Sarah+E.

= = The Help by Kathryn Stockett, Historical Fiction



Name: Sarah Essay

1. Book Title; The Help

2. Author: Kathryn Stockett

3. Date of Publication: 2009

4. What is the book about? Give brief plot summary in your own words. This historical fiction novel follows the lives of three women from Jackson, Mississippi during the 1960s. It is a rotating first-person perspective novel, and shares the stories of two black women working as maids in white households. It also follows a young white woman, “Miss Skeeter,” who is struggling with her identity as a beautiful southern belle in a city that “trains girls to catch husbands.” In Jackson, everyone is connected in some way, whether through the black community, or through the socialite community, or in some cases with the black women working for the white women, both. As the novel progresses, Miss Skeeter develops relationships with the two black women Aibileen and Minny, and together they begin writing an underground novel exposing the life of a black maid in a white household. The novel deals with issues of civil rights, Southern culture, and shifting identities.

5. How could a teacher use this book in the classroom? What instructional strategies might you choose to incorporate with this particular title? This novel would work excellently with an discussion about civil rights. I would love to use it alongside To Kill a Mockingbird, because it gives voice to African American culture without stereotyping it. Stockett identifies the tone of a black maid from a close perspective; in an afterword, she tells the story of her own black maid as she grew up in Jackson, Mississippi as well.

This book should be included in a classroom library, or, if possible, taught alongside another curriculum. I may try to include excerpts from it as I teach To Kill a Mockingbird, either reading aloud to students, or having them write responses over the text, or including it in our classroom discussion. .

6. Write three higher level thinking questions that you might use in a culminating discussion of this book.

1. Describe the different levels or risks all three women were facing as they published //<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Help //. What benefits outweighed these risks? At what point would the risks have outweighed the benefits?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">2. Besides racism, the novel uncovered other social controversies. How did the abuse of Minny by her husband factor into the novel’s tone? How does his abuse compare to the social abuse Hilly inflicted on Celia or Miss Skeeter?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">3. How might the “roles” in this novel translate into today’s society? Have we completely eliminated the “role” of the African American maid in a white household? Has any other social group filled this role, or has America eliminated it? =

Dust Bowl Through the Lens by Martin W. Sandler =



<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Name: Sarah Essay_ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">1. Book Title; <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">The Dust Bowl Through the Lens <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">2. Author: Martin W. Sandler

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">3. Date of Publication: 2009

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">4. What is the book about? Give brief plot summary in your own words. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This non-fiction novel explores the Dust Bowl and the rise of photojournalism and its effect on this national disaster. Sandler combines facts with stunning photos, exploring the Dust Bowl from start to finish, explaining complicated topics such as the effects of disc plowing, the Great Depression, migrant farming, and soil conservation. The book also explores cultural elements and authors and celebrities of the time, like John Steinbeck and Will Rogers.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">5. How could a teacher use this book in the classroom? What instructional strategies might you choose to incorporate with this particular title? <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Originally I picked up this book because I thought it would help provide me with background information on the Great Depression and Dust Bowl so I could teach <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">The Grapes of Wrath next year to my seniors. I have since purchased the book for my own classroom library – I am going to read sections of it to my seniors before we read The Grapes of Wrath__. This is truly an excellent book, and it fits very well with my teaching style. I love pairing history with images of the time, and this book does exactly that. In fact, it explains how photos like those in the book inspired John Steinbeck and even the government to get involved in the Dust Bowl. I am very excited to use this novel as a discussion tool and novel starter next year.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">6. Write three higher level thinking questions that you might use in a culminating discussion of this book. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">1. Where can you see the effects of the Dust Bowl currently in Nebraska? <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">2. Sandler touches on the fact that despite the atrocities facing these people, they still found humor in life. Why do you think they were able to laugh during a time when their lives were stripped away from them? <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">3. Do you think America could ever again face a catastrophe like the Dust Bowl? What might it look like? How might you cope and survive? Do you think you would have the strength of the migrants? =

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhardt - Author Study Book 1 =



<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Name: Sarah Essay <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">1. Book Title: The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">2. Author: E. Lockhardt

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">3. Date of Publication: 2008

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">4. What is the book about? Give brief plot summary in your own words. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #ff0000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This contemporary realistic fiction novel explores the life of Frankie Landau-Banks as she starts her sophomore year at a preparatory school called Alabaster Prep. Frankie is nervous to begin her sophomore year since she is not known without her sister, who graduated last year, and she is afraid she won’t be noticed by her crush. She quickly becomes preoccupied, however, as she learns about a mysterious club called the Loyal Order of the Basset Hounds, which has been secretly meeting at Alabaster Prep since before her father attended. She begins becoming involved in the club through covert operations, since no girls are allowed to join or even know about the club. Frankie begins designing methods to trick the club members to do her bidding, and soon she starts to discover her true identity and what makes her happy. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">5. How could a teacher use this book in the classroom? What instructional strategies might you choose to incorporate with this particular title? <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #ff0000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I would use this novel to explore word choice and word formation; Frankie deconstructs complex words and separates prefixes from roots where there should be no separation. She turns “disgruntled” into “gruntled,” meaning “happy,” since the prefix “dis,” meaning “not” has been removed. While these words are non-existent, it still helps students get a fun grasp on word formation. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #ff0000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">E. Lockhardt also includes sections of an essay by Frankie in the novel, and I would use this to teach proper essay writing style as well as the incorporation of voice into essay writing.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">6. Write three higher level thinking questions that you might use in a culminating discussion of this book. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #ff0000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">1. How did Frankie deal with gender roles throughout the novel? Do you think she is happy with who she is at the end of the novel? Would you be happy if you were her? <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #ff0000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">2. Frankie had to go against authority to shake up the status quo. She also dealt with consequences for her actions. Do you think Frankie’s punishment was accura

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #ff0000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">te? Is it ever okay to alleviate punishment for going against authority? <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #ff0000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">3. Do you think if Frankie would have just approached the Loyal Order of the Basset Hounds with the book they would have allowed her into the club? Why or why not? What do you think about the secrecy and strict membership of some clubs?

=

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins=

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #ff0000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">

Name: Sarah Essay

1. Book Title: The Hunger Games

2. Author: Suzanne Collins

3. Date of Publication: 2008

4. What is the book about? Give brief plot summary in your own words.

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">This science fiction novel explores the story of Katniss Everdeen, a sixteen year old girl living in Panem, one of twelve “districts” in an alternate version of North America. Every year in the twelve districts, the governing body, called “the Capitol,” forces twenty-four adolescents to fight to the death in what is called “The Hunger Games.” Katniss volunteers for the battle, even though her district is thought to be the weakest and has only had one victor in all the years of the Games. The novel follows Katniss as she prepares and fights in the Hunger Games, exploring themes of growing up, identity, rebellion and aggression.

5. How could a teacher use this book in the classroom? What instructional strategies might you choose to incorporate with this particular title?

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">This book is actually one my students have asked me to teach. I’ve had several students read this book, and now that I've read it, I agree, it is definitely merit worthy. The themes of growing up and comprehending authority’s rules and regulations are certainly interesting. It would definitely be controversial, with adolescents murdering each other under the ruling of adults, but I do think it introduces important elements in an interesting genre I’m sure many students would enjoy.

6. Write three higher level thinking questions that you might use in a culminating discussion of this book. <span style="color: #008000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">1. Katniss often feels as though she is being watched and can’t make decisions without others knowing. How is this similar to the way our culture works? Do you often feel that others will find out your actions? What makes this possible? <span style="color: #008000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">2. How do the Hunger Games keep the citizens from rebelling? Why do you think the Capitol has chosen this method to govern the districts? <span style="color: #008000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">3. What elements of The Hunger Games make the novel science fiction? Do you think we will ever have the technology to create some of the creatures and inventions described in the novel?

The Boy Book by E. Lockhardt



Name: Sarah Essay

1. Book Title: The Boy Book

2. Author: E. Lockhardt

3. Date of Publication: 2006

4. What is the book about? Give brief plot summary in your own words.

<span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">This contemporary realistic fiction book follows Ruby Oliver as she attends her junior year at a preparatory school. Ruby is lonely at the start of the book, because her three best friends are angry with her when she kissed her ex-boyfriend after he started dating one of her good friends. The book is intertwined with entries of “The Boy Book,” which Ruby and her friends wrote to explain all matters dealing with boys when they were friends their freshman and sophomore year. Ruby is an interesting character; she struggles to find happiness with new friends, dealing with isolation and seeing her therapist for the hard times she is experiencing.

5. How could a teacher use this book in the classroom? What instructional strategies might you choose to incorporate with this particular title?

<span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">To be quite honest, I wasn’t a huge fan of this book. It was trite, and the plot was a little boring. Still, while E. Lockhardt definitely fits into the “typical” teen drama style, she does have several redeeming qualities. She always incorporates bits of feminism in her books, through “education” of her main characters at school, or through patterns of thinking her main characters go through. I think this book would be helpful to hand to a teenager struggling with boy and friend problems, because Ruby does overcome her dilemmas through independent thinking. She struggles with self-esteem, and I think the fact that she works through her issues by herself but also with a therapist could validate a student who already does see a therapist or is thinking about seeing one. While this book was not incredibly well-written, I do appreciate E. Lockhardt’s attempt to encourage young women to be independent and self-motivators.

<span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">One other positive part of the novel was that E. Lockhardt uses footnotes at times in the novel. I think this would be a good exposure to students to see how to accurately use footnotes, both inside and outside of an academic atmosphere.

6. Write three higher level thinking questions that you might use in a culminating discussion of this book. <span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">1. Were Ruby’s friends right in isolating her at the start of the novel? How would you react if one of your friends did the same thing? How should Ruby and her friends have worked through their differences? <span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">2. Discuss the excerpts from “The Boy Book” Ruby and her friends wrote. Were there any accurate excerts? Did any miss the mark? <span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">3. Discuss E. Lockhardt’s writing style in this novel. Was it effective to “interrupt” the storyline to provide sections from “The Boy Book?” Did you find this believable? How did it affect your understanding of the plot and Ruby’s character?