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A good read A companion to ten novels

Emma Fredriksson Agnes Gentili Cronholm

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A good read ISBN 978-91-523-0297-2 © 2011 Emma Fredriksson, Agnes Gentili Cronholm, Carl-Johan Markstedt och Bonnier Utbildning AB, Stockholm Första upplagan Första tryckningen Kopieringsförbud!

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Tryck: Intellecta Infolog

Table of contents The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

by Sherman Alexie

5

big mouth & ugly girl

by Joyce Carol Oates

23

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

by John Boyne

41

Branded

by Robert Swindells

60

How to Build a House

by Dana Reinhardt

76

The Hunger Games

by Suzanne Collins

98

Just Jealous

by Anne Cassidy

123

Purple Heart

by Patricia McCormick

148

So Yesterday

by Scott Westerfeld

169

Speak

by Laurie Halse Anderson

189

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

by Sherman Alexie

5

About the author Sherman Alexie Sherman Alexie was born in 1966 and grew up on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Wellpinit, Washington, USA. He has published poetry, short stories, novels and screenplays.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is his first young adult novel.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is autobiographical in many respects. Just like his main character, Alexie was born hydrocephalic and suffered from seizures during his childhood.

Despite his difficulties he learnt to read at the age of three and his interest in books made him stand out from the other children on the reservation.

As a teenager Alexie transferred to a high school outside the reser­ vation and then continued his studies at university. At first he wanted to be a doctor, but after fainting several times during human anatomy class, he realized he had to change his plans. His first collection of poetry was published in 1991. In 1995 his first novel, Reservation Blues, was published, followed by Indian Killer in 1996.

In his writing Alexie’s Native American background is a recurring theme.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian has been translated into several languages, among them Spanish, German, French and Japanese. It has also won numerous awards, for example the National Book Award in Young People’s Literature in 2007 and the Swedish Peter Pan Award in 2009.

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Characters On the reservation Arnold Spirit Junior The main character

Mum and Dad Junior’s parents

Mary Runs Away Junior’s older sister

Grandmother Spirit Junior’s grandmother

Oscar Junior’s dog

Rowdy Junior’s best friend

Mr. P. A teacher at Wellpinit High School

Eugene A friend of Junior’s father Billionaire Ted A white man interested in Indian culture

In Reardan

Penelope A girl in Junior’s class

Roger One of the jocks at Reardan High School

Gordy A boy in Junior’s class

Mr. Dodge, Mrs. Jeremy Teachers at Reardan High School

Coach Junior’s basketball coach Earl Penelope’s father

Miss Warren Guidance counsellor at Reardan High School

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Plot The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is set in Wellpinit on the Spokane Indian Reservation and in the neighbouring town of Reardan, Washington. While life on the reservation is characterized by discrimination, poverty, violence and alcoholism, Reardan is a wealthy all-white town full of opportunities for the people who live there.

The main character is 14-year-old Arnold Spirit Jr., called Junior on the reservation and Arnold in Reardan. He was born with water on the brain (hydrocephalus) which left him nearsighted in one eye and farsighted in the other. Apart from wearing lopsided glasses Junior also stutters and lisps which makes him an easy target on the reservation. He is regularly beaten up, not only by other children but by adults as well. His interests are reading and drawing, hobbies which keep him safe within the walls of his home.

Junior’s parents are unemployed and his father has a drinking problem. The relationship between Junior and his mother and father is warm and loving and Junior gives detailed descriptions of what his parents might have become had anyone ever paid attention to their dreams. Junior’s older sister Mary was once a gifted student but now hides in the basement. Junior does not know why, but reckons the feeling of hopelessness on the reservation has taken hold of her too.

Rowdy is Junior’s best, and only, friend. They were born on the same day and spend most of their time together. Rowdy’s father is an alcoholic and beats his family when drunk. Rowdy, too, is extremely aggressive. The one person Rowdy never picks on is Junior. Instead he protects him from his tormentors. Rowdy and Junior talk about their dreams together and Junior thinks Rowdy might be more important to him than his family.

Junior is clever and likes going to school. On his first day of high school he is filled with happiness, a feeling which quickly changes into anger when the geometry books are handed out. Junior is given

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a book which used to belong to his mother and must be over thirty years old. In a blind rage he hurls the book at his teacher, Mr. P, and breaks his nose.

During Junior’s suspension Mr. P comes to visit him at home.

It turns out that Mr. P thinks he deserved to be hit in the face considering how many Indian children he himself has hurt over the years. Mr. P tells Junior about how he used to beat his pupils in order to “kill the Indian to save the child”, thus depriving children of their native culture. On the reservation children are only taught how to give up, says Mr. P., and urges Junior to leave the reservation in order to have the future he deserves.

Junior decides to act on Mr. P’s advice and tells his parents that he wants to transfer to Reardan High immediately. His parents support his decision but his mother warns him that many people on the reservation will be angry with him. The next day Junior talks to Rowdy. He wants him to come to Reardan as well, but Rowdy is furious. He punches Junior in the face and leaves him bleeding on the ground.

On his first day of school Junior understands that Reardan is the exact opposite of Wellpinit. Apart from the school’s mascot, Junior is the only Indian in town. During the first few days Junior does not talk at all. Then he ends up in a fight with one of the racist jocks harassing him. To his great surprise Junior manages to knock his opponent to the ground. No one hits him back, which proves that even fist fights in Reardan differ from those in Wellpinit.

Junior is alone most of the time at school. Apart from exchanging a few words with Penelope, whom he considers the most beautiful girl in his class, he seldom speaks to anyone. When his science teacher makes fun of his background Junior is saved by Gordy, the class genius, who stands up for him.

Getting to and from school is difficult for Junior. If he is lucky his parents are able to drive him, but more often than not he has to hitchhike or even walk. One day he comes home to find his mother crying. His sister has left the basement, got married and moved to

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Montana. Junior is shocked at first, but later very happy for her.

Impressed by Mary’s courage, Junior decides to ask Gordy to be his friend.

Slowly Junior makes more friends in Reardan and when he and Penelope start dating, he is suddenly popular. Junior tries to hide his poverty from his new friends, thinking they will turn their backs on him if they know the truth. Not until after the Winter Formal do Roger, the boy Junior hit for being a racist, and Penelope understand that Junior is in a difficult financial situation. Neither of them makes fun of him. Instead Roger lends him some money and drives him home.

Junior decides to try out for the basketball team and to his surprise he ends up on the varsity team. The first game is against his old school in Wellpinit and it almost turns into a race riot. Junior is knocked unconscious by Rowdy and ends up in the hospital. His coach comes to apologize for letting him play but Junior will not listen, saying that given the chance he would play Wellpinit again.

Shortly after Christmas, Junior’s grandmother is killed by a drunk driver. Junior is devastated since she was an important person in his life and completely supported his decision to leave the reservation.

2 000 Indians from all over the country attend her funeral. So does Billionaire Ted, a white man who is very interested in Indian culture.

When he talks about his love for everything Indian, Junior feels both angry and uncomfortable. Billionaire Ted has come to return a powwow outfit he has kept even though he thinks it has been stolen from Junior’s grandmother. Junior’s mother tells him that the outfit certainly could not have belonged to her mother since it is neither Spokane nor was her mother ever a dancer. Ted leaves in a hurry with the dress and everybody laughs at him and so sorrow, tears and laughter mingle as a tribute to Grandmother Spirit.

In February, Eugene, a friend of Junior’s father, is shot and killed in a fight over the last drink in a bottle of wine. Again, Junior grieves and misses a lot of school. When he finally returns, one of his teachers makes a sarcastic comment about his absence, which makes all his friends stand up for him and leave the classroom.

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Junior is one of the star players of the basketball team. They are very successful and lose only one game, to Wellpinit. Wellpinit is ranked number one in the state, thanks to Rowdy who is their top scorer.

When they come to Reardan for a rematch, Junior is desperate to win. His coach tells him to guard Rowdy. Miraculously, Reardan win by 40 points and Junior is triumphant, at first. Then he realizes his team was never really the underdogs and he is ashamed of his wish to win. Regardless of the outcome of the game, the boys on his team are still privileged while many of the Wellpinit players come from very poor families.

One day the student counsellor comes into Junior’s chemistry class and asks to talk to him in private. She tells him his sister has passed away and that his father is coming to pick him up. In the car Junior learns that Mary and her husband were burned to death in their trailer after a party. Junior is beside himself with grief. Once more alcohol has caused the death of a person close to him. After the funeral Junior runs off and in the forest he meets Rowdy who is crying. Rowdy blames Junior for Mary’s death, saying he caused it by leaving the reservation.

This time Junior returns to school the day after the funeral and when school finishes for the summer his grades are excellent.

During the summer break Junior realizes that although he feels lonely many people before him have made similar sacrifices to find happiness. He also understands that the Spokanes are not the only tribe to which he belongs. On the contrary, he belongs to several others, for example the tribe of cartoonists, of small town kids and of beloved sons.

During his first year at Reardan High, Rowdy and Junior have e-mailed occasionally and although Rowdy’s e-mails are filled with abuse, Junior reckons they still count as some sort of contact.

During the summer break Rowdy suddenly knocks on Junior’s door to ask him if he wants to play some ball. It turns out that Rowdy is quite impressed by what Junior has done and that he is happy for him. Junior cries and then they continue to play, without keeping score.

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Teacher’s guide How to work with The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a fairly easy book to read. The story is chronological and told from the perspective of the main character. Most chapters are short and the text is interspersed with drawings and cartoons which comment on and complement the story. For example, this is the case when the main character hurls a book at his teacher – an event which is drawn rather than written.

The language in the novel is colloquial American English, as spoken by a rather straightforward teenager. His tone is humorous and at times deeply ironic. Despite his many and specific difficulties the main character comes across as an ordinary teenager whose thoughts range from the profound to the slightly obscene.

The major themes in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian are those of identity and hope. Even though Junior is proud of his Indian background, he leaves the reservation as it holds no future for him. All through the book he struggles to find a life in which he will be able to keep his identity and build his own future, as well as earn the respect of his people.

Other prominent themes in the book are family ties and friendship.

While his parents and grandmother support Junior’s transfer to a high school outside the reservation, his childhood friend does not.

On the reservation he is seen as a traitor. At his new school Junior forms new friendships in which he allows new sides of himself to be seen.

Before reading the book it is a good idea to let students work with Native American history and culture to help them fully understand the problems depicted in the book. As the reservation described in the novel exists in reality, and as the history of the Spokanes

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corresponds to that of many other Indian tribes, it may serve as a starting point. Under “pre-reading activities”, page 14, a work plan has been lined out, where students are asked to look for information on the internet about Native Americans in general and the Spokanes in particular.

Another way of introducing the book is to talk about dreams and hopes for the future. Under “pre-reading activities”, page 15, students are asked to study and discuss one of the illustrations.

The questions introduce them to the main themes of the book and make them talk about dreams and limitations when it comes to planning your future.

In the book, Junior mentions Labor Day in part 1, Halloween and Thanksgiving in part 2, the Civil War in part 3 and three presidents (Abraham Lincoln, George Washington and Benjamin Franklin) in part 4. You may need to explain the names and the holidays.

Students who want to delve deeper into the names and holidays get their chance among the “post-reading activities”.

The questions under “while-reading” and “post-reading” activities, pages 16–20, can be discussed in class, in smaller groups or answered individually in writing. These questions also prepare the students for the writing and speaking tasks that follow. The tasks range from easy to more challenging, starting with the easiest ones.

Reading plan Part 1 The Black-Eye-of-the-Month Club – Rowdy Sings the Blues Part 2 How to Fight Monsters – Thanksgiving Part 3 Hunger Pains – Wake Part 4 Valentine Heart – Talking About Turtles

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Pre-reading activities Introducing The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian Use the library or the internet and look for the answers to the questions below. Then present your findings to the rest of the class.

Finding facts Colonizing North America

• What countries colonized North America?

• How come the native inhabitants of North America were called Indians?

• What happened to the Native Americans during and after the colonization?

Indian reservations

• What is a reservation?

• Why were the reservations created?

• What is life like on the reservations today?

The Spokanes

• Who are the Spokanes?

• Where do they live?

• Find facts about the history of the Spokanes.

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Understanding a picture In the second chapter, called Why Chicken Means So Much To Me, there is a picture of Junior’s parents and what they might have become if anyone had listened to their dreams. Look at the picture and then discuss the questions below.

• What do you think happened to Junior’s parents in real life?

• Who or what decides the future of a person?

• Are dreams important when it comes to deciding your future?

• What might stop a person from becoming who he/she wants to be?

• Do you have dreams about your own future?

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While reading the book Part 1 The Black-Eye-of-the-Month Club – Rowdy Sings the Blues Discuss 1 Junior seems to be a very special person. How would you

describe him?

2 Junior’s family is a blend of broken dreams. Compare who his

parents and his sister could have been to who they actually are.

3 Mr. P. believes he deserved to be hit in the face. Why? How does

Mr. P. feel about the reservation? How does Junior react to what his teacher tells him?

4 Mr P. wants Junior to say out loud that he deserves better. This

makes Junior cry. Why?

5 Why is Rowdy so aggressive? Is there any truth to the

explanation Mr. P. gives? Why have Rowdy and Junior become such good friends?

6 Mr. P. tells Junior he must leave the reservation. Rowdy on the

other hand thinks Junior is a traitor when Junior tells him about his plans. What advice would you give Junior? Is he right to transfer to a school outside Wellpinit or should he stay on the reservation with his people?

Find out more about …

• Powwow • Tepee

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Part 2 How to Fight Monsters – Thanksgiving Discuss 1 Junior gets into a fight with Roger, one of the jocks at his new

school. The outcome of the fight confuses Junior. Why? Is he right to punch Roger? How do you think Roger feels about it all?

2 Junior is shocked when he finds out his sister has moved to

Montana. What feelings does he go through? Does Mary’s sudden departure have anything to do with Junior?

3 Junior finds a new friend in Gordy. What do they have in

common? Do you think Gordy can replace Rowdy?

Find out more about …

• Pilgrims • Michelangelo (Buonarroti) • Albert Einstein • Emily Dickinson

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Part 3 Hunger Pains – Wake Discuss 1 Junior and Penelope discuss their dreams. What does Junior

think of Penelope’s dreams? In what ways are their dreams alike?

What are their chances of making them come true?

2 Winter Formal turns into a very good night out for Junior after

all. Explain.

3 Gordy claims “life is a constant struggle between being an

individual and a member of the community.” What does he mean by that? Is this true for Junior? For Gordy?

4 Describe the basketball game between Reardan and Wellpinit.

What makes Junior want to play in the game?

5 Junior’s grandmother held on to traditional Indians beliefs and

yet comes across as a very modern person. Explain.

Find out more about …

• Stanford • Vince Lombardi • Winter Formal • Freshman • The Sioux • The Oglala

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Part 4 Valentine Heart – Talking About Turtles Discuss 1 The chapter called In Like a Lion refers to the expression “In like

a lion, out like a lamb.” Describe Junior’s feelings before, during and after the rematch against Wellpinit.

2 According to Junior there is one single reason why many Indian

families are unhappy. What is it? How have the members of his own family been affected?

3 Billionaire Ted makes Junior both angry and uncomfortable.

Why?

4 Rowdy blames Junior for Mary’s death. Why? Is he right to do

so?

5 Rowdy claims Junior is nomadic, while he himself is not.

Explain.

Find out more about …

• Medea by Euripides • David and Goliath • Leo Tolstoy

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Post-reading activities Discuss • How would you describe Junior’s family? Do they give him the support he needs?

• Compare life on the reservation to life in Reardan.

• What makes Junior strong enough to leave when nobody else seems to have the courage?

• Is Junior right to leave the reservation? Why are so many Spokanes angry with him?

• Junior’s teachers all treat him differently. Who is the best teacher in the book? The worst? Who is of most importance to Junior?

• Several people who are important to Junior die in the book.

How does Junior feel about the deaths of Eugene, his grandmother and Mary?

• Who does Junior consider his best friend? Do you agree?

• Junior tries to hide the fact that his family is poor and thinks it is embarrassing that he can’t pay for Penelope on their date. Why? • Will Junior and Rowdy stay in touch as they grow older?

• What do you think Junior’s future will be like? What will Rowdy’s future be like?

• The book starts with a quote: “There is another world, but it is in this one”. (W. B. Yeats). Why do you think the author chose to include this quote?

• On the back cover of the Andersen Press edition of the book it says “Not suitable for younger readers”. Do you agree? Why?/ Why not?

• What do you think of the illustrations in the book? Would the book have been the same without them?

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Write • Friendship is important in the book. Who is your best friend?

Describe him or her. When did you first meet? What do you have in common? Do you think you and your best friend will keep in touch when you grow older? Why?/Why not?

Title: My best friend • Mr. P and the coach both play important parts in Junior’s life.

Are they good teachers? What do you think characterizes a good teacher? Have you ever had a particularly good teacher or one who was very important to you? Describe him/her and explain why he/she was such a good teacher.

Title: Teachers • Rowdy reads the same comics over and over and Gordy claims you must read a book at least three times to fully understand it.

Do you have a book, film or song that you keep returning to?

What is its name? What is it about? When did you first read, see or hear it? What makes it so good?

Title: My favourite book/film/song • At the end of the book Junior realizes he belongs to many different tribes apart from the Spokanes. What tribes? What makes it so important to belong to a group of people? What tribes do you belong to?

Title: The importance of tribes • Junior makes huge sacrifices when he transfers to Reardan.

He leaves his family, his best friend and his tribe in search of something they cannot give him. Have you ever had to leave anything behind, for example a hobby, a group of friends, a town or a country? How did you feel at the time? Do you think the decision was the right one?

Title: Moving on • Junior’s sister Mary is working on a book about her life called “How to Run Away from Your House and Find Your Home.”

Write the first chapter.

Title: How to Run Away from Your House and Find Your Home

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Speak • Basketball plays an important part in Junior’s life and in the book. Choose one of the following sports: basketball, American football, baseball or hockey. Tell the class about the history of your sport, how it is played and who the best players are.

• Junior makes lists of what makes him happy. Form a group and write down three lists of whatever you want, for example the best songs right now, the best things to do during a break from school, the worst films ever. Present your lists to the class. Make sure you give reasons for your choices in your presentation.

• The story in the novel stretches over one year and Junior comments on several American holidays: Labor Day, Halloween and Thanksgiving. When do they occur? What is celebrated?

What do you eat and do for each holiday? Present your findings in class.

• Junior’s sister compares the controversy between the white people and the Indians on her new reservation to the Civil War. What does she mean? What was the Civil War? When did it take place? Why is it important in American history? Find out more about the Civil War and tell the rest of the class.

• Junior writes that the pine trees on the reservation are older than Abraham Lincoln, George Washington and Benjamin Franklin.

Who were these men? Why are they important in American history? Find facts about them and their achievements and present them to your class.

• Some names and places have become legendary in the history of the Native Americans of the USA. Find information about Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, Spotted Elk/Big Foot, Little Bighorn, Wounded Knee, the Ghost Dance and George Armstrong Custer. Explain to the class how these names and places summarize two of the most important events in Native American history.

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A good read är en guide genom tio ungdomsromaner – ett flexibelt läromedel som sätter litteraturen och läsupplevelsen i fokus. Detta bredvidmaterial är främst avsett för gymnasiet, studieförbund och motsvarande nivåer inom vuxenutbildningen.

Tio romaner presenteras i varsitt kapitel. Varje kapitel är uppdelat i sidor riktade till läraren (Teacher’s material) och sidor riktade till eleverna (Students’ material).

Allt material riktat till eleverna är kopieringsunderlag.

De tio romaner som behandlas är: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie big mouth & ugly girl by Joyce Carol Oates The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne Branded by Robert Swindells The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins How to Build a House by Dana Reinhardt Just Jealous by Anne Cassidy Purple Heart by Patricia McCormick So Yesterday by Scott Westerfeld Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

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