we find Angus Tuck and Mae Tuck standing over
Winnie's grave almost fifty-seven years later, Winnie chose to stay mortal.....
Cooperative activities http://cspace.unb.ca/nbco/pigs/novel/active.html
Social dilemmas in Tuck Everlasting http://cspace.unb.ca/nbco/pigs/novel/social.html
Glencoe’s study guide
http://www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/pdf/tuck_everlasting.pdf
Vocabulary and activities by chapter http://www.nt.net/~torino/tuck.html
Scholastic’s Question Guide
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/collateral.jsp?id=663_type=Book_typeId=1203
Among the Hidden
4.8
800
Among the Hidden is a 1998 young adult novel by Margaret Peterson Haddix concerning a
fictional future in which drastic measures have been taken to quell overpopulation. It is the first
of seven novels in the Shadow Children series.
In the far future, overpopulation has caused an event called "The Famine" and due to this, there
is far less food and all of it is monitored by the government. Because of the shortage of food,
people are only allowed to have two children.
Population Control Project – a webquest
http://students.ed.uiuc.edu/adreon/webquest.html
Discussion guide http://www.haddixbooks.com/books/hidden_guide.html
Discussion questions from the Cincinnati Library
http://www.cincinnatilibrary.org/samepage/2005/athquestions.html
A site with things for teachers and students
http://www.promotega.org/ksu00003/Hidden.htm
An internet hunt http://www.eldora-np.k12.ia.us/enpms/amongthehiddenhunt.pdf
Maniac McGee
4.7
820
Maniac Magee is a novel written by popular young adult author Jerry Spinelli. It was published
in 1990 and won the Newbery Medal in 1991.
Jeffrey Lionel Magee is orphaned at age three when his parents are killed in a P&W trolley
accident. After eight intolerable years with his Aunt Dot and Uncle Dan, Jeffrey runs away to
Two Mills, Pennsylvania. There, he amazes the townspeople with his athletic feats and his
fearlessness, earning the nickname "Maniac."
A webquest
http://www.csus.edu/indiv/p/peachj/webquest/232_spring_2004/haynes/maniac.htm
Lesson plans from Nick Jr.
http://www.nickjr.com/teachers/lesson_plans/maniac_magee_lesson_one.jhtml
Lots and lots of teaching resources http://www.mce.k12tn.net/reading47/maniac_magee.htm
McDougal Littlell Class Zone
http://www.classzone.com/novelguides/litcons/maniac/guide.cfm
A unit plan http://www.mrmansour.com/Resources/ManiacPDFs/ManiacUnit.pdf
The Witch of Blackbird Pond
5.7
850
The Witch of Blackbird Pond is a children's historical novel by American author Elizabeth
George Speare, published in 1958. The story takes place in late 17th-century New England. It
won the Newbery Medal in 1959.
In 1687, 16-year-old Katherine Tyler, (known throughout the story as Kit) leaves her home in
Barbados after her grandfather's death and goes to New England to live with her aunt and uncle
in Wethersfield, a small Puritan community in Connecticut Colony.
A webquest created by middle schoolers
http://www.jburgd12.k12.il.us/jjhs/projects/wbpond.htm
A novel guide by McDougal Littell
http://www.classzone.com/novelguides/litcons/witch/guide.cfm
History of Barbados http://www.barbados.org/history1.htm
A study guide by Glencoe
http://www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/pdf/witch_of_blackbird_pond.pdf
A unit plan
http://www.create.cett.msstate.edu/create/classroom/lplan_view.asp?articleID=121
Julie of the Wolves
5.8
860
Julie of the Wolves is a children's novel by Jean Craighead George, published in 1972, about a
young Cupik girl experiencing the changes forced upon her culture from outside. There are two
sequels, Julie and Julie's Wolf Pack.
A novel guide by Glencoe
http://www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/pdf/julie_of_wolves.pdf
A discussion guide by Scholastic
http://content.scholastic.com/browse/collateral.jsp?id=731_type=Book_typeId=2340
Several teacher guides and ideas for integration
http://www.harperchildrens.com/schoolhouse/TeachersGuides/jcgindex.htm
A novel way to study geography http://coe.ilstu.edu/iga/ALASKAGL1.htm
Many, many creative ideas http://www.fhsu.edu/te/facstaff/gtaggart/lessons/98/alaska.html
Shiloh
4.4
890
Shiloh is a first person children's novel by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. It won the 1992 Newbery Medal. The
movie Shiloh was made based on the book in 1996. The story takes place in the small town of Friendly,
West Virginia where an eleven year old boy named Marty Preston finds a stray beagle wandering in the
hills near his house. The dog follows him home so Marty takes the dog as his own and names him Shiloh.
Shiloh's real owner is Judd Travers, who has several dogs that he uses for hunting. Judd Travers
discovers that Marty has Shiloh and insists that he return him. Marty does not want to return Shiloh
because he fears for the dog's safety because Judd drinks and treats his dogs poorly.
Glencoe study guide http://www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/pdf/shiloh.pdf
Web English Teacher http://www.webenglishteacher.com/naylor.html
Lots and lots of activities http://www.mandygregory.com/Shiloh.htm
Interactive questions http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/shiloh/shiloh.htm
How to love your dog activities http://www.loveyourdog.com/teachers.html
Missing May
5.3
980
Missing May is a children's book, the recipient of the 1993 Newbery Medal. It was written by
Cynthia Rylant, who has written over 60 children's books such as The Islander.
The novel is set in present-day West Virginia. The protagonist is Summer, an orphaned child
who has been passed from one apathetic relative to another. At age six, she meets her Aunt May
and Uncle Ob. The kindly old couple notices that, although Summer is not mistreated, she is
virtually ignored by her caretakers and decide to take Summer home to their rickety trailer home
in the hills of the Appalachian mountains. Summer thrives under their care, feeling that she
finally has a home.
Glencoe’s study guide
http://www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/pdf/missing_may.pdf
Before, during and after
http://english.byu.edu/Novelinks/Novel%20Pages/Missing%20May.htm
Interesting activities http://www.nancypolette.com/LitGuidesText/missingmay.htm
An interview with the author http://www.kidsreads.com/authors/au-rylant-cynthia.asp
Study help activities http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/LitNote/The-1990s-NewberyMedal-Winners-Missing-May-Study-Help-Activities-for-Readers.id-98,pageNum-83.html
The Watsons Go to Birmingham
5.0
1000
A Newbery Honor Book
The Coretta Scott King Award
A wonderful middle-grade novel narrated by Kenny, 9, about his middle-class black family,
the Weird Watsons of Flint, Michigan. When Kenny's 13-year-old brother, Byron, gets to be
too much trouble, they head South to Birmingham to visit Grandma, the one person who
can shape him up. And they happen to be in Birmingham when Grandma's church is blown
up.
A series of activities and projects http://www.tesd.k12.pa.us/tems/library/Watson's.htm
Teachers @ Random
http://www.randomhouse.com/teachers/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780385321754&view
=tg
A series of lesson plans
http://www.planetbookclub.com/kids/archive/watsons2.00/watsonsintro.html
Pre-reading and post-reading activities
http://www.gretchenle.com/online_units/watsons/watson1.html
A wealth of ideas in this novel unit http://www.pampetty.com/novelunit.htm
Hatchet
5.7
1020
Brian Robeson is stranded and alone in the Canadian wilderness after the pilot of the singleengine Cessna plane in which he is traveling suffers a fatal heart attack. Brian is forced to try to
land the plane, but ends up crash-landing the plane into the trees and sliding down into the water.
He just manages to escape as the plane sinks in a remote lake.
Focusing activities for the beginning of the novel http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/3491
Activities and online resources http://www.mce.k12tn.net/survival/hatchet/hatchet.htm
Fiction elements in Hatchet http://www.educationworld.com/a_tsl/archives/011/lesson0036.shtml
An interactive webquest http://www.hobart.k12.in.us/hatchet/main.html
Glencoe’s study guide http://www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/pdf/hatchet.pdf
Lottery Rose
5.6
1070
Georgie, a young boy in Tampa, Florida, is neglected by his alcoholic mother and physically
abused by her boyfriend, Steve. He in turn expresses his anger, especially in school, where he
engages in disruptive behavior and vandalism. He and his teacher loathe one another and
Georgie’s learning difficulties are a subject of ridicule by the other children.
The only soft spot Georgie has left is a love of flowers, and one day he wins a rosebush in a
grocery store drawing. When he takes it home to show his mother, he finds Steve there and
begins screaming in terror. Steve beats him and almost kills him, but when Georgie comes to, he
finds the police have intervened just in time. Georgie is taken to a boys’ school run by nuns.
At first, Georgie experiences trouble fitting into the place. However, under the patient and
nurturing tutelage of the nuns, he begins to soften and change. Through it all, his main worry is
for his rosebush, which he has brought with him. In searching for a place to plant it, he discovers
that the home across the street from the school has a large flower garden. However, when he
attempts to place the rosebush there, he is chased away by the woman of the house.
Reading strategies and a unit plan
http://english.byu.edu/Novelinks/reading%20strategies/LotteryRose/lottery%20rose.html
Planting roses http://www.backyardgardener.com/rose/rose1.html
National Institute for Alcoholics and Alcoholism http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/
Child abuse and neglect
http://www.helpguide.org/mental/child_abuse_physical_emotional_sexual_neglect.htm
An account of life at a boys’ home run by nuns
http://netk.net.au/AbuseCases/StanislausTony.asp
Grade 7
Scorpions
3.7
610
The novel tells the story of a 12 year old boy (Jamal Hicks) from Harlem who is having a hard
time in life. Jamal is having a hard time at school, home, and in the streets. The only person he
can count on is his best friend Tito.
The main problem in his life is trying to get his brother, Randy, out of jail. Randy is a 17 year old
who is the leader of the "Scorpions" gang. The gangs motive is to make money by selling
cocaine.
His family includes himself, Mama, his 8 year old sister Sassy, Randy, and his father, Jevon
Hicks. Jamal's father used to be an alcoholic after losing his job and started being mean to Mama
until she moved away from him with the kids. This happened while Jamal was very young. Now
Jamal's father only comes to visit the family once in a while.
The story starts out with Jamal and his family thinking that Randy needs only $500 for his
appeal. Then the next morning, Jamal's Mama tells Jamal that Randy says to go see Mack. Mama
does not like the boy because he is on crack and thinks he caused Randy to kill the delicatessen
owner. She keeps warning Jamal about Mack. When Jamal meets Mack, Mack tells Jamal to be
the leader of the Scorpions and finds out the appeal is really $2,000. The second time Jamal
meets Mack, Mack gives him a gun.
At school, Jamal is having a tough time with the principal, Mr. Davidson. The teachers are
giving him trouble, and Dwayne is giving him trouble. In the book, he fights Dwayne twice and
threatens Dwayne with a gun in the second fight. The gun causes several bad occasions,
ultimately causing Jamal's best friend Tito to be sent back to Puerto Rico.
A biography of the author http://www.notablebiographies.com/news/Li-Ou/Myers-WalterDean.html
Harlem history http://www.columbia.edu/cu/iraas/harlem/
Spanish Harlem and its connections to Puerto Rico
http://memory.loc.gov/learn/features/immig/cuban4.html
Life in a Harlem Street Gang http://www.ncjrs.gov/html/ojjdp/2000_5_1/pag2.html
A summary series of lessons
cuip.uchicago.edu/schools/gearup/chicago/archive/yal/units/bad-boy/unit-s.doc
House of Dies Drear
4.8
670
The House of Dies Drear is a 1968 novel by Virginia Hamilton. The novel takes place in 1961,
when Thomas Small, a 13-year-old African American boy, moves with his family into a house
that was once part of the Underground Railroad. His father, Mr. Small, tells Thomas that the
caretaker of the house is Mr. Pluto. Once they move into the house, strange and scary things
begin to happen. They meet a malicious family next to them, the Darrows. In the end, they learn
that the Darrows are doing all they can to scare away the Smalls and get the treasure located in
Mr. Pluto's cave.
A study guide http://www.leasttern.com/DiesDrear/diesdrear.htm
A novel guide http://www.classzone.com/novelguides/litcons/houseof/guide.cfm
Glencoe’s study guide
http://www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/pdf/house_of_dies_drear.pdf
A unit with many connections designed by middle school students
http://www.pgcps.pg.k12.md.us/~samogle/dies%20drear.htm
A plan with many technology ties
http://gorman.region14.net/webs/tkeith/the_house_of_dies_drear_unit.htm
Esperanza Rising
5.3
750
Esperanza Ortega possesses all the treasures a young girl could want: fancy dresses; a
beautiful home filled with servants in the bountiful region of Aguascalientes, Mexico; and
the promise of one day rising to Mama’s position and presiding over all of Rancho de las
Rosas. But a sudden tragedy shatters that dream, forcing Esperanza and Mama to flee to
California and settle in a Mexican farm labor camp. There they confront the challenges of
hard work, acceptance by their own people, and economic difficulties brought on by the
Great Depression. When Mama falls ill from Valley Fever and a strike for better working
conditions threatens to uproot their new life, Esperanza must relinquish her hold on the past
and learn to embrace a future ripe with the riches of family and community. Pam Muñoz
Ryan eloquently portrays the Mexican workers’ plight in this abundant and passionate novel
that gives voice to those who have historically been denied one.
Many links and activities http://www.pammunozryan.com/esperanza.html
Author’s biography http://www.pammunozryan.com/bio.html
Multicultural activities http://www.school-library.org/multicultural/Martinez_YA.htm
Learning Not to Be Afraid to Start Over
http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=739
A webquest http://www.specialconnections.ku.edu/cgibin/cgiwrap/specconn/webquest/xmlparser.php?page=webpage_2642_1
Journey to Jo’Berg
4.6
760
Naleidi and her younger brother, Tiro, are worried about their baby sister who is very sick. They feel that
the only person who can save her is their mother who worked and lived in Johannesburg more than 300
kilometers away. Their mother, Mma, worked far away due to the injustices in South Africa. Naleidi and
Tiro leave their grandma and aunt to set off on a journey to Johannesburg to find Mma and bring her
back. When they reach the city, they experience prejudice and see injustices against the Blacks such as
"pass" raids and segregated buses. Their trip to the city makes them aware of the dangers of their
country and the "painful struggle for freedom."
A teacher cyberguide http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/JO/joburgtg.html
Integration between the novel and social studies/communities
http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/schemes2/geography/geo24/?view=the_whole_unit
Lessons on Africa http://mage.macalester.edu/africa/lessons/lessons.html
A tech-ready unit http://www.teachersnetwork.org/readysettech/roytblat/roytblat.htm
Africa today http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/programs/africatoday/
The Cay
5.3
760
The Cay is the suspenseful story of a young boy, handicapped by blindness and thrust into an
unfamiliar environment, who is forced to grow up quickly. Young readers can identify with
Phillip's struggle for independence and his frustration in coping with situations over which he
has virtually no control. Phillip's survival depends upon his learning to follow Timothy's
instructions and to respect the power of nature. He jeopardizes his life each time he forgets past
lessons, but those lapses—whether from carelessness, fear, or despair— make Phillip a very
believable character....
Enrichment activities http://merkel.region14.net/webs/cscott/the_cay.htm
Questions and activities http://www.mce.k12tn.net/survival/cay/cay.htm
A wealth of information http://www.booknutsreadingclub.com/thecay.html
An interactive adventure http://www.westnet.net.au/kapor/The%20Cay.htm
Another webquest http://www.edu.pe.ca/westroyalty/grades/five/5B/thecaywebquest.htm
True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
5.3
740
In this fast-paced and suspense-filled novel, 13-year-old Charlotte Doyle describes a remarkable sea
voyage that changes her life forever. In 1832, Charlotte crosses the Atlantic aboard the Seahawk,
departing from England to join her family in Rhode Island. Raised to be a proper young lady, she is
surprised to learn that she is the only passenger and only female aboard the ship. Frightened by a
mysterious crew, at first she trusts only Jaggery, the captain, but soon discovers that he is cruel and
slightly mad. She then joins ranks with the mutinous crew but must convince them of her loyalty by
tackling death-defying feats unfamiliar to most females of her era. Charlotte is befriended along the way
by the old black cook, Zachariah, who eventually helps save her life. When the vengeful captain accuses
her of murder, Charlotte is tried and found guilty. She escapes punishment in a life-and-death struggle
with Jaggery and is finally reunited with her family. Charlotte misses the Seahawk, however, and, in an
unusual twist of the plot, casts aside the comforts of home for the life of a seafarer.
Classzone activities http://www.classzone.com/novelguides/litcons/true/guide.cfm
Literature guide http://www.nancypolette.com/LitGuidesText/doyle.htm
More questions and activities
http://ex.susd.org/awhitehurst/true_confessions_of_charlotte_do.htm
Links to Victorian England
http://english.byu.edu/Novelinks/Novel%20Pages/True%20Confessions%20of%20Charlotte%
20Doyle.htm
Glencoe’s study guide
http://www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/pdf/true_confessions.pdf
The Giver
5.7
760
The Giver is a novel written by Lois Lowry. It is set in a future society which is at first presented
as a utopian society and gradually appears more and more dystopian; therefore, it could be
considered anti-utopian. The novel follows a boy named Jonas through the twelfth year of his
life. The society has eliminated pain and strife by converting to "Sameness", a plan which has
also eradicated emotional depth from their lives. Jonas is selected to inherit the position of
"Receiver of Memory," the person who stores all the memories of the time before Sameness, in
case they are ever needed to aid in decisions that others lack the experience to make. As Jonas
receives the memories from the previous receiver—the "Giver"—he discovers how shallow his
community's life has become. It is written in the third-person.
Questions and activities http://www.mce.k12tn.net/reading17/giver.htm
Teacher’s cyberguide http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/giver/givertg.htm
Endnotes http://www.classzone.com/novelguides/litcons/giver/guide.cfm
A webquest http://www2.franciscan.edu/webquests/thegiver/
The Giver novel study http://yennadon.sd42.ca/online/langarts/giver/index.html
Red Scarf Girl
5.0
780
This award-winning memoir of a shattered childhood recalls a haunting time which chills the
soul. At almost every turn, we listen to the heart-pounding struggle of a little girl, and her
struggle between her belief in Chairman Mao and the Communist Party, and her beloved
family. Writing with powerful simplicity and unblinking understatement, Ji-li makes the
Cultural Revolution meaningful to children as well as adults. Red Scarf Girl stands beside The
Diary of Anne Frank and Zlata's Diary, and forever changes the way we see the world and
ourselves.
The Cultural Revolution and Red Scarf Girl http://www.pem.org/visit/asia-pdf/chinalesson3.pdf
A webquest
http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/wes/webquests_themes/china_webquests_sofie/red_scarf_
webquest/red_scarf.html
Literature guide http://www.multcolib.org/talk/guides-redscarf.html
Web-based assignments http://plaza.ufl.edu/amorey/myweb4/redscarfgirl.htm
More resources http://poster.4teachers.org/worksheet/view.php?ID=95170
Mrs. Frisby & the Rats of NIMH 5.1
790
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH is a 1971 children's book by Robert C. O'Brien. Also
illustrated by Zena Bernstein, it won the 1972 Newbery Medal. The book has had many
subsequent reprintings over the years, but is sometimes referred to as The Secret of NIMH; this
name change stems from the differing title of the 1982 film adaptation.
The novel relates the plight of a widowed field mouse, Mrs. Frisby, who seeks the aid of a group
of former laboratory rats in rescuing her home from destruction by a farmer's plow, and of the
history of the rats' escape from the laboratory and development of a literate and technological
society.
The work was inspired by the research of Dr. John B. Calhoun on mice and rat population
dynamics at the National Institute of Mental Health[1]
Literature unit http://www.kyrene.org/schools/brisas/sunda/mrs_frisby/home.htm
Bridge to Terabithia
4.6
810
Bridge to Terabithia is a work of children's literature about two lonely children who create a
magical forest kingdom. Written by Katherine Paterson, the book was published in 1977 by
HarperCollins. In 1978, it won the Newbery Medal. Paterson drew inspiration for the novel from
a real event that occurred in August 1974 when a friend of Paterson's son was struck by lightning
and killed.
Bridge to Terabithia is the story of fifth grader Jess Aarons, who becomes friends with his new
neighbor Leslie Burke after he loses a footrace to her at school. Leslie is a smart, talented,
outgoing tomboy, and Jess thinks highly of her. He himself is an artistic boy who, in the
beginning of the novel, is fearful, angry, and depressed. After meeting, and then ultimately
losing Leslie, Jess is transformed. He becomes courageous and lets go of his anger and
frustration.
The novel's content has been the frequent target of censors and appears at number eight on the
American Library Association list of the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books for the decade
1990–2000.[1] The book is studied in English studies classes in Australia, Canada, New Zealand,
United Kingdom, and the United States. PBS made a TV movie in 1985. Disney and Walden
Media made a theatrical film version in 2007.
Official website of the author http://www.terabithia.com/
Sparknotes http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/terabithia/
Literature Learning Ladder http://eduscapes.com/newbery/78a.html
Exploring friendship http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=981
Web resources http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=981
View from Saturday
5.9
870
Mrs. Eva Marie Olinski, after having been injured in an accident ten years ago that left her a
paraplegic, has returned to teaching at Epiphany Middle School in Epiphany, NY. Like every
other teacher at Epiphany, Mrs. Olinski chooses four students from her sixth grade homeroom
class to compete in the school's academic bowl. The process by which she chooses them is slow
and unconventional, but she follows her instincts to pick Noah, Nadia, Ethan, and Julian. As her
team beats the entire sixth grade class and then goes on to defeat the seventh grade, many people
ask her how she chose her team. She is able to give several sensible reasons, but none of these is
the whole truth. The story begins on the championship day of the academic bowl. As each
member of the team, self-named "The Souls," answers a question, the story flashes back to tell
his or her story. Each story reveals both the character of the student who tells it and the student's
connection to the other three teammates. By the end of the novel, Mrs. Olinski makes her own
discoveries about The Souls and about herself.
Teacher cyberguide http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/view/viewtg.html
Book club lesson plans
http://www.planetbookclub.com/kids/archive/saturday12.98/saturdayintro.html
Novelinks http://english.byu.edu/Novelinks/Novel%20Pages/View%20From%20Saturday.htm
Literature learning ladders http://eduscapes.com/newbery/97a.html
Discussion questions http://www.multcolib.org/talk/guides-view.html
Jacob Have I loved
5.7
880
Jacob Have I Loved is a novel by Katherine Paterson that won the 1981 Newbery Medal. The
title refers to the sibling rivalry between Jacob and Esau in the Jewish and Christian Bible, and
comes directly from the Romans 9:13. The verse states, As it is written, "Jacob have I loved, but
Esau have I hated."
Set in the early 1940s on an island called Rass Island in Chesapeake Bay, the novel follows the
story of the Bradshaws, a family who depends on the father, Truitt, and his crabbing/fishing
business, on his boat, the Portia Sue. Truitt's two daughters, Sara Louise and Caroline, are twins,
and Caroline has always been the favorite. She is prettier, smarter, and more talented, receiving
more attention not only from their parents but also from others in the community.
The book traces Louise's attempts to free herself from Caroline's shadow, even as she grows into
adulthood.
The Learning Page http://memory.loc.gov/learn/lessons/99/jacob/intro.html
Discussion questions http://www.multcolib.org/talk/guides-jacob.html
Slideshow of the setting of the novel http://lcweb2.loc.gov/learn/lessons/99/jacob/slides.html
About Chesapeake Bay http://www.chesapeakebay.net/aboutbay.aspx?menuitem=13953
Sibling rivalry http://www.childdevelopmentinfo.com/parenting/sibling_rivalry.shtml
The Lion, Witch, & the Wardrobe
4.5
940
The Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis, is one of the very few sets of books
that should be read three times: in childhood, early adulthood, and late in life. In
brief, four children travel repeatedly to a world in which they are far more than
mere children and everything is far more than it seems. Richly told, populated with
fascinating characters, perfectly realized in detail of world and pacing of plot, and
profoundly allegorical, the story is infused throughout with the timeless issues of
good and evil, faith and hope.
Spark notes http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/lion/
Study guide http://www.gradesaver.com/the-lion-the-witch-and-the-wardrobe/
The Narnia Academy http://www.thenarniaacademy.org/menu.php
Novelinks
http://english.byu.edu/Novelinks/Novel%20Pages/Lion,%20Witch%20and%20Wardrobe.htm
A readers’ guide discussion http://www.childrenstheatre.org/pdfs/2009_lww_sg.pdf
Shabanu: Daughter of the Wind
5.9
970
Shabanu lives in the Cholistan Desert in Pakistan near the border of India. She is the second
daughter of a peaceful, loving family of camel breeders. Shabanu is on the brink of womanhood;
her older sister Phulan is already marriageable, and soon will be married to Hamir, a cousin of
their family's. Shabanu is also betrothed to Hamir's brother, Murad. At eleven years old, Shabanu
is not interested in marriage; she enjoys tending to the animals and especially teaching tricks to
her beloved camels, Mithoo and Xhush Dil. Before Phulan's wedding, however, disaster strikes:
Shabanu and Phulan accidentally stumble upon several strange men in the desert, among them an
old, wicked landowner named Nazir; coveting Phulan's youth and beauty, Nazir murders her
soon-to-be-husband, Hamir, and plans to take Phulan for himself. Phulan has no choice but to
marry Hamir's brother, Murad, instead. When Shabanu learns that she must marry Nazir's
brother, Rahim-sahib, an old man who already has three wives, to save her family and her sister's
new marriage, she must make a choice between running away and obeying the wishes of her
family.
Glencoe study guide http://www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/pdf/shabanu.pdf
Teachers @ Random
http://www.randomhouse.com/teachers/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780679810308&view=tg
Guide to Pakistan http://www.guide2pakistan.com/
Growing up Muslim http://www.sfusd.k12.ca.us/schwww/sch618/Women/GrowingUp.html
A Kid’s Life in Pakistan http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0212302/pakistan.html
Freak the Mighty
5.5
1000
Originally published in 1993, this award-winning young adult novel relates the unforgettable story of two boys — a
slow learner too large for his age, and a tiny, crippled genius — who forge a unique friendship when they pair up to
create one formidable human force.
Interactive Learning site http://www.cowdenherrick.k12.il.us/staff/burruscasey/eLearning/ftm/index.html
More activities http://www.rodmanphilbrick.com/teaching.html
NCTE activities http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=41
A webquest http://www.lalpfd.com/FTMwebquest.htm
Novelinks http://english.byu.edu/Novelinks/Novel%20Pages/Freak%20the%20Mighty.htm
I, Juan de Pareja
6.5
1100
This work of historical fiction is based on the life of an actual person who modeled for a work of art.
Juan de Pareja is a young black slave in 17th century Spain who survives the plague and the capricious
treatment of his original owners. He is then inherited by a nephew of those owners—master painter
Diego Velázquez. Juan becomes Velázquez's personal servant in his studio. Though devoted to the
Velázquez family, Juan secretly begins to paint, an activity forbidden to slaves. After much agonizing, he
reveals his secret and discovers Diego Velázquez's devotion to him to be equal to his own devotion to
Velázquez. Velázquez declares Juan de Pareja a free man and gives him a post as his assistant.
An interactive project http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/juan/juansg2.html
A literature summary guide http://litsum.com/i-juan-de-pareja/
Classzone http://www.classzone.com/novelguides/litcons/ijuan/guide.cfm
Glencoe guide http://www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/pdf/i_juan_de_pareja.pdf
Velazquez http://www.mcs.csuhayward.edu/~malek/Velazquez.html
Grade 8
The Outsiders
4.7
750
According to Ponyboy, there are two kinds of people in the world: greasers and socs. A soc (short
for "social") has money, can get away with just about anything, and has an attitude longer than a
limousine. A greaser, on the other hand, always lives on the outside and needs to watch his back.
Ponyboy is a greaser, and he's always been proud of it, even willing to rumble against a gang of
socs for the sake of his fellow greasers--until one terrible night when his friend Johnny kills a
soc. The murder gets under Ponyboy's skin, causing his world to crumble and teaching him that
pain feels the same whether a soc or a greaser.
Questions and writing connections http://hrsbstaff.ednet.ns.ca/engramja/outsider.html
The Official book and movie website http://theoutsidersbookandmovie.com/
Novelinks http://english.byu.edu/Novelinks/Novel%20Pages/Outsiders.htm
Sparknotes http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/outsiders/
Elearning http://wiki.elearning.ubc.ca/tela/TheOutsiders
Bearstone
5.0
780
Bearstone is the story of a Ute boy named Cloyd. He is fourteen and is failing at the boarding
school. His case worker sends him to live with Walter, an elderly white man, for the summer.
During that summer, Cloyd nearly dies and learns about the importance of family, trust,
compassion, sacrifice, and love. Cloyd grows up during that summer and becomes a man.
Glencoe’s Literature Library
http://www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/pdf/bearstone.pdf
The author’s official website
http://www.willhobbsauthor.com/bookspages/book%20ideas%20pages/bearstondanc.html
The Southern Ute tribe http://www.southern-ute.nsn.us/
Native American cultural awareness
http://www.uen.org/utahlink/tours/tourViewSite.cgi?tour_id=15501
Webquest teacherweb.com/NY/WJH/MarilynNorton/Bearstonefestival.doc
The Glory Field
5.0
800
In this novel, Myers tells the saga of the Lewis family from the 1700s to the present day. Their
experiences represent milestones in African-American history. The family’s founder, Muhammad Bilal, is
captured, shackled, and transported from Africa to America aboard a slave ship. His noble spirit and love
of freedom inspire his descendants, who triumph over the evils of slavery, injustice, poverty, and
prejudice. Each generation of the Lewis family derives strength of spirit from love of family and from the
Glory Field—a plot of land in South Carolina hallowed by the blood and toil of ancestors.
Classzone http://www.classzone.com/novelguides/litcons/glory/guide.cfm
Slavery in America http://www.slaveryinamerica.org/amliterature/amlit_lp_gloryfield.htm
Glencoe’s study guide http://www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/pdf/glory_field.pdf
Teacher resources on slavery in America
http://www.slaveryinamerica.org/resources/resources_lessonplans.htm
Summer of My German Soldier
5.2
800
Summer of My German Soldier tells the story of a young Jewish girl who befriends and shelters a
German POW escapee. She is able to open her heart to the young Nazi, and in him she finds the
acceptance and appreciation denied to her by her parents. Through their relationship, she finds that she
is truly a person of value. The novel focuses on the enduring qualities of friendship and self-respect in
the face of prejudice, violence, and rejection. Themes addressed include identifying prejudices,
friendship and loyalty, respect for all people, fighting against injustice, and finding self-worth.
A webquest http://www.iss.k12.nc.us/schools/webquests/indexkimkennelly.html
Web English teacher http://www.webenglishteacher.com/greene.html
Another webquest
http://www.sosschool.org/documents/SummerofMyGermanSoldierWebQuest.pdf
Research web links
http://www.howard.k12.md.us/glenwood/GMSlabstart/MehalkoGermanSoldier.html
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
6.2 – 8.1
830
Mark Twain’s enduringly popular tale of frontier life on the Mississippi, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, was filled with
elements of the author’s own young life. It is popular with children but it offers the mature reader more than
picaresque sketches in its satire and literary innovation. By the time of its publication he was already a noted humorist
with a number of books to his name including The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calavera County and other Sketches
(1867) and The Innocents Abroad (1869). However, it was the tale of Tom Sawyerand his adventures with his unruly
companion Huckleberry Finn, published in 1876, that brought him long lasting fame. Tom is an energetic and
audacious boy who lives with his Aunt Polly in the quiet environs of St Petersburg, Missouri. With Huck Finn, Tom
finds himself a part in many escapades involving a murder, the framing of a drunken man called Muff Potter, the
nefarious Injun Joe, and an unintentional three-day sojourn in a cave with his sweetheart Becky Thatcher. These
exploits are continued in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Sparknotes http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/tomsawyer/
Mark Twain’s biography http://www.mtwain.com/l_biography.html
The book and its times http://etext.virginia.edu/railton/tomsawye/tomhompg.html
Essays on the book http://www.gradesaver.com/the-adventures-of-tom-sawyer/
Novelinks
http://english.byu.edu/Novelinks/Novel%20Pages/Adventures%20of%20Tom%20Sawyer.htm
Johnny Tremain
5.9
840
Johnny Tremain enables the reader to envision daily life in the tumultuous days just before the
American Revolution. The book deals with a particularly crucial time in Johnny's life, as he
makes decisions involving his future and his values. Although Johnny's story takes place over
two centuries ago, many of the problems he encounters as he matures remain relevant today. The
hero of Johnny Tremain presents a positive model as he experiences hardship and despair but
eventually grows into a sensitive and responsible young man.
Sparknotes http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/johnnytremain/
Web English teacher http://www.webenglishteacher.com/forbes.html
Study guide http://www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/pdf/johnny_tremain.pdf
A webquest http://www.bayvieweduc.ednet.ns.ca/Smoran/JohnnyTremain/JTWelcome.htm
Revolutionary War at HistoryCentral http://www.historycentral.com/revolt/
Letters from A Slave Girl
5.1
880
LETTERS FROM A SLAVE GIRL is based on Harriet Jacobs' own 1861 autobiography, which reveals in
poignant detail what thousands of African-American women endured in the United States little more
than a century ago. As a young slave girl in NC, she sees escape to freedom in the North as her only
means of avoiding the overtures of her white master. Through Harriet's riveting letters the reader
shares her fears, struggles, and dreams. LETTERS FROM A SLAVE GIRL angers, enlightens, and forever
touches the heart. An ALA Best Book for Young Adults.
Slavery in America
http://www.slaveryinamerica.org/amliterature/amlit_lp_ya_tobeaslave.htm
Families in bondage http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?ID=280
PBS websites http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/educational/yag/yagweb.html
Where the Lilies Bloom
5.2
920
Because her 18-year-old sister Devola is ―cloudy headed,‖ the dying Roy Luther turns over to 14-year-old Mary Call
responsibility for her siblings, Romey, eleven, and Ima Dean, five, as well as Devola. He makes Mary Call promise
to keep the family together, refuse charity, and keep Devola from marrying Kiser Pease, the neighbor for whom Roy
Luther share-crops. Mary Call has no problem making these promises, for she shares her father's devotion to the
traditional values of family and pride, and she hates Kiser Pease, whose greed she blames for all the family's
struggles.
Two bits of fortune buy the Luther children some time during their father's illness. First, Kiser Pease's near-fatal
illness enables the Luther children to con him out of the family's house and property; they agree to save his life in
return for a contract giving them the land and house. Then, Mary Call finds a book on wild-crafting left by her late
mother and uses it to search for medicinal plants in the mountains. She and her siblings sell the plants to a
storeowner in town.
After Roy Luther dies, Mary Call and Romey bury him in the mountains and fend off nosy and well-meaning
neighbors, including Kiser Pease. However, a frigid winter almost destroys their house, and an accident brings
Kiser's sister to Trial Valley. The sister explains that Kiser never owned the Luther house; she does. She evicts the
Luthers, forcing Mary Call to find a cave into which to move her family after Kiser rejects her desperate marriage
proposal.
When the Luthers cannot fall any further, Kiser leaves the hospital, buys the Luther property from his sister, and
returns it to the children. Mary Call begins to question the wisdom of her late father and eventually allows Devola to
marry Kiser, who arranges to obtain custody of the younger children, allowing the family to remain together.
Study guide http://www.ferrum.edu/applit/studyg/lilies.htm
Web English teacher http://www.webenglishteacher.com/cleaver.html
Understanding the setting
http://www.educationoasis.com/curriculum/LP/LA/understanding_comprehension_lilies_blo
om.htm
Webquest http://www.geocities.com/kskochko/lilies.html
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
5.7
920
The Logan children are starting a new school year. As they go to school, they are met by their
friends from other families, including Jeremy Simms, a white boy, who walks part of the way to
school with them. When at the school, segregated from the all white county school, they are
greeted by the announcement that they are to receive new books this year. When Little Man, the
youngest Logan finds that the 'new' books are ten year old castoffs from the white school, he
refuses to take his. His older sister Cassie does the same. Their mother, who teaches grade seven,
solves the dilemma by pasting a piece of paper into each book to cover its history of ownership.
She does the same with all her grade seven books. Later, the whole family is working in their
cotton fields when their father arrives home unexpectedly. He brings with him a Mr. Morrison,
who is a huge man. He injured a white man in a fight and needs somewhere to live. Mr. Logan
brings him to his farm both to offer him work and to provide some protection for the family
against an as yet unnamed danger. On their way to school in the rain on foot, the Logans are
splashed by the county school bus full of whites. The driver delights in this and the white
children enjoy the joke. After other occasions, the Logans get revenge by digging a washout
which breaks the school bus's axle, putting it out of commission for two weeks. The children
hear of night riders who are about to settle a score with the black community. The children hear
of a recent incident in which the night riders set fire to four black men, and think that the night
riders are out to avenge the damage to the school bus.
Sparknotes http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/rollofthunder/
Teacher resource http://www.aloha.net/~uncldon/rothmyc.htm
Discussion guide
http://content.scholastic.com/browse/collateral.jsp?id=1334_type=Book_typeId=101
An exploration of art and literature http://www.ogdenmuseum.org/education/pdf/ROLL-OFTHUNDER-lesson.pdf
Thunderlessons
http://www.holton.k12.ks.us/staff/jireland/Summer1999/thunderlessons.htm
Bud, Not Buddy
5.0
950
Bud, Not Buddy tells the story of a young boy who lives in Michigan during the Great Depression.
After living in an orphanage and escaping from a foster home where he's forced to sleep in a shed,
Bud travels on his own to find a musician, Herman E. Calloway, who he believes is his father. On
his way, he finds a Hooverville, a city made up of the homeless and jobless, where people treat
him well. He also meets a kind limousine driver, who warns him about the dangers of a black
person traveling alone. When Bud finally meets Herman E. Calloway, he is welcomed by Herman's
entire band. Herman, though, isn't so sure how he feels about this boy who claims to be his son.
Herman and Bud are both in for a surprise when they find out that Bud isn't Herman's son, but his
grandson.
Activities and more http://www.carolhurst.com/titles/budnotbuddy.html
Teachers @ Random
http://www.randomhouse.com/teachers/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780385323062&view
=tg
Discussion guide
http://content.scholastic.com/browse/collateral.jsp?id=985_type=Book_typeId=3354
Life in the 1930’s http://faculty.salisbury.edu/~elbond/webbuddy.html
Life during the Great Depression http://www.allabouthistory.org/life-during-the-greatdepression.htm
The Pigman
5.5
950
The novel is divided into chapters, varyingly narrated by either John or lorraine.
The novel begins with an "oath" signed by John Conlan and Lorraine Jensen, two high school
sophomores, which pledges that they will report only the facts about their experiences with Mr.
Angelo Pignati.
While John, Lorraine and some other students are making prank phone calls, Lorraine picks out
Mr. Pignati's phone number and pretends to be calling from a charity called the L & J fund. Mr.
Pignati offers to donate ten dollars, and John and Lorraine travel to his house to collect. From the
first meeting, the two teenagers and the old man become close friends. Mr. Pignati finds new
vitality and happily takes on the role of father figure for the two.
The next day, Mr. Pignati takes John and Lorraine to the zoo to meet Bobo, a baboon he has
taken a liking too. The animal is vicious and ill-tempered, but Mr. Pignati doesn't seem to mind,
speaking lovingly to the baboon and feeding it peanuts.
John and Lorraine's visits to the Pigman become increasingly frequent, and during one such visit
they discover documents that show that Mr. Pignati's wife is actually dead, not just on vacation
as he had previously told them. Soon they are visiting him every day after school, and he
showers them with gifts, food, wine, and most importantly the love and attention they do not
receive in their own joyless homes. They reveal to him that they were never affiliated with any
charity, and he reveals what they already know: that his wife is dead.
One day, while they are testing out the three brand new pairs of roller skates, Mr. Pignati
overexerts himself and suffers a heart attack. While he is recuperating in the hospital, he allows
them to stay in his home, but they soon take advantage of this kindness. Pretending to be adults,
they dress up in the clothes of Mr. Pignati and his late wife, which leads to a quasi-sexual
encounter that leaves them both feeling awkward.
The true betrayal comes, however, when John invites friends over to the house. The situation
quickly turns into a drunken, boisterous party during which Mr. Pignati's house is ransacked and
his late wife's collection of porcelain pigs is smashed.
Mr. Pignati returns to find his house ransacked, and is incredibly hurt when he finds out John and
Lorraine were responsible. They both feel terrible, and offer to take him to the zoo to help make
up for it. At the zoo, they discover that Bobo the baboon has died. This shock is too much for
Mr. Pignati, who suffers another heart attack and dies on the scene. John and Lorraine are left
feeling responsible, and reflect upon the realities of death.
Five study guides for the novel http://www.paulzindel.com/teachers/studyguides.htm
Questions, questions http://www.geocities.com/meister_z/PIGQUES.htm
The Pearl
7.1 1010
The Pearl is a novel by American author John Steinbeck. It takes place in the 1900's. Like his
father and grandfather before him, Kino is a poor pearl diver, gathering pearls from the Gulf beds
that once brought great wealth to Spain. Pearl diving now provided Kino, Juana, and their infant
son Coyotito, with meager subsistence. Unexpectedly, Coyotito gets stung by a scorpion. Kino
can't pay for a doctor to heal Coyotito, so he searches for a pearl. Kino then emerges from the sea
with a pearl as large as a seagull's egg, as "perfect as the moon." With the pearl comes hope, the
promise of comfort and of security at the cost of defying the system. A story about a Mexican
folk tale, The Pearl explores the secrets of man's nature, the darkest depths of evil, and the
disastrous effects of stepping out of the established system. Due to the novel's negative portrayal
of opportunity and ambition, some suspect that, like much of Steinbeck's work, it advocates
socialism. In fact, its criticism of the ruling elites and their dominance in Mexican society along
with their clearly negative attitude toward the poor are much stronger arguments for the
"socialism" that Steinbeck purportedly advocates.
The Pearl has a strong moral that one should be content with one's life and that greed invites
misfortune. The novel presents this view through the character of the Priest, who participates in
continuing the oppression of the indigenous people (Kino's race). In the end, Kino looks at the
pearl and sees it as something evil. The pearl has changed throughout the story from a sign of
hope, to a sign of greed, death, and deceit. He sees the man that he had killed reflected on the
surface of the pearl, as well as a vision of his baby Coyotito with his head shot off. In his rage,
Kino flings the pearl back into the sea, where it settles into the sand and disappears. The book
also conveys messages of oppression and racism in a way that suggests they are negative
elements in life.[1]
Web English teacher http://www.webenglishteacher.com/steinbeck.html
Sparknotes http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/pearl/context.html
A webquest http://www.ijs.k12.nf.ca/projects/pearl/index.html
A series of activities and worksheets
http://www.geocities.com/frankie_meehan/PearlFront.htm
Steinbeck’s biography http://www.steinbeck.org/Bio.html
Across Five Aprils
6.6
1100
Across Five Aprils is a historical novel about a boy who grows up during the Civil War. Jethro's family
farms in Southern Illinois and is divided about which side of the war to support. Two of his brothers fight
for the North and one fights for the South. The remaining family members face trouble from the
community because of the brother who went South. When Jethro's father has a heart attack, Jethro has
to become the man of the family and the main farmer. He is a sensitive boy and hears of the war
through letters, finding out that it is not a pleasant experience. By writing a letter to Abraham Lincoln,
his hero, Jethro helps his cousin who deserted the Northern army. By the end of the novel, an
enlightened Jethro comes to the realization of the horrors of war.
Sparknotes http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/fiveaprils/
Classzone http://www.classzone.com/novelguides/litcons/across/guide.cfm
Web English Teacher http://www.webenglishteacher.com/hunt.html
Newspaper webquest
http://www.mtabe.k12.vt.us/middleschool/aurora/languagearts/a5awebquest.htm
Civil War photographs http://www.archives.gov/research/civil-war/photos/
Animal Farm
7.3
1180
George Orwell’s 1945 novella, Animal Farm, is the story of an animal revolution. The animal
residents of Manor Farm, spurred on by the dream of the pig, Old Major, decide they will
change their “miserable, laborious, and short” lives. They overthrow Mr. Jones, their
master, and take over the management of the farm. Rather than living under the heel of
their human master, the animals of Manor Farm decide that they will take control of the
products of their labor, working for the good of the farm and other animals, rather than for
the good of humans.
Sparknotes http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/animalfarm/
Teachers’ guide http://us.penguingroup.com/static/pdf/teachersguides/animalfarm.pdf
CyberEnglish unit http://mshogue.com/ce9/Animal_Farm/main.htm
Edsitement http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=613
A cyberguide on social issues http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/anfrm/anfrmtg.html