Witnessby Karen Hesse
2002 Christopher Award
2002 Gustavus Myers Outstanding Book Award
2002 Book Sense Book of the Year
Summary
Karen Hesse tells the true story of a small Vermont town in 1924 that is infiltrated by the Klu Klux Klan through the eyes of eleven fictional inhabitants. Each character speaks in verse with his or her own unique voice as the reader follows the chain of events that nearly leads the town to disaster. Two families- one black, one Jewish- are especially in danger as fear, hatred, and violence begin to take over the community.
My Impressions
The characters in the story captivate the reader as their innermost thoughts are revealed and we see the action unfolding through many different points of view. The personalities of the characters are fascinating as we witness their fears, justifications, and reactions as the presence of the KKK slyly makes its way into their small community. Hesse brilliantly portrays the loss of innocence experienced by the two young girls (one black, one Jewish) through their thoughts and language.
Reviews
The author of Out of the Dust again turns language into music in her second quietly moving novel written entirely in verse. Here, 11 narrative voices chronicle actual events occurring in a sleepy Vermont town after the arrival of the Ku Klux Klan in 1924. ....The author distinguishes the characters (whose pictures appear in the front of the book) not only by their varying opinions but also by their tone of speech. The simpler, candid language of the two youngest cast members, Leanora and Esther, effectively crystallizes their gradual loss of innocence. Easily read in one sitting, this lyrical novel powerfully records waves of change and offers insightful glimpses into the hearts of victims, their friends and their enemies. Publishers Weekly
Part mystery, part social commentary, Hesse's historically accurate chronicle is a riveting catalyst for discussion that thoughtfully explores race and identity from every possible point of view. The free verse format and distinct characterizations also make Witness a perfect choice for library or classroom reader's theater productions. Jennifer Hubert for Amazon.com Reviews
Activities
This free-verse novel would be ideal for a readers theater.
Read the following interview with Karen Hesse (find section about Witness), and discuss her writing process:
http://www.teachingk-8.com/archives/author_interview/karen_hesse_the_rest_is_history_by_katherine_pierpont_associate_editor.html
Give the students pictures of various people and have them imagine what kind of character, voice, family life, etc. the person in the picture would have. Have the students write a poem in that character's voice
Bibliography
Hesse, Karen. Witness. New York: Scholastic Press, 2001. ISBN: 0439271991
Twelve Impossible Things Before Breakfast: Storiesby Jane Yolen
1998 Nebula Award (for "Lost Girls")
Summary
Yolen offers a varied and eclectic collection of twelve short fantasy stories. The stories range from those based on established tales (Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, The Three Billy Goats Gruff) to original stories. Yolen includes humor, suspense, horror, and whimsy in her stories that run the gamut from an Appalachian vampire chiller to a neighborhood alien attack adventure.
My Impressions
I didn't have to blog about more than one book for this module, but I loved this collection so much, I simply had to include it. I've always been a big fan of the short story format- Ray Bradbury's short stories are some of my favorite reads- and this collection offers some great little gems. I've always admired Yolen's storytelling ability, but I think she really shines in this medium.
Reviews
This solid collection of short stories is a good introduction to various types of fantasy. Three of the 12 pieces are new and the rest have been published in other compilations. There is something here for everyone; tales that are scary, gross, or fanciful... There's a story of a frightening sea monster, one about a fairy, and another about aliens; all will chill and delight the imagination. Virginia Golodetz for School Library Journal.
Yolen consistently writes fresh, off-the-wall stories that even children who don’t normally read fantasy will enjoy. … Yolen’s introduction and her final comments on the origins of each story add to the fun and provide wonderful insights into the writing process. Booklist
Activities
A multitude of classroom and library activites could be mined from this collection of highly imaginative short stories. The variety and short duration of the stories allow for a read-aloud and an activity within an hour. The author also includes commentary about the writing process and in-depth information about her sources for each story. I've included just a few activities that could correspond with the first story in the collection:
Read Lewis Carroll's "Jabberwocky" out loud to the class, and discuss the poem with the students. Make sure they know what the poem is about and its importance in Carroll's Through the Looking Glass. Then read "Tough Alice" from Twelve Impossible Things Before Breakfast to the class, having them pay attention to Carroll's characters. Focus on Alice's triumph over the Jabberwock, and ask the students why Alice was able to defeat the monster herself.
After reading "Tough Alice," read Yolen's commentary concerning the creation of this story in the section titled, "Running in Place: Some thoughts Long After." Discuss how she (and Carroll) make plays on words or phrases, and encourage the students to do the same. A discussion on nonsense languages like Pig Latin and Double Dutch could also be included.
Lead a discussion on "twisted tales." Discuss other "twisted tales" such as Shrek or The True Story of the Three Little Pigs and encourage the students to write their own.
Bibliography
Yolen, Jane. Twelve Impossible Things Before Breakfast. Orlando: Harcourt Brace & Co., 1997. ISBN: 0152015248
No comments:
Post a Comment