19 Let's Talk: Compare and Contrast Settings

SETTING is when and where a story takes place. Some stories have only one setting. Some stories have more than one setting.

Charlotte's Web takes place in the early 1950s on a small farm somewhere in the Maine countryside. More specifically, most of the story takes place in the cellar of the barn and the connecting yard. Only the very beginning, when Wilbur is still living at the Arable's farm up the road, and the end, when Wilbur and the Arables and the Zuckermans go to the fair, take place in slightly different locations.

Bridge to Terabithia takes place in the 1970s on a small farm somewhere in the Virginian countryside. More specifically, Terabithia takes place in woods around Jess's home, Lark Creek Elementary school and the Old Perkin's Place.


Discussion Points:
a. First, describe the setting of a book you have read independently. Write your description so it is about as long as the two descriptions I wrote in this post.
b. Next, COMPARE that setting to the setting of Charlotte's Web. Talk about at least one SIMILARITY.
c. Finally, CONTRAST that same setting to the setting of Charlotte's Web. Talk about at least one DIFFERENCE.

Let's talk!

18 Let's Talk: THEME

If you recall from class, a story's theme (or themes - there may be more than one) can be thought of as its BIG idea.

For example, Leonardo the Terrible Monster has at least two themes. One theme is FRIENDSHIP. Leonardo makes a very big decision. He decides to be a friend to Sam. Leonardo learns that being a friend feels good and is a win-win situation for everyone involved.

Another theme in Leonardo is ACCEPTANCE. Leonardo wants to be something he is not: scary. In the end he decides to ACCEPT that fact and love who he is: a cuddly, cute, adorable little guy with a great smile.

Here is another example. A theme in No David! is OBEDIENCE. David is naughty. A lot. In the end, he learns that kids who do not OBEY their parents get in trouble and feel bad about themselves.

Another theme in No David! is UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. David is naughty. But no matter how many times he breaks the rules, his mom still loves him.


Discussion Points:
a. Think about a book you read this year.
b. Identify one theme in that story. Name it. And talk about how you know it is a theme, just like I did for Leonardo the Terrible Monster and No David!

Let's Talk!

17 Booktalk: Freckle Juice

As you get older, you will think back on your reading life and wonder how you missed reading some great, classic titles. Maybe, by the time you turn 35, you still will not have read Harry Potter. Or, possibly, you might grow into adulthood and have neglected to read Hatchet, or The Hunger Games or Winnie-the-Pooh. Well, in my case, I somehow lived 36 years without reading Freckle Juice.

Freckle Juice, by Judy Blume, is a short story of only 50 pages divided into five chapters. It is filled with illustrations.

The story begins with the protagonist, Andrew Marcus, wanting more than anything to have a face covered in freckles. Sharon, a conniving classmate, notices this and decides to play a nasty trick on Andrew. She offers to sell him her family's secret freckle juice recipe for only 50 cents (in 1971, when this story was written, 50 cents was worth about as much three dollars is today). When Andrew finally tries Sharon's 'magic potion' things don't go as planned.

One of the things I liked most about Freckle Juice was the straight forward, but incredible realistic, dialogue. Each line uses only small words. But each word is important and serves to push the story forward. In Freckle Juice I was able to appreciate just how a master writer can tell an incredibly enjoyable story with only a very few words.

If you've read any stories by Judy Blume, then you already know she has a very distinct style of story telling. Freckle Juice feels very similar to her other books; books such as: Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, Otherwise Known As Sheila the Great, Blubber and The Pain and The Great One.

If you haven't read any of the classics by Judy Blume before, there is no better book to begin with than Freckle Juice. Try it before you turn thirty-five!


Discussion Points:
a. Can you find any of the writing strategies we've been learning to use in class, in this book talk? Which ones?
b. Have you read Freckle Juice?
c. If so, what did you think of it? Why?
d. SPECIFIC feedback on this booktalk?
e. What did you like or not like about it?

Let's Write!

16 Understanding Story Parts

All stories have many things in common. Some of the things they have in common are their different parts.

Stories begin with an Introduction. The Introduction is the part of the story in which we meet the characters and learn about the setting.

Example: In No David! by David Shannon we meet David and his mom on the first two pages.

Next comes the Central Tension. We've talked about story's Central Tension's before. A story's Central Tension is the big problem(s) the protagonist faces.

Example: In No David! we learn on page two that David is a naughty boy.

After the Central Tension, Story Events, or rising actions, make up the biggest part of a story. The Story Events are everything that happens to the protagonist along the way to solving the Central Tension.

Example: In No David! David tries to snitch cookies, writes on the walls, runs down the street naked, plays with his food, picks his nose and makes a mess of his toys. Each of these is a Story Event.

The Climax occurs towards the end of a story. The Climax is the part of a story when the protagonist resolves the Central Tension.

Example: In No David! David doesn't listen to his mother and hits a baseball indoors, breaking a vase. While in Time-Out he realizes he has been very naughty. He feels very bad.

The Resolution is part of the story at the very end of the book. The Resolution shows how all the characters, including the protagonist, end up.

Example: In No David! David's mom gives David a hug and forgives him and tells him how much she loves him.


Discussion Points:
a. I would like you to think about the story you are currently reading OR the story you most recently finished.
b. Please identify each of the parts of a story in your book, like I just did for No David!
     1. Talk about the Introduction.
     2. Talk about the Central Tension.
     3. Talk about the Story Events.
     4. Talk about the Climax.
     5. Talk about the Resolution.

Let's Write!

15 Booktalk: The Islander by Cynthia Rylant

As a teacher, sometimes my job is to read books kids are reading so that I can 'stay in the loop'. I want to know, for myself, why a book is so popular.

Other times, however, my job is to read books that I know kids will NOT read, unless I do a great job of selling it.

The Islander by Cynthia Rylant is one of those books. The cover is boring; the title, boring too. The story is driven by the characters, as in Bridge to Terabithia. The story is NOT driven by an exciting or fast paced plot.

The Islander is about a boy named Daniel who lives is a small stone house on an island off the coast of British Columbia, Canada. While he lives with is grandfather, he spends a lot of his time alone, looking for treasures the ocean has washed ashore. One day he finds mermaids comb. This magical item leads to a brief encounter with the mermaid who comes to shore to retrieve her comb. Days later, a sea otter throws to shore a shell. In it, Daniel finds his own mysterious and magical treasure, a key. As this short story progresses, Daniel has to deal with the devastating effects of a terrible storm, help to find a missing little girl and deal with the loss of a beloved family member. All the while Daniel searches for what the key will open. Finally, at the end of this touching story, the key's true use is revealed to David and the reader.

Like I said earlier, this is not an exciting story. And it is not a fast paced story. But, it is a very enjoyable story. Daniel is the narrator, and as he told the story, I began to feel like I knew Daniel as a real person. While this story does have an element of fantasy, mermaids are not real after all, it is not a fantasy story. It feels much more like a realistic fiction tale. I liked how believable both Daniel and the story were, despite the mermaid as a minor character.

The other thing I like about the book is that it felt original. That is, I can't really think of another story quite like it. I suppose I could suggest other short, realistic fiction stories by Cynthia Rylant, such as A Fine White Dust and Missing May. But, having read both, I have to say, the most significant similarities   are the books' short length and the author. This story is unique!

So, if you want to try a very different, unique and original character driven tale, I would suggest The Islander. You might enjoy it for very unexpected reasons!


Discussion Points:
a. Look at this booktalk from the perspective of the Five S's': Specifics, Summary, Strong Points, Suggestions, Sell It!. I was creative with at least one of the Five S's and did some different things. Which 'S' do you think I changed quite a bit? How did I change it?
b. How does this story sound to you? Do you feel like you might give it a chance?
c. Have you ever given a book a chance, even though you didn't like the cover or review of the book?
d. If so, which book what it?

Let's Write!

14 Charlotte's Web's Central Tension (or as I like to say, 'Collywobble')

Every story has a central tension. 'Central' means 'main'. Think of tension as: stress, nervousness, uncertainty, suspense and even 'collywobble' (thank a thesaurus for that synonym!). In other words, the central tension is the 'main suspense' or 'main uncertainty' (or even 'main collywobble').

So the central tension (or collywobble) in a story is the main problem the protagonist faces. For example, we just learned that the central tension (or collywobble) in Charlotte's Web is Wilbur's imminent death (imminent means: about to happen).

The central collywobble (there, I said it; I just couldn't resist - from now on, I'm just going to give in and and keep saying 'central collywobble') is almost always found at the beginning of a story. Other examples of central collywobbles (I just LOVE saying 'collywobble! - it get's better every time!) are Leonardo's inability to be scary; Trixie loosing Knufflebunny; David's naughtiness; Edwurd Fuddwupper lying to Mable Dill by telling her she'd been voted the Queen of Brazil; Curtis getting Norman the fish for a pet, instead of a cat or dog; Mr. Fox thinking he will eat the pig for dinner.

Now, you may be thinking, 'What was the central collywobble in Bridge to Terabithia Mr. Geranis? I don't remember any major collywobble in the beginning of that story.'

Well you, that is a GREAT question. And it leads to something about stories we have NOT learned about yet. So, for two reasons, I'm NOT going to answer that question right now. Reason one: I want you to stay focused on central collywobbles. Reason number two: I don't want to confuse anyone. This post has one purpose, to help you understand more about central collywobbles.

With that said...


Discussion Points:
a. What is the central collywobble in the story you are currently reading? Please include the name of your protagonist in your answer.
b. Do you have possible reason for why there wasn't a central collywobble in Bridge to Terabithia? Please share what you think. Don't worry about begin correct. This is a hard one!