The Summer of Chores

Unique, Historical
Hooks the reader
Educational, Interesting

Dead End in Norvelt 

By: Jack Gantos

Hello everyone, my next big read was the boo Dead End In Norvelt by Jack Gantos and I say big read because it was a long read with a lot of pages, not to say that it wasn't a good book (which it was) it was just a really long one.  Dead End In Norvelt features Jack Gantos (yes the author) in the strangest summer of his life.  Jack started the summer just like anyone else, he was playing with his dad's Japanese rifle from WWII when he accidentally shot it off and then bulldozed his mother's crops because his dad wanted to build a runway for a plane he bought which resulted in him getting grounded for the majority of the summer.  As strange as it may seem though even though the book was about him being grounded it was actually really interesting to read and you really get pulled into it.  It was almost like as a reader I had become grounded by my parents and I thrived off of every moment where he had to go and do something different like help Miss Volker write an obituary, sneak out with his friend Bunny, and even investigate a murder.  

I can honestly say that I enjoyed this reading but I have no idea why exactly, in my opinion this book is more of a hit or miss book for students and shouldn't be given to the entire class without risking having someone whose bored out of their minds.  I recommend this book for anyone who you feel would relate to Jack in some way and who has a love for history because this book loves to talk about history.  Even with it's small target audience I really feel that this is a great book and essential for a classroom library and has the potential to be an inspirational book for many readers.  Especially someone who is prone to getting in trouble.

Lexile Score: 920

Recommended Grade Level: Grade 4-5

Reccomended taching style: small group

Before the Reading-activity taken from the book's teacher guide

Have the students brainstorm what kind of things you would find in an obituary as well as the definition of an obituary.  Then, read aloud the obituary of a house that Miss. Volker writes for Norvelt News (pg 194-197) and then have them write their own obituary for an old toy or item in their house, they can make it serious or humorous and should include personal information.  Then have them share their obituaries with a partner.  This activity will really engage your students into the novel and will help familiarize them with the concept of an obituary.

During the Reading

When the student's get to the point where Mr. Greene writes about his accusation of murder in the newspaper have the students get together and do a fishbowl discussion as a class.  During the fishbowl discussion the students on the inside will discuss who they think committed each murder and why they believe that.  This will require them to reference scenes from the book and make assumptions from the previous information and is a great discussion builder.  Have different groups take their turn in the fishbowl discussing their opinions with each group dfending one of the three likely suspects; Miss. Volker, Mr. Spizz, and the Biker Gang.  After they finish their discussion have them go home and write an opinion essay on who they think the killer is.  In the essay they will explain to the detectives why they believe the person is the killer and what evidence they have to support their accusation.

After the Reading-activity taken from the book's teacher guide

There are so many great strategies in this books teacher guide but my absolute favorite is the drama activity.  Have the student's get together in small groups and choose their favorite chapter from the book (no two groups can pick the same chapter) they must then write a script from it and present their chapter to the class.  This is both a fun activity that really forces students to analyze a chapter in order to write an entire scene about it.  The constant rehearsal will build their understanding of it and the script writing will force them to use their inferential comprehensin to assume what occured outside of what was explicitly written.

Great Electronic Resources

http://www.firstladies.org/biographies/firstladies.aspx?biography=33

This is an outstanding research website for the students which discusses the impact Eleanor Roosevelt had on the nation as well as a biography of her life.  This is perfect for introducing the students to the book so that they can get a better understanding of who she was.

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=6328\

This website will give the children an understanding of the plane Jack's father bought and the history bhind it.  I wouldn't say this is a must use website but it can be a fun website for students to look through if they're interested in machinery or want to learn more about the book.

Words to go over

• delusional = having belief in something regardless of obvious evidence against it
• feral = resembling a wild animal
• barter = exchange goods or services for goods or services, no money
• euthanized = put a living being to death without causing it pain
• ingrate = an ungrateful person 
• impaled = pierce through someone with a sharp object
• noxious = harmful, poisonous