Rapunzel’s Revenge
Written by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale
Illustrated by Nathan Hale
New York, N.Y.: Bloomsbury
ISBN: 978-1-59990-288-3
This tale is about a maiden temporarily in distress, by being imprisoned in a tall low tree in an enchanted forest created by the woman, Gothel, she thought was her mother. She learns of her true identity and attempts to free her real mother from the mines. She teams up with a boy named Jack from Jack and the Beanstalk and through several escapades Rapunzel saves both of them by using her braids as weapons. From one encounter to another, she gets closer to her goal, she must battle several adversaries and Gothel in order to free her mother and all the other people in the village. Rapunzel’s vengeance is felt by the old lady Gothel as she triumphs in imprisoning her. Rapunzel saves the village, her mom and falls in love with Jack and his gold laying goose.
Analysis
The story of Rapunzel attempt to deal with the power of intuition, as she has the reoccurring dreams about her life with a family, Gothel, her make believe mother, keeps telling her, “Ignore the dreams, my Dear and they’ll go away”. She tries but yet can not stop herself of dreaming. The motifs of this novel, magic, good versus evil, heroism, archetypes characters, and fantastic objects like Rapunzel’s hair make this a high fantasy novel. The illustrations are dark but colorful when need be and easy to understand, they compliment the story. The language is such that you can understand what is going on and the use of dialogue welcomes the reader to be part of the story. It is a delightful story with the western twist as the story setting is desert, Rapunzel and Jack dress in jeans sharing a horse ride to their destination and the use of her hair as a lasso at to the skill of a cowgirl. As Jack and Rapunzel team up to fight for a good cause, their friendship grows to a happy ever after ending to the story, with Goldy, the gold laying goose next to them.
Reviews
The dialogue is witty, the story is an enticing departure from the original, and the illustrations are magically fun and expressive. Knowing that there are more graphic novels to come from this writing team brings readers their own happily-ever-after.
School Library Journal
This graphic novel retelling of the fairy-tale classic, set in a swashbuckling Wild West, puts action first and features some serious girl power in its spunky and strong heroine. Hale’s art matches the story well, yielding expressive characters and lending a wonderful sense of place to the fantasy landscape. Rich with humor and excitement, this is an alternate version of a classic that will become a fast favorite of young readers.
Booklist
"The Hale team creates an engaging heroine....This novel presents entertaining girl power at its quirkiest."
VOYA
"A dash of typical fairy-tale romance, a strong sense of social justice and a spunky heroine make this a standout choice for younger teens."
Kirkus
Connection
A wide selection of books that depict retellings of folk tales and fairy tales, as well as sample of books that tell folk tales and fairy tales in the traditional format
A list of books in this genre (retold folk narratives), including titles that may not be available in the classroom book display
Have student brainstorm to rewrite their own fairtale.
Discuss possibilities of where story can take place, what kind of characters could be put in the story and as you share ideas the emerging of plot and setting become evident.
Make list of various themes and different locations for stories to take place.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Genre 6 - Fantasy - Graveyard
Graveyard
Written and narrated by Neil Gaimen
Prince Frederick, MD : Recorded Books, 2008.
ISBN: 9781436158848
This novel is about a toddler left homeless by the murderers, one in particular by the name of Jack, whom stabs his parents to death. As the murderers are in his parent’s room the toddler get out of his crib and crawls down the stair out the front door that was left ajar and out to the graveyard, where the Mr. and Mrs. Owens, the graveyard carekeeper, find the boy. Not knowing where he came from, or who his parents were they give him the name of Nobody, Bod for short. It is here in the graveyard that Bod grows up and is taught by ghostly intellectuals of their times. His main guardian is the nocturnal Silas, who solicits the help of other ghost to help teach Bod lifes’ lessons when he is not around. He is given several special powers as he is given card blanc of the graveyard. As he growth into his teen years, curiosity begins to stir his mind and wonders what lies beyond the gates of the graveyard. Though warned by Silas and other ghostly guardians he escapades begin. With the Jack still at large and looking for the lad, escapades begin and Bod learns valuable lessons that were taught to him by his ghostly friends.
Analysis
As you listen to the audio book, Gaiman uses different voices to differentiate between the characters in the book through subtle tones and inflections.. As he reads he is able to draw you into the story, like a good storyteller, like an Alfred Hitchcock introduction to his T.V. show. Gaiman has a good voice, paces himself well, and has very good diction. He knows just where to put the emphasis.
There is clear engagement with the characters as he vividly describes the ghostly guardians and the graveyard. Silas bringing in books for Bod to read, like The Cat in the Hat, paper and crayons, so as to teach Bod the letters of the alphabet. “Silas gives Bod the quest to find each of the twenty six letters in the graveyard-..”.
Later the life’s lessons of good and evil, Bod’s opportunity to fall in love and to fight for the righteous.
Listening to the audiobook helps with the listening to the brilliant version of "The Danse Macabre" performed by Bela Fleck on the banjo as the story tells of the dance of the Macabray, (dance of the dead).
With the background music, you have the sense of feeling the story. Reading audiobooks can be a good way to spend the time on your commute.
Reviews
Unlike many readers, who give a dramatic performance rather than a reading, Gaiman's voice never changes overmuch, yet he conveys the range of characters and their emotions -- the obstinate but ritualistic call-and-response of a children's quarrel, the wry tones of a teenaged ghost-witch, the cold menace of a monster wearing a human face -- through subtle tones and inflections. It's like the audio equivalent of one of those old black-and-white horror movies, where the subtle play of light and shadow conveys as much of the atmosphere as the story itself. Whether you are getting this audiobook for a young person you know or for yourself, Gaiman's silver-and-shadow reading style is equally suited to both older and younger readers. The fact that the first chapter of The Graveyard Book plays out like an understated slasher film is only made creepier by Gaiman's dry and understated delivery, as if he were channeling Alfred Hitchcock telling a bedtime story. The second chapter of the story, in contrast, provides a break in the tension by providing an almost Dickensien story in which the ghostly inhabitants decide to adopt the foundling and name him Nobody, while Chapter Three, titled "The Hounds of God," is possibly even creepier than the first chapter.
http://greenmanreview.com/book/book_gaiman_graveyardbook_audio.html
Gaiman is a great reader. It's not just his cool accent, it's the way he gives his characters distinct voices ("he do the book in different voices") and knows just where to put the emphasis and the darkness...it's all good. I've also recommended, wherever possible, catching him doing a live reading--because those are fantastic.
Needcoffe.com
The story is about Nobody Owens, a young boy who starts the novel as a toddler that ends up in a graveyard late at night, all by himself. I’ll let Gaiman tell you how that happens, because the journey is all the fun here. Nobody Owens grows up, and Gaiman’s ghosts do all the parenting.
Gaiman also narrates, and like I’ve said elsewhere, he’s one of the few authors I’ve heard that could make a comfortable living as an audiobook narrator. I can’t imagine this audiobook being read by someone else, and I’m very happy that it isn’t.
www.sffaudio.com
Beloved master storyteller Neil Gaiman returns with a luminous new novel for the audience that embraced his New York Times bestselling modern classic Coraline. Magical, terrifying, and filled with breathtaking adventures, The Graveyard Book is sure to enthrall readers of all ages.
Publisher
The Graveyard Book, by turns exciting and witty, sinister and tender, shows Gaiman at the top of his form…The story's language and humor are sophisticated, but Gaiman respects his readers and trusts them to understand…In this novel of wonder, Neil Gaiman follows in the footsteps of long-ago storytellers, weaving a tale of unforgettable enchantment.
The New York Times - Monica Edinger
Wistful, witty, wise-and creepy. Gaiman's riff on Kipling's Mowgli stories never falters, from the truly spine-tingling opening, in which a toddler accidentally escapes his family's murderer, to the melancholy, life-affirming ending. Bod (short for Nobody) finds solace and safety with the inhabitants of the local graveyard, who grant him some of the privileges and powers of the dead-he can Fade and Dreamwalk, for instance, but still needs to eat and breathe. Episodic chapters tell miniature gems of stories (one has been nominated for a Locus Award) tracing Bod's growth from a spoiled boy who runs away with the ghouls to a young man for whom the metaphor of setting out into the world becomes achingly real. Childhood fears take solid shape in the nursery-rhyme-inspired villains, while heroism is its own, often bitter, reward. Closer in tone to American Gods than to Coraline, but permeated with Bod's innocence, this needs to be read by anyone who is or has ever been a child.
Kirkus
Connection
Have student do the following activities.
- Gravestone Rubbing
- Epitaph Poems – define epitaph – have a discussion.
- Book Trailer- The short previews of coming attractions (known as trailers in the
movie industry) are a great way to entice an audience. Design a trailer
for The Graveyard Book and be as creative as possible. Think about
incorporating a script, costumes, props, sound effects, software
applications (such as PowerPoint), and a video camera.
Monster Trivia - Research some of the monsters featured in the book, such as
werewolves, witches, vampires, ghosts, and ghouls, and write trivia
questions about them. Some questions should be based on this particular
book, while others may draw from popular culture in general.
Supernatural Powers. Bod has several supernatural powers: the Slide, the Fade, and
the Dreamwalk. Invent a fourth supernatural power for Bod, draw a picture
of him, and label his four special abilities with captions.
Written and narrated by Neil Gaimen
Prince Frederick, MD : Recorded Books, 2008.
ISBN: 9781436158848
This novel is about a toddler left homeless by the murderers, one in particular by the name of Jack, whom stabs his parents to death. As the murderers are in his parent’s room the toddler get out of his crib and crawls down the stair out the front door that was left ajar and out to the graveyard, where the Mr. and Mrs. Owens, the graveyard carekeeper, find the boy. Not knowing where he came from, or who his parents were they give him the name of Nobody, Bod for short. It is here in the graveyard that Bod grows up and is taught by ghostly intellectuals of their times. His main guardian is the nocturnal Silas, who solicits the help of other ghost to help teach Bod lifes’ lessons when he is not around. He is given several special powers as he is given card blanc of the graveyard. As he growth into his teen years, curiosity begins to stir his mind and wonders what lies beyond the gates of the graveyard. Though warned by Silas and other ghostly guardians he escapades begin. With the Jack still at large and looking for the lad, escapades begin and Bod learns valuable lessons that were taught to him by his ghostly friends.
Analysis
As you listen to the audio book, Gaiman uses different voices to differentiate between the characters in the book through subtle tones and inflections.. As he reads he is able to draw you into the story, like a good storyteller, like an Alfred Hitchcock introduction to his T.V. show. Gaiman has a good voice, paces himself well, and has very good diction. He knows just where to put the emphasis.
There is clear engagement with the characters as he vividly describes the ghostly guardians and the graveyard. Silas bringing in books for Bod to read, like The Cat in the Hat, paper and crayons, so as to teach Bod the letters of the alphabet. “Silas gives Bod the quest to find each of the twenty six letters in the graveyard-..”.
Later the life’s lessons of good and evil, Bod’s opportunity to fall in love and to fight for the righteous.
Listening to the audiobook helps with the listening to the brilliant version of "The Danse Macabre" performed by Bela Fleck on the banjo as the story tells of the dance of the Macabray, (dance of the dead).
With the background music, you have the sense of feeling the story. Reading audiobooks can be a good way to spend the time on your commute.
Reviews
Unlike many readers, who give a dramatic performance rather than a reading, Gaiman's voice never changes overmuch, yet he conveys the range of characters and their emotions -- the obstinate but ritualistic call-and-response of a children's quarrel, the wry tones of a teenaged ghost-witch, the cold menace of a monster wearing a human face -- through subtle tones and inflections. It's like the audio equivalent of one of those old black-and-white horror movies, where the subtle play of light and shadow conveys as much of the atmosphere as the story itself. Whether you are getting this audiobook for a young person you know or for yourself, Gaiman's silver-and-shadow reading style is equally suited to both older and younger readers. The fact that the first chapter of The Graveyard Book plays out like an understated slasher film is only made creepier by Gaiman's dry and understated delivery, as if he were channeling Alfred Hitchcock telling a bedtime story. The second chapter of the story, in contrast, provides a break in the tension by providing an almost Dickensien story in which the ghostly inhabitants decide to adopt the foundling and name him Nobody, while Chapter Three, titled "The Hounds of God," is possibly even creepier than the first chapter.
http://greenmanreview.com/book/book_gaiman_graveyardbook_audio.html
Gaiman is a great reader. It's not just his cool accent, it's the way he gives his characters distinct voices ("he do the book in different voices") and knows just where to put the emphasis and the darkness...it's all good. I've also recommended, wherever possible, catching him doing a live reading--because those are fantastic.
Needcoffe.com
The story is about Nobody Owens, a young boy who starts the novel as a toddler that ends up in a graveyard late at night, all by himself. I’ll let Gaiman tell you how that happens, because the journey is all the fun here. Nobody Owens grows up, and Gaiman’s ghosts do all the parenting.
Gaiman also narrates, and like I’ve said elsewhere, he’s one of the few authors I’ve heard that could make a comfortable living as an audiobook narrator. I can’t imagine this audiobook being read by someone else, and I’m very happy that it isn’t.
www.sffaudio.com
Beloved master storyteller Neil Gaiman returns with a luminous new novel for the audience that embraced his New York Times bestselling modern classic Coraline. Magical, terrifying, and filled with breathtaking adventures, The Graveyard Book is sure to enthrall readers of all ages.
Publisher
The Graveyard Book, by turns exciting and witty, sinister and tender, shows Gaiman at the top of his form…The story's language and humor are sophisticated, but Gaiman respects his readers and trusts them to understand…In this novel of wonder, Neil Gaiman follows in the footsteps of long-ago storytellers, weaving a tale of unforgettable enchantment.
The New York Times - Monica Edinger
Wistful, witty, wise-and creepy. Gaiman's riff on Kipling's Mowgli stories never falters, from the truly spine-tingling opening, in which a toddler accidentally escapes his family's murderer, to the melancholy, life-affirming ending. Bod (short for Nobody) finds solace and safety with the inhabitants of the local graveyard, who grant him some of the privileges and powers of the dead-he can Fade and Dreamwalk, for instance, but still needs to eat and breathe. Episodic chapters tell miniature gems of stories (one has been nominated for a Locus Award) tracing Bod's growth from a spoiled boy who runs away with the ghouls to a young man for whom the metaphor of setting out into the world becomes achingly real. Childhood fears take solid shape in the nursery-rhyme-inspired villains, while heroism is its own, often bitter, reward. Closer in tone to American Gods than to Coraline, but permeated with Bod's innocence, this needs to be read by anyone who is or has ever been a child.
Kirkus
Connection
Have student do the following activities.
- Gravestone Rubbing
- Epitaph Poems – define epitaph – have a discussion.
- Book Trailer- The short previews of coming attractions (known as trailers in the
movie industry) are a great way to entice an audience. Design a trailer
for The Graveyard Book and be as creative as possible. Think about
incorporating a script, costumes, props, sound effects, software
applications (such as PowerPoint), and a video camera.
Monster Trivia - Research some of the monsters featured in the book, such as
werewolves, witches, vampires, ghosts, and ghouls, and write trivia
questions about them. Some questions should be based on this particular
book, while others may draw from popular culture in general.
Supernatural Powers. Bod has several supernatural powers: the Slide, the Fade, and
the Dreamwalk. Invent a fourth supernatural power for Bod, draw a picture
of him, and label his four special abilities with captions.
Genre 6 Fiction - How I Live Now
How I live Now
Written by Meg Rosoff
New York, N.Y.: Wendy Lamb Books
ISBN: 9780553376050
This novel is about a 15 year old girl that has issues with her stepmother and her father ships her off to visit her aunt, whom she has never met, in England. It is here that Elizabeth, which is her given name, begins to be known as Daisy, by her cousins and those whom she meets in England. After living there for so many months, war breaks out and they are left to deal with the horrors of war. Daisy if finally, rescued by her father, and is taken back to New York, where all she thinks about is returning to Edmond and the rest of the family. It is in England that Daisy learns love, survival, have lasting friendships and learns to accept herself. Events are recounted candidly and keeps you wondering what will happen next.
Analysis
The book opens with Daisy at the airport waiting to be picked up and be taken to her aunt’s rural English home. Living her whole life in New York, Daisy’s only measure of life is living in a big city. Edmond, her fourteen year old cousin picks her up at the airport, while smoking a cigarette, surprised that this behavior, she says “ I don’t say anything in case it’s a well-known fact that the smoking age in England is something like twelve and by making a big thing about it I’ll end up looking like an idiot when I’ve barely been here five minutes.” Her view of the world changes dramatically as the events of her stay at her British relatives begins to unfold. Her aunt lives in a farm with her family, three boys, Edmond, Isaac, Osbert and her daughter, Piper, who is 9 years old.
“The style of writing is called “skaz”, in which David Lodge in the Art of Fiction tells us is: a Russian word (suggesting “jazz and “scat”, as in “scat-singing”) used to designate a type of first person narration that has the characteristics of the spoken rather than the written word. In this kind of novel or story, the narrator is a character who refers to himself (herself) as “I” and addresses the reader as “you”. He or she uses vocabulary and syntax characteristic of colloquial speech, and appears to be relating the story spontaneously rather than delivering a carefully constructed and polished written account.” This style of writing is very young adult friendly and can be read as if reading a diary. Since the story is told by Daisy, her adventures in a country that is a stark contrast to her New York apartment living provides a place of refuge. Once there, Daisy settles in with her British relatives at the country farm and learns to enjoy life without any adults present. The happy and peaceful days are expressed by Daisy’s passionate and secret relationship with Edmond. Her aunt leaves them alone to attend a peace conference, war breaks loose and while she is gone, the invasion of England by an unknown enemy becomes real. The structure of the story is two fold, first part tells about, the farm, the war and about each family member, which will all be life changing moments, while the second part tells about the many years of war, after the war, and when Daisy returns to England.
Living at the farms becomes like a utopia way of living, with all different kinds of animals running around, no regulations or rules and life without adult intervention, living in their own little world away from city life only, an illusion that their home is the only safe place, and they continue to enjoy their summer. The utopia feeling is when Daisy awakes one morning to “everything was perfectly still and beautiful and I stared and stared expecting to see a deer or maybe a unicorn trotting home…” It is not until war comes to them via the army taking over their farmhouse, than they realize the severity of the situation, and as they are separated from each other, the fear of not seeing each other again. Daisy questions: How is anyone ever prepared for war” “ I didn’t really understand The Occupation because it didn’t seem like the kind of war we all knew and loved from your average made-for-TV miniseries.” The plot and setting intertwined as author describes the events of the war with vivid description of what was going on. The effects the war had on people like Mrs. McEvoy the military wife, who lost her husband and son, as she tell Daisy and Piper: “If you haven’t been in a war and are wondering how long it takes to get used to losing everything you think you need or love, I can tell you the answer is no time at all.” The effects the war had on Daisy and Piper as they struggled to find Edmond, Isaac and Osbert, as Daisy becomes Piper’s caretaker trying to find their way to get back home to the farm. Once finding the farm, the devastation of seeing all different kinds of flesh eating animals devouring the aftermath of the war changed Daisy to care for someone else other than oneself, finding herself and her role in the life with Edmond.
Reviews
This is a very relatable contemporary story, told in honest, raw first-person and filled with humor, love, pathos, and carnage. War, as it will, changes these young people irrevocably, not necessarily for the worse. They and readers know that no one will ever be the same.
Kirkus Reviews
Central to the potency of Rosoff's debut....is the ominous prognostication of what a third world war might look like, and the opportunity it provides for teens to imagine themselves, like Daisy, exhibiting courage and resilience in roles traditionally occupied by earlier generations.
Booklist
This riveting first novel paints a frighteningly realistic picture of a world war breaking out in the 21st century. . . Readers will emerge from the rubble much shaken, a little wiser, and with perhaps a greater sense of humanity.
Publishers Weekly
This first novel is intelligent, funny, serious, and sweet; a winning combination of acerbic commentary, innocence, and sober vision... Hilarious, lyrical, and compassionate, this is, literarily and emotionally, deeply satisfying.
The Horn Book
Rosoff’s narrative poise makes this a book for all ages.....A daring, wise, and sensitive look at the complexities of being young in a world teetering on chaos, Rosoff’s poignant exploration of perseverance in the face of the unknown is a timely lesson for us all.
People Magazine
Connection
Have students have book discussion about the following topics.
· Cultural difference
· Taboos about relationships
· Wars in England
Have students draw, make a model of design on computer or animate the utopic farm.
Fill the gap about what happened to Edmond.
Learn about English life during World War II.
Written by Meg Rosoff
New York, N.Y.: Wendy Lamb Books
ISBN: 9780553376050
This novel is about a 15 year old girl that has issues with her stepmother and her father ships her off to visit her aunt, whom she has never met, in England. It is here that Elizabeth, which is her given name, begins to be known as Daisy, by her cousins and those whom she meets in England. After living there for so many months, war breaks out and they are left to deal with the horrors of war. Daisy if finally, rescued by her father, and is taken back to New York, where all she thinks about is returning to Edmond and the rest of the family. It is in England that Daisy learns love, survival, have lasting friendships and learns to accept herself. Events are recounted candidly and keeps you wondering what will happen next.
Analysis
The book opens with Daisy at the airport waiting to be picked up and be taken to her aunt’s rural English home. Living her whole life in New York, Daisy’s only measure of life is living in a big city. Edmond, her fourteen year old cousin picks her up at the airport, while smoking a cigarette, surprised that this behavior, she says “ I don’t say anything in case it’s a well-known fact that the smoking age in England is something like twelve and by making a big thing about it I’ll end up looking like an idiot when I’ve barely been here five minutes.” Her view of the world changes dramatically as the events of her stay at her British relatives begins to unfold. Her aunt lives in a farm with her family, three boys, Edmond, Isaac, Osbert and her daughter, Piper, who is 9 years old.
“The style of writing is called “skaz”, in which David Lodge in the Art of Fiction tells us is: a Russian word (suggesting “jazz and “scat”, as in “scat-singing”) used to designate a type of first person narration that has the characteristics of the spoken rather than the written word. In this kind of novel or story, the narrator is a character who refers to himself (herself) as “I” and addresses the reader as “you”. He or she uses vocabulary and syntax characteristic of colloquial speech, and appears to be relating the story spontaneously rather than delivering a carefully constructed and polished written account.” This style of writing is very young adult friendly and can be read as if reading a diary. Since the story is told by Daisy, her adventures in a country that is a stark contrast to her New York apartment living provides a place of refuge. Once there, Daisy settles in with her British relatives at the country farm and learns to enjoy life without any adults present. The happy and peaceful days are expressed by Daisy’s passionate and secret relationship with Edmond. Her aunt leaves them alone to attend a peace conference, war breaks loose and while she is gone, the invasion of England by an unknown enemy becomes real. The structure of the story is two fold, first part tells about, the farm, the war and about each family member, which will all be life changing moments, while the second part tells about the many years of war, after the war, and when Daisy returns to England.
Living at the farms becomes like a utopia way of living, with all different kinds of animals running around, no regulations or rules and life without adult intervention, living in their own little world away from city life only, an illusion that their home is the only safe place, and they continue to enjoy their summer. The utopia feeling is when Daisy awakes one morning to “everything was perfectly still and beautiful and I stared and stared expecting to see a deer or maybe a unicorn trotting home…” It is not until war comes to them via the army taking over their farmhouse, than they realize the severity of the situation, and as they are separated from each other, the fear of not seeing each other again. Daisy questions: How is anyone ever prepared for war” “ I didn’t really understand The Occupation because it didn’t seem like the kind of war we all knew and loved from your average made-for-TV miniseries.” The plot and setting intertwined as author describes the events of the war with vivid description of what was going on. The effects the war had on people like Mrs. McEvoy the military wife, who lost her husband and son, as she tell Daisy and Piper: “If you haven’t been in a war and are wondering how long it takes to get used to losing everything you think you need or love, I can tell you the answer is no time at all.” The effects the war had on Daisy and Piper as they struggled to find Edmond, Isaac and Osbert, as Daisy becomes Piper’s caretaker trying to find their way to get back home to the farm. Once finding the farm, the devastation of seeing all different kinds of flesh eating animals devouring the aftermath of the war changed Daisy to care for someone else other than oneself, finding herself and her role in the life with Edmond.
Reviews
This is a very relatable contemporary story, told in honest, raw first-person and filled with humor, love, pathos, and carnage. War, as it will, changes these young people irrevocably, not necessarily for the worse. They and readers know that no one will ever be the same.
Kirkus Reviews
Central to the potency of Rosoff's debut....is the ominous prognostication of what a third world war might look like, and the opportunity it provides for teens to imagine themselves, like Daisy, exhibiting courage and resilience in roles traditionally occupied by earlier generations.
Booklist
This riveting first novel paints a frighteningly realistic picture of a world war breaking out in the 21st century. . . Readers will emerge from the rubble much shaken, a little wiser, and with perhaps a greater sense of humanity.
Publishers Weekly
This first novel is intelligent, funny, serious, and sweet; a winning combination of acerbic commentary, innocence, and sober vision... Hilarious, lyrical, and compassionate, this is, literarily and emotionally, deeply satisfying.
The Horn Book
Rosoff’s narrative poise makes this a book for all ages.....A daring, wise, and sensitive look at the complexities of being young in a world teetering on chaos, Rosoff’s poignant exploration of perseverance in the face of the unknown is a timely lesson for us all.
People Magazine
Connection
Have students have book discussion about the following topics.
· Cultural difference
· Taboos about relationships
· Wars in England
Have students draw, make a model of design on computer or animate the utopic farm.
Fill the gap about what happened to Edmond.
Learn about English life during World War II.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)