Kristina+Hagerup

1. Book Title (1 pt.): “The Hate List”

2. Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

3. Author (1 pt.: [|Jennifer Brown]

4. Date of Publication (1 pt.) September 1st 2009

5. Write a brief summary of the book you read without giving away the ending! (4 pts.)

Valerie and her boyfriend, Nick were having a hard time in high school. They were picked on a lot and, except for each other, felt very alone. It was hard to imagine how things could possibly get worse. Until one day, Nick took matters into his own hands. Using the hate list the two made (a compilation of things and people they hated), Nick came to their high school and opened fire on the student body, his actions guided by this list. While Valerie didn’t want this to happen and did all she could while it did happen (even attempting to save her fellow students), she was immediately implicated as a co-conspirator in this shooting. What followed was more hate directed at her, more seclusion, and an intense feeling of guilt that seemed impossible to relieve. Though the course of the novel, Valerie must overcome her crippling guilt and attempt to rebuild her life and relationships without the strength of the one person she loved and ultimately betrayed her.

6. What did you like about the book? What did you dislike? (4 pts.)

I really enjoyed the rawness of this novel in the sense that I really felt the pain felt emotionally by both Valerie and Nick. It had an effect on my that was comparable to that when I read “Lolita”. While I completely don’t advocate what they protagonist did and I think it was completely wrong and tragic, I still pitied them and I still wanted them to both overcome their hardships. Ultimately, I believe that this novel can be used as a strong learning tool for both sides of bullying. For those that bully students, it can be used as a consequence reminder that their hurtful actions and words often have a very detrimental impact on their victims. Conversely, this novel could also have a strong impact on those who ARE bullied to show what the impact of their reactive actions can have. For example, Valerie, while she was hurt and clearly angry, ultimately she didn’t want Nick to kill those people but it was only too late that she realized the gravity of her and Nick’s choices. There were very few things I disliked about this book. In fact the only thing I disliked was really the thing I liked the most. As a teacher, this book did make me feel very uncomfortable. It was very emotionally draining, to be perfectly honest. It’s hard to gauge what’s going on in the minds of my students and to determine how much hurt is really behind their eyes. It’s scary to think that on any given day one of them could snap and do something like this. What’s scarier about this still is the thought I would have that I should have done something to prevent it.

7. Write three essential (higher level thinking) questions that you might use in a culminating discussion of this book. (6 pts) 1. Who do you feel suffered the most in this book? Why? 2. Approach this situation from the perspective of one of the characters in the book. What could you have done differently to prevent this tragedy from happening? (This should be written in first person). 3. Have any of you been bullied before? How were you bullied and how did you deal with it? On the other hand, have you ever considered yourself a bully? Why did you bully someone?

Fakebook Link

[]

Kristy Hagerup




 * 1) 1. Book Title: The Medusa Plot (39 Clues) – Book 1


 * 1) 2. Genre: (Adventure-Survival or Mystery) (1 pt)


 * 1) 3. Author (1 pt.) [|Gordon Korman]


 * 1) 4. Date of Publication (1 pt) 2011 ©


 * 1) 5. What did you like about the book? What did you dislike? (5 pts.)

What I liked most about this book was the format. It was not set up like a typical book with normal chapters and the like. Rather it was set up more like a crime report. I think this set up was very beneficial in working with the theme. Not only was this format new from what students would be used to, but in addition it makes the reader feel more involved in the story. The only thing I didn’t like about the story was the development of the characters. I felt like this genre had more potential to develop the characters personalities and life a bit more. However, on the other side of this, I could see that the reason why the author may have chosen not to do that was to force the reader to focus more on the plot rather than the characters.


 * 1) 6. Write three essential (higher level thinking) questions that you might use in a culminating discussion of this book. (6 pts)
 * 2) a. Write a letter of distress from one of the victims needing help. What would they write in that letter? What would their personality/voice be like?
 * 3) b. As you’re reading, keep a log of clues and codes that you discover. Keep track of characters, events, things, etc. As you collect this pieces of information, make hypothesis about what you think each thing means.
 * 4) c. When you get to the end of the novel, write an alternative ending. What could they have done instead of what was written? Be sure to include an explanation as to what you wrote.

Comprehension Activity: (15 pts).

Choose five artifacts that you believe represent the main character of your novel (or one of the main characters in your novel) and provide an explanation for choosing each. Avoid making all obvious choices, but instead, get creative and think outside the box!

Artifact #1 – A map of the world I chose this because throughout the novel the characters are receiving calls of help from various victims all over the world and this tool could be used to help them in their struggles.

Artifact #2 – Family genealogy I chose this because their family’s power and stature is very important to the plot and the motives of the characters.

Artifact #3 – Family Crest I chose this because again, the influence of the family is highly important to the plot of the story as well as a symbol of power.

Artifact #4 - Caviar I chose this because this is one of Dan’s newest favorite snacks. It shows how bizarre and fun Dan is.

Artifact #5 – The 39 Clues I chose this because, while this isn’t as creative, this is essential to the plot. It is what gives the family power as well as what the Vespers are trying to get.



1. Book Title (1 pt.) **Bruiser**

2. Genre: **Fantasy**

3. Author (1 pt.) **Neal Shusterman**

4. Date of Publication (1 pt.) **October 1st 2011**

5. Write a brief summary of the book you read without giving away the ending! (3 pts.)


 * Tennyson, 16, is a loner in school. However, he is not normal. He appears to possess the power to heal people both physically and psychologically. Tennyson and his twin sister, Brontë, are very close and always look out for one another. So when she starts dating a boy from their school named Brewster “Bruiser” Rawlins, the boy voted “most likely to get the death penalty,” he is concerned for her safety and worries that something dangerous might come out of their relationship. This concern becomes even more of a worry when he spies Bruiser’s welts and scars all over his back while they were in the locker room. However, despite her brother’s reservations and words of warning, Brontë continues to see Bruiser and continues to draw him closer to both Tennyson and all members of her family. The closer Bruiser gets to the twins, the more they start noticing his unusual gift: not only can he assume the physical pain and wounds of those he cares about, but he can also absorb their anger, hurt, and grief. But throughout the story, the gift starts to become more of a curse. Told from the three characters' alternating perspectives, with Brewster's rendered in poetic form, Shusterman's novel reveals its secrets and their implications slowly, allowing readers to connect the dots before the characters do and encouraging them to weigh the price of Bruiser's “gift” against the freedom from pain that Tennyson and Brontë enjoy. **

6. What did you like about the book? What did you dislike? (3 pts.)


 * There were two things that I really liked about this book. First I really enjoyed the layout. The story was told from four points of view, with the narration alternating between Tennyson, Bronte, Brewster, and Brewster's little brother Cody. At first, I actually really didn’t like the layout because it was a bit choppy, but as I got into the story it actually moved the story along very nicely. It kept my interest by keeping track of the characters. The alternating points of view also helped establish a wonderful pace. It was very hard to put the book down because it was moving so fast.**


 * More than just the style of the novel, I absolutely loved the plot itself. While I don’t generally care for fantasy, this book was less about aliens and magic and more about developing human relationships. The characters were conveyed in a way that you felt their pain and their love for each other. Between the relationship between the twins and the character Bruiser, by the end of the book I felt like knew them as more than just words on a page. It was so strong I actually cried a couple times. Shesterman does an amazing job and character development and emotional conveyance that completely draws the reader in.**


 * Something that I didn’t like was, to be honest, the genre. While I did like the layout and the book did go fast, I generally don’t like to read fantasy. For me, it makes it hard to relate to the characters. However, that said, I do believe this story and genre would fair very well for my students as it would give them a chance to escape to an alternate world.**

7. Write three essential (higher level thinking) questions that you might use in a culminating discussion of this book. (6 pts)


 * 1. Describe the twins’ relationship. Do you think it’s a good relationship or a bad one? What evidence in the book supports your opinion? **


 * 2. Bruiser is a character who is very deep. His emotional depth is depicted through his presentation of poems. Chose a type of poetry (haiku, **
 * sonnet, lymric, etc) and write a poem from the point of view of each character. The poem should match both the persona of the character as **
 * well as the style. **


 * 3. Everyone feels pain, however Bruiser has the ability to take away the pain felt by those he cares about. Do you think this is a gift or a curse? **
 * Why or whynot? Think about how this power effects both Bruiser and those he cares about. **

**Comprehension Activity: News Article**

 1. Book Title (1 pt.) Bruiser <span style="display: block; font-weight: normal; height: 1px; left: -40px; margin-left: 0.25in; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -0.25in; top: -25px; width: 1px;"> 2. Genre: Fantasy <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; margin-left: 0.25in; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -0.25in; top: -25px; width: 1px;"> 3. Author (1 pt.) N e al Shusterman Kristy Hagerup




 * 1) Book Title: **Epitaph Road**


 * 1) Genre: **Science Fiction**


 * 1) Author: **David Patneaude**


 * 1) Date of Publication: **March 2010**


 * 1) Write a brief summary of the book you read without giving away the ending! (3 pts.)


 * The year is 2097 and society has changed. Due to a deadly virus that struck 30 years earlier, 97% of the male population has been wiped out. In lieu of this traumatic and catastrophic event, the women of the world are left to rebuild society and in doing so, have eradicated all the world’s major issues including poverty, crime, and religious prosecution. But there is a price to pay as a result of this new “utopian” society. Kellen, a 14-year-old male, is all too familiar with the hardships he must face on a daily basis as being part of the minority of this new society. His relationships, his employment, even his day-to-day activity is very closely monitored and controlled by the female population in an effort to maintain their authority and keep their male counterparts subservient.**
 * However, one day, all of this changes when Kellen accidently hears news that there is a possible new outbreak that is threatening a male camp, a camp where his father is staying. In addition to this news, he is becoming more suspicious that this “plague” may be more controlled than their society is lead to believe. Despite his suspicions and theories, all he cares about his one thing-saving his father before it’s too late.**


 * 1) What did you like about the book? What did you dislike? (3 pts.)


 * To be honest, I absolutely LOVED this book. Too often do I read utopian novels where women are subservient in a male dominated world (like 1984, Brave New World, and The Handmaid’s Tale). I loved that this novel was written in a way that depicts females as the dominate being. I think in this sense, I would have many female students who would be very willing to read it which, in my experience in the past would be quite a feat as generally my girls shy away from science fiction. In addition, I really like the element of mystery that this book offers. While at its core this is clearly a science fiction, it does offer elements of mystery forcing the reader to try to figure out what could really be going on, who they can trust, and what will end up happening in the end. Finally I really enjoyed that the protagonist was a male character rather than a female. I feel in this way, when my male students read this book, while at first they would be put off by the idea of a female dominated world, they could still have a character they could cheer for and relate to throughout the novel.**


 * In terms of things that I disliked about the book, there weren’t really too many. In fact, the things I disliked were really just challenges I foresaw if I ever tried to teach this book. The biggest issue would be the male students, as previously mentioned, accepting a novel that was written about a utopian female, dominated world. They might be skeptical, accuse me of sexism, and things like that. However, as also mentioned, I think this could easily be overcome when the boys meet the main male character.**


 * 1) Write three essential (higher level thinking) questions that you might use in a culminating discussion of this book. (6 pts)


 * 1) **Discuss how gender roles are changed in this book from how they are perceived in our society today. How do we define gender roles? How are they defined in the novel?**


 * 1) **Think about how China’s society runs today, with a strong preference on males rather than females. Come up with some connections between this modern example of gender population to the control seen in the novel. What benefits are seen in this book that aren’t seen by the Chinese population?**

<span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; margin-left: 0.25in; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -0.25in; top: -25px; width: 1px;"> 4. Date of Publication (1 pt.) October 1st 2011 <span style="display: block; font-weight: normal; height: 1px; left: -40px; margin-left: 0.25in; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -0.25in; top: -25px; width: 1px;"> 5. Write a brief summary of the book you read without giving away the ending! (3 pts.) Kristy Hagerup
 * 1) **What about our society today makes this situation seem like a possibility? Or, what about this situation makes it impossible? Explain your answer.**




 * 1) 1. Book Title (1 pt.) Titanic Book I: Unsinkable


 * 1) 2. Genre: Historical Fiction


 * 1) 3. Author (1 pt.) Gordan Korman


 * 1) 4. Date of Publication (1 pt.) 2011


 * 1) 5. Write a brief summary of the book you read without giving away the ending! (4 pts.)

It was believed to be an unsinkable vessel. A mansion on the sea. However, history shows us that this luxury ship, the R.M.S. Titanic was a tragedy on the ocean. In this first of three novels, Gordon Korman introduces and follows four young people who all live different lives but are all tied together by the common thread in that they are all on board the Titanic. Paddy is a poor pick-pocket who, in the wake of losing his best and only friend, finds himself a stowaway on this ship. Sophia and her mother, two American women’s rights activists, arrive on the ship in hand cuffs after their most recent arrest as a result of their relentless protesting. Juliana and her father board the ship, but while he is rich, she can’t hide her concerns about his mental health and his madness. And finally, Alfie, a young boy whose father is a worker on the ship, must keep a secret that if discovered, could mean his certain demise. Through the course of this first book, these characters, all living different lifestyles, come together in their connection with the fate of the Titanic.

The main thing I liked about this book was the way Korman developed his story and his characters. I really liked how he wove the lives of completely different individuals together and showed how we as human can be brought together in the wake of tragedy.
 * 1) 6. What did you like about the book? What did you dislike? (4 pts).

I think the only thing I disliked about this novel is the lack of development of the characters. I felt like they were very one-dimensional and very stereotypical. I would have liked to have more backstory about the characters to help me get to know them from more of a personal side.


 * 1) 7. Write three essential (higher level thinking) questions that you might use in a culminating discussion of this book. (6 pts)
 * 2) 1. Create another character that could be on this ship. Develop a status level, a reason for them to be on the ship, and how they interact with the other characters in the story.


 * 1) 2. Korman makes a great effort to create a story that brings together all kinds of people of different backgrounds. Why do you think he does this? What statement could he be saying about humanity and are ability/need to make human connections?


 * 1) 3. Before we started the next book and using your knowledge of both history and the novel, make 5 predictions about what you think will happen in the next book.

Comprehension Activity: Choose Your Own Activity – Choose one of the four project ideas below (15 points).

[] - Titanic Timeline

Kristy Hagerup
 * Book Talk – Epitaph Road **


 * // Note //** : The way I had planned to present this as a talk show that would take place in the future. The props I would use would be two arm chairs (one for me, and one for my guests), a backdrop/scenery, guests and I would be wearing a suit.

//*Cue station theme song and title screen for news program*//


 * Announcer ** : Today is August 27, 2097. Good morning world!

// TV host enters //


 * Host (me) ** : Thank you ladies and ladies! What a glorious morning this is! Today, we have a special show for you and some very, very special guests in honor of the anniversary of the great plague that wiped throughout population 30 years ago today. It was August 27, 2067 when one of the greatest tragedies hit our world. A plague, spawned from unknown forces, targeted and killed 97 percent of our male population. Fathers, sons, husbands all killed. Tragic. To get a since of how horrid this event was, our first guest is historian, Dr. Heather Smith, will give us an account about this tragic even. Dr. Smith, what have you brought with you today?


 * Dr. Smith ** : Well, what I have is actually very special. This artifact was recently discovered and is believed to be a first hand account of the events of this day. It’s a journal, and I would like to read it to you, if you don’t mind?


 * Host ** : Of course! Please!

// “Ten more days crept by. In the mountains, little changed. Morning wind spoke in the trees, morning clouds gathered, then dispersed in afternoon sunshine, night came a little earlier each time, stars shone and faded rain fell, morning arrived again. Hearts ached, day after day. //
 * Dr. Smith ** : *Clears throat* P. 4-5 Dated, August 27, 2067.

// “Around the globe, cautious reports surfaced that death had halted. But the male species had come face-to-face with extinction. The estimate of the dead; more than four billion or 97 percent of the male population. //

// “Most of the survivors lived in remote back-country. Others were on the move while some lived in cities but were forgotten enough or resourceful enough or ruthless enough to avoid human contact. //

// “A handful of males had been exposed but had not fallen ill. A small number turned out to be transgender. Others either dodged the disease or were immune. If so, no one knew why. A few survivors had happened to choose this time to backpack in the wilderness. Lucky, the newswomen called them. “ //


 * Host ** : Powerful words, powerful indeed. Thank you very much for coming in. However, while this event was indeed tragic, there was a silver lining. As most of you know, in light of the plague, our society began to flourish. To comment on this, our next guest is social analysis Maria Williams will provide insight as to how this effected our society in a positive way. Ms. Williams, thank you for being here.


 * Ms. Williams ** : Thank you for having me! It’s a pleasure to be here.


 * Host ** : Now Ms. Williams, we know this events was horrible, but what positive aspects have come from it?


 * Ms. Williams ** : Well, there were actually many benefits. At first we were in peril. All our men were dead. Our source of power and authority was gone. We were lost. Like a flock without a shepherd. If we hoped to survive, we needed to take charge. We needed to solve problems. We needed to lead. As a result, women around the world became leaders, better leaders than our world had ever seen before. Leadership and ingenuity of females of the world eradicated hunger, crime, prejudice, and nearly all problems that had plagued our world while under the rule of man. Really, it was a miraculous thing.


 * Host ** : Wonderful! So, as a social analysis, why do you think this happened? What was it about women’s rule and power that caused such a miraculous transformation within society?


 * Ms. Williams ** : It’s quite simple really, freedom. No longer did we have the crippling oppression of man holding us back. Yes, men gave us “rights” and ”equality”, but those were just an illusion. They were still the dominate sex who ruled with power generated by greed, and competition and, frankly, stupidity. And that’s not an opinion, it’s a genetic and scientific fact.


 * Host ** : Naturally. Go on.


 * Ms. Williams ** : And with these domineering creatures gone we females finally had the authority to rule in a way that we knew would generate positive societal result and low and behold…


 * Host ** : We are woman! Hear us roar! *APPLAUSE* Well thank you very much for coming to talk to us today. Our final guest is a camp master at one of our country’s finest Men’s camp. Officer Shirley Wilkie. Thank you for being here.


 * Shirley Wilkie ** : Good to be here.


 * Host ** : So tell me, how are things at the camps? Could you explain exactly what your job is, for our viewers who don’t know?


 * Shirley Wilkie ** : Sure thing. Well it’s my job as an officer to protect society. And in order to do this, by the standards that our society is defined as now, I need to monitor and control the actions of males. Now, we all know, if we let those unruly…men…have their way with our world, we would be no better off than we were 100 years ago. So, what I do is keep them in check. Who they can talk to, when they can talk, and even who they can reproduce with. It’s all very intricate, but it’s important. If I didn’t, who knows what would happen?


 * Host ** : Of course! Your job is invaluable. Now, what about those men who chose to not follow the rules set forth in our society?


 * Shirley Wilkie ** : Well, we have a special place for them. We send them to a camp. It’s not a jail, it’s really more of a place to keep them…under control so to speak and how of society to prevent harm. Which, ultimately, that’s our main goal.


 * Host ** : Of course of course!! Well thank you again for being here! And that’s our show! Thank you for being here and…


 * Security Guard (//chasing intruder)// ** : Quick stop her! She’s getting away!


 * Host ** : What’s going on here?! Who are you? (Talking to intruder)


 * Intruder ** : Who I am isn’t important but what I have to say is!


 * Host ** : Security! Get her out of here!


 * Intruder ** : No! Hear me! Everyone out there! Hear what I have to say! What you’re doing is wrong! Controlling people is wrong! All this plague, the sickness, the extermination of men! It’s a conspiracy! A plot to keep those in power! I know it is for a fact! I have proof!! What you’re doing is not only horribly wrong, but inhumane! The world must know the truth! It must be heard! It must**//….(tackled by security guard).//**


 * Host ** : Ugh, finally. Such nonsense. Conspiracy. Well, that’s what you get folks when the show is live! Crazy! Well, until next time, have a lovely day!

<span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; margin-left: 0.25in; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: -25px; width: 1px;"> Tennyson, 16, is a loner in school. However, he is not normal. He appears to possess the power to heal people both physically and psychologically. Tennyson and his twin sister, Brontë, are very close and always look out for one another. So when she starts dating a boy from their school named Brewster “Bruiser” Rawlins, the boy voted “most likely to get the death penalty,” he is concerned for her safety and worries that something dangerous might come out of their relationship. This concern becomes even more of a worry when he spies Bruiser’s welts and scars all over his back while they were in the locker room. However, despite her brother’s reservations and words of warning, Brontë continues to see Bruiser and continues to draw him closer to both Tennyson and all members of her family. The closer Bruiser gets to the twins, the more they start noticing his unusual gift: not only can he assume the physical pain and wounds of those he cares about, but he can also absorb their anger, hurt, and grief. But throughout the story, the gift starts to become more of a curse. Told from the three characters' alternating perspectives, with Brewster's rendered in poetic form, Shusterman's novel reveals its secrets and their implications slowly, allowing readers to connect the dots before the characters do and encouraging them to weigh the price of Bruiser's “gift” against the freedom from pain that Tennyson and Brontë enjoy.
 * 1) Book Title (1 pt.) **They Called Themselves the KKK**
 * 2) Genre: (1pt) **Non-Fiction**
 * 3) Author (1 pt.) **Susan Campbell Bartoletti**
 * 4) Date of Publication (1 pt.) **August 2010**
 * 5) Write a brief summary of the book you read without giving away the ending! (4 pts.)


 * It started in 1866 with six friends. Six men who shared one thing in common-hatred. A hatred fueled by nothing more than racial prejudice. In the dead of night these hateful boys would pull white sheets over their heads, claim they were the ghosts of the Confederate Army and “avenge” their fallen fathers. While their antics started out as nothing more than boys in a secret club, complete with passwords, rituals, and rites, it soon grew to a massive and uncontrollable status. The Klu Klux Klan terrorized Americans, taking root in American Democracy by psychologically and physically destroying the lives of millions. And while their hateful acts are but a memory in the pages of history books, their legacy of hatred is not something that should be soon forgotten. It should be looked at as a lesson to what could happen when hate rules a country.**

6.What did you like about the book? What did you dislike? (4 pts).


 * For me, personally, I have a hard time reading non-fiction. I don’t like history as much as I like fiction. But the way the book was written, as gritty and real the accounts were, it almost felt like the stories and recollections were so violent and unbelievable that it had to be fiction. That said, I really enjoyed the way the author didn’t leave any detail out and didn’t sugar coat anything. I also really liked the complete spectrum of the accounts, starting with the very beginning of the creation of the KKK and spending to its end.**


 * Along those lines, the only thing I didn’t like was really one of the things I did like. I felt uncomfortable a few times while reading the novel because it was so vivid. However, despite that, I think this would definitely be something that students would need to read at some point to fully grasp the severity of the situation that destroyed so many people’s lives.**

7.Write three essential (higher level thinking) questions that you might use in a culminating discussion of this book. This week, I want you to write questions strictly //for discussion// here – not project ideas (you’ll see why below). (6 pts)


 * **What do you think would cause people to hate a race like the KKK? Come up with 4-5 elements that would spawn this kind of hate.**


 * **Given the reasons you came up with that could possibly cause people to do this kind of destruction to an entire race, what do you think could have been done to avoid this from happening? What can we do now to prevent it from happening again?**


 * **We live in a world that is relatively accepting, but there is still prejudice that occurs. Where do you see the kind of hatred that was brought by the KKK in today’s society, if even at a smaller scale? Why do you think, despite all our societal advances, we still are prejudice against people and races?**

Comprehension Activity: Create your own project that you could assign for the book you read. Your project should be appropriate for middle or high school students. Make sure that you give specific instructions and provide whatever they might need in terms of graphic organizers, etc. Give me an idea of what you would expect from kids. You can do this by providing an example or writing a paragraph that describes what you would be looking for. I do not intend for you to spend a ton of time creating an example. If it is simple to do, provide one. If not, do the explanation.


 * __Project Idea:__ History is best understood when you put yourself in the shoes of those who were living it when it occurred. It’s difficult to fully realize the terror and power experienced by both the people being tortured by the KKK and the KKK members themselves. What you are going to do, is a partner project. You are going to find two events that occurred as a result of the KKK’s actions. This events has to 1) have actually happened, and 2) have at least one victim and one KKK member (they can be fictional). For each event, you are going to write journal entries, 5 for each event (10 entries total). Each entry will be 6-8 sentences long and have to relate to the event. The entries have to be dated before, during and after the event occurred. Since you are writing about two events, you will take on a different perspective for each. For the first event, you will be either the victim who experienced it or the KKK member who caused it, and your partner will be the other member. For the second event, you will switch roles. Keep in mind, since the characters you are writing for are fictional, you have the creative liberty to develop them however you see fit. The objective here is to look at these horrible situations from all perspectives and really gain an understanding about what everyone went through.**

Kristy Hagerup
 * 1) Book Title (1 pt.) **Cirque du Freak**


 * 1) Genre: (1pt) **Graphic Novel**


 * 1) Author (1 pt.) **Darren Shan**


 * 1) Date of Publication (1 pt.) **2006**


 * 1) Write a brief summary of the book you read without giving away the ending! If you are writing about a collection of stories or poems, you need to talk specifically about 2-3 of the selections in the book. (4 pts.)


 * After attending a showing of a freak show known as "Cirque du Freak", a boy named Darren Shan feels inclined to steal a large tarantula from the spider-tamer and revealed vampire, Larten Crepsley. He learns how to control her through telepathy, but while practicing with his best friend, Steve Leonard, the spider is startled and bites Steve's neck. Though the bite doesn't kill him, Steve is left paralyzed and Darren seeks out Crepsely for an antidote. Crepsley agrees to give it to him, on the condition that Darren becomes a vampire; Darren accepts, and is turned into a half-vampire, and Steve is healed. Immediately after, Darren flees from Crepsley, afraid to lose his lifestyle, friends, and family. However, Darren soon realizes that he cannot handle his new strength and thirst for blood, and returns to Crepsley. They stage Darren's death, but before departing from the town, Darren encounters Steve, who vows to become a strong vampire hunter and kill him, feeling betrayed.**
 * Despite needing human blood, Darren only drinks animal blood, and hates Crespley for changing him. He also feels alone, having no family or friends; he tries to blend in with other children, but his lack of control with his strength caused another boy to become injured. He confides to Crepsley about his situation and Crepsley decides to bring him to Cirque du Freak, knowing that Darren would be able to have friends and be himself when surrounded by other strange beings.**


 * 1) What did you like about the book? What did you dislike? (4 pts.).


 * I really liked the story. It was a vampire story that actually had substance to it (unlike other recent vampire stories that had come out…Twilight). I’m really into anime so the story almost played out like a TV series, which was something I really enjoyed. The themes and atmosphere were very dark and ominous which was an interesting juxtaposition with the visuals and that combination created an interesting effect. I think many of the struggles that Darren undergoes through the course of the novel are similar in a way to the struggles teens go through – feeling oppressed, unable to belong, and being lonely.**
 * To be completely honest, I really didn’t not like anything about this graphic novel. I typically don’t care much for fantasy and the like, but the way Shan writes it, the fantasy is secondary to the central issues and thematic elements.**


 * 1) Write three essential (higher level thinking) questions that you might use in a culminating discussion of this book. This week, I want you to write questions strictly //for discussion// here – not project ideas (you’ll see why below). (6 pts)
 * 2) **If you were Darren Shan and you had just been turned into a Vampire, how do you think you would react? Would you only drink animal blood or would you give into your new instincts? Explain your reasoning.**
 * 3) **Before we read the next novel in the series, make at least 5 predictions about what you think will happen and why you think they will happen.**
 * 4) **How do you think the illustrations help/hinder with the enjoyment or understanding of the novel?**

8. How can you see this book being used in the curriculum? For what grade level would it be most appropriate? Give a specific example of how you as a teacher might use the book as part of the taught curriculum. What specifically would you use it to teach and what would you have students do with it? (7 pts.)


 * Project Idea: In Shan’s novel, his protagonist character deals with issues that aren’t that unique, but there are elements about his life that make him and his circumstances uncommon. Take the plot of a novel that we have read and chose one of the main characters. Identify their central conflict – loss of love, unable to belong, growing into a new life, identity searching, etc. Next, you are going to add an element of fantasy either in the setting (either the time period or setting), and something about the character that would appear in a fantasy novel. Incorporate magic, unique physical circumstances, mysticism, etc. In essence, an issue about this character’s life that make it difficult or different, in addition to his/hers “normal” issues. After you have identified these elements, I want you to express this new story in the genre of either a short story or a graphic novel.**


 * (The objective of this project would be to convey issues in the context of fantasy or unique circumstances and done so in the genre of short stories or graphic novels. This will illustrate to students that their problems are more common than they think and can happen to anyone, even “vampires”. I think this assignment could be appropriate for grades between 7th-10th)**

<span style="display: block; font-weight: normal; height: 1px; left: -40px; margin-left: 0.25in; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -0.25in; top: -25px; width: 1px;"> 6. What did you like about the book? What did you dislike? (3 pts.) <span style="display: block; font-weight: normal; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: -25px; width: 1px;">There were two things that I really liked about this book. First I really enjoyed the layout. The story was told from four points of view, with the narration alternating between Tennyson, Bronte, Brewster, and Brewster's little brother Cody. At first, I actually really didn’t like the layout because it was a bit choppy, but as I got into the story it actually moved the story along very nicely. It kept my interest by keeping track of the characters. The alternating points of view also helped establish a wonderful pace. It was very hard to put the book down because it was moving so fast. <span style="display: block; font-weight: normal; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: -25px; width: 1px;">More than just the style of the novel, I absolutely loved the plot itself. While I don’t generally care for fantasy, this book was less about aliens and magic and more about developing human relationships. The characters were conveyed in a way that you felt their pain and their love for each other. Between the relationship between the twins and the character Bruiser, by the end of the book I felt like knew them as more than just words on a page. It was so strong I actually cried a couple times. Shesterman does an amazing job and character development and emotional conveyance that completely draws the reader in. <span style="display: block; font-weight: normal; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: -25px; width: 1px;">Something that I didn’t like was, to be honest, the genre. While I did like the layout and the book did go fast, I generally don’t like to read fantasy. For me, it makes it hard to relate to the characters. However, that said, I do believe this story and genre would fair very well for my students as it would give them a chance to escape to an alternate world. <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; margin-left: 0.25in; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -0.25in; top: -25px; width: 1px;"> 7. Write three essential (higher level thinking) questions that you might use in a culminating discussion of this book. (6 pts) <span style="display: block; font-weight: normal; height: 1px; left: -40px; margin-left: 0.75in; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -0.25in; top: -25px; width: 1px;">a. Describe the twins’ relationship. Do you think it’s a good relationship or a bad one? What evidence in the book supports your opinion? <span style="display: block; font-weight: normal; height: 1px; left: -40px; margin-left: 0.75in; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -0.25in; top: -25px; width: 1px;">b. Bruiser is a character who is very deep. His emotional depth is depicted through his presentation of poems. Chose a type of poetry (haiku, sonnet, lymric, etc) and write a poem from the point of view of each character. The poem should match both the persona of the character as well as the style. <span style="display: block; font-weight: normal; height: 1px; left: -40px; margin-left: 0.75in; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -0.25in; top: -25px; width: 1px;">c. Everyone feels pain, however Bruiser has the ability to take away the pain felt by those he cares about. Do you think this is a gift or a curse? Why or why not? Think about how this power effects both Bruiser and those he cares about. <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: -25px; width: 1px;">Comprehension Activity: <span style="color: #020101; display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: -25px; width: 1px;">Write a newspaper article about someone or something that happened in the story. NOTE: this is NOT a book report! Review a few newspaper articles to get the "feel" of the format. What would the headline say? Was anyone interviewed for the story? Who are the sources of information? Are there quotes from characters? Be creative! (15 pts).