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http://www.tonyabbottbooks.com/
Monday, May 23, 2011
Firegirl eNotes Synopsis
Tony Abbott's Firegirl was published in 2008 by Little Brown. It is a children’s story about Tom Bender and how he navigates his way around Jessica, a disfigured burn victim. He struggles to deal with her presence in his neighborhood and class, which changes all aspects of his life. The novel is told in first person and this immediacy connects the reader’s empathy to Tom and to Jessica.
At St. Catherine’s School, Mrs. Tracy prepares the students for Jessica, who has moved to town in order to take advantage of special medical attention. Despite the preparations for Jessica, the teacher is unable to offset her shocking appearance. Most of the students avoid looking at her altogether. Mrs. Tracy arranges to have Jessica sit between Jeff, Tom’s best friend, and Tom. Jeff moves his desk away. Tom stays in place and struggles to appear normal even if he feels frightened inside.
The students begin to come up with stories about how Jessica was burned in a fire. True to the nature of rumors, the stories grow. After school one day, Tom learns the real story about Jessica when the teacher asks him to deliver homework to her. From this point Tom begins an uneasy friendship with Jessica.
Tom describes himself as the sweaty, chubby kid. He feels that nobody really notices him. This accounts for his sensitivity as he interacts with Jessica. Their awkward friendship begins to gain depth until Jessica’s family must leave down to have access to another hospital in a different city. Tom is changed forever for having known her albeit for a short period of time.
Tom does his best in a tough situation. His struggle to be fair and good is what makes the story compelling. He is not extraordinary; he is rather ordinary. The changes in his character are not extreme one way or another, but he does change. His self-examination and introspection are steps toward adulthood. In that, Firegirl is a coming-of-age story that centers on how Tom views friendship and deals with acceptance: it is about what stirs inside when a person looks beyond the surface and seeks a genuine connection with another person.
Tony Abbott's Firegirl was published in 2008 by Little Brown. It is a children’s story about Tom Bender and how he navigates his way around Jessica, a disfigured burn victim. He struggles to deal with her presence in his neighborhood and class, which changes all aspects of his life. The novel is told in first person and this immediacy connects the reader’s empathy to Tom and to Jessica.
At St. Catherine’s School, Mrs. Tracy prepares the students for Jessica, who has moved to town in order to take advantage of special medical attention. Despite the preparations for Jessica, the teacher is unable to offset her shocking appearance. Most of the students avoid looking at her altogether. Mrs. Tracy arranges to have Jessica sit between Jeff, Tom’s best friend, and Tom. Jeff moves his desk away. Tom stays in place and struggles to appear normal even if he feels frightened inside.
The students begin to come up with stories about how Jessica was burned in a fire. True to the nature of rumors, the stories grow. After school one day, Tom learns the real story about Jessica when the teacher asks him to deliver homework to her. From this point Tom begins an uneasy friendship with Jessica.
Tom describes himself as the sweaty, chubby kid. He feels that nobody really notices him. This accounts for his sensitivity as he interacts with Jessica. Their awkward friendship begins to gain depth until Jessica’s family must leave down to have access to another hospital in a different city. Tom is changed forever for having known her albeit for a short period of time.
Tom does his best in a tough situation. His struggle to be fair and good is what makes the story compelling. He is not extraordinary; he is rather ordinary. The changes in his character are not extreme one way or another, but he does change. His self-examination and introspection are steps toward adulthood. In that, Firegirl is a coming-of-age story that centers on how Tom views friendship and deals with acceptance: it is about what stirs inside when a person looks beyond the surface and seeks a genuine connection with another person.
FIREGIRL
by Tony Abbott
Little, Brown for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0316011703
ISBN-13: 9780316011709
Ages 8-12
160 pages
Tom Bender's homeroom teacher at St. Catherine's School tries to prepare him and his fellow classmates for the addition of a special student. No amount of explanation can prepare them for the shocking appearance of Jessica Feeney, a burn victim who has moved to their town to receive special medical attention. Her face looks like a mask, her hands and arms are disfigured, and thick stockings cover her burned legs. Most of the children in the class can't even bring themselves to look at her, much less talk to her. The teacher seats Jessica between Tom and his best friend Jeff. While Jeff slides his desk far away from Jessica, Tom does his best to act normally around her even though inside he's terrified.
Before Jessica entered Tom's class, his biggest concerns in life were trying to impress Courtney Zisky and getting to take a ride in Jeff's uncle's Cobra. Jeff's homeroom class learned that they will have a class election for President just minutes before Jessica's arrival. Through the election process the reader learns more about the students in Tom's class. Tom has no intention of running for President, but he plans to nominate Courtney to get her attention. Of course no one is thinking about nominating Jessica.
Shortly after Jessica's arrival, rumors begin to circulate about how she was burned in a fire. The rumors get wilder and more far-fetched every day. Tom learns the truth about Jessica when the teacher asks him to deliver homework to her one day after school. He begins a tentative friendship with her that changes his outlook on life.
This powerful, emotional novel told in first person will touch readers' hearts. Some situations come only once in a person's lifetime, but they are enough to change that individual forever. Don't miss the opportunity to be moved by FIREGIRL.
--- Reviewed by Renee Kirchner (renee.kirchner@usa.net)
Friday, April 1, 2011
Classroom Activities
Activity 1:
There are many follow-up activities you could do with Joey Pigza Loses Control. I think one that would be really fun for kids would be to make a board game. The start would be Joey’s dad’s house and the finish would be his mom’s house, because throughout the story all he wants to do is be home with his mother. The pawns that you could pick from would be characters in the book: Joey, his mother, his father, his grandma, and Pablo, his dog. The students would roll a die and move accordingly. Then when you land on a square, the student would draw a card. Some of the cards will have questions about the book, which if the student gets right they advance two spaces, if they get it wrong they stay where they are. The other cards will state something that happened to Joey either good or bad. For example one of the cards might say, Joey’s dad throws away his medicine go back five spaces, or Joey pitches a perfect game go forward four spaces. The student that gets to the finish first wins. I think games are a good way to reiterate for students what happened in the book. Most people enjoy board games. I think the kids would have a lot of fun with this activity, because it puts them in Joey’s shoes. They experience what Joey goes through in the book.
Activity 2:
Another follow-up activity the students could do would be to make a postcard. The students would pretend that they are Joey writing a postcard home to Joey’s mother. The students would write in the postcard some of the things that they (Joey) had done with their father. It should be a highlight of Joey’s favorite moments of his trip with his dad. Students can be as creative as possible. I also think that the students should have the front side of the postcard be a picture of somewhere or something that Joey did while in Pennsylvania. I think having the students write a postcard is a good way for them to show their creativity. Most children write postcards to either family or friends while they are on vacation. It is an activity that most students can relate to, and probably have done on their own time.
Activity 3:
Another activity the students could participate in is to do a reader’s theater scene from Joey Pigza Loses Control. The students could be divided into small groups. Each group would pick their favorite scene from the book and act it out in front of the whole class or a small group. There are so many memorable characters in this book I really think that children would have a lot of fun portraying them. Also, there are so many hilarious scenes in this story the students have a lot of options. I think acting scenes out is a great way for students to show their imagination. The students could also use the characters from the book, but make up a scene that wasn’t in the book.
Activity 4:
Another activity the students could partake in would be to make baseball cards. Baseball is a big part of the story. The students could make a baseball card for Joey stating his record. They could also make up baseball cards for the whole team, including themselves in the team. I think this is a fun way for the students to again show their creativity. They can make up characters that would be on the team, or even make baseball cards for the teams that Joey played against.
Activity 5:
Another activity, the kids could do after reading this book would be to have the kids find someone they know with Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) and interview that person. Beforehand, the children should think of ten to twenty questions they have about ADHD. After, interviewing the person with ADHD, the children should write a paper about the similarities and differences between the person they interviewed and Joey Pigza. I think this activity is good, because it shows the students that even though many people can have the same disorder they aren’t all affected the same way. It illustrates that a disorder can affect people in different ways. Also, the activity makes the students more aware of the struggles ADHD people go through everyday. Hopefully, the children become more accepting of the disorder.
Possible interview questions:
• When were you diagnosed with Attention Deficit/ Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) or Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)?
• What was your initial reaction when you found out that you had ADHD or ADD?
• Do you take any medications for your disorder?
• Do you believe that medication is beneficial for a person diagnosed with ADHD or ADD?
• What are some challenges that a person with ADHD or ADD faces in a regular day?
• What personally has been your biggest challenge to overcome since being diagnosed with ADD or ADHD?
• How has ADHD or ADD changed your life?
• Do people treat you differently when they learn that you have ADHD or ADD?
• Do you have any advice for other people that are struggling with their ADHD or ADD?
Questions? Contact Ms. Kiefer at kieferja@uwec.edu
There are many follow-up activities you could do with Joey Pigza Loses Control. I think one that would be really fun for kids would be to make a board game. The start would be Joey’s dad’s house and the finish would be his mom’s house, because throughout the story all he wants to do is be home with his mother. The pawns that you could pick from would be characters in the book: Joey, his mother, his father, his grandma, and Pablo, his dog. The students would roll a die and move accordingly. Then when you land on a square, the student would draw a card. Some of the cards will have questions about the book, which if the student gets right they advance two spaces, if they get it wrong they stay where they are. The other cards will state something that happened to Joey either good or bad. For example one of the cards might say, Joey’s dad throws away his medicine go back five spaces, or Joey pitches a perfect game go forward four spaces. The student that gets to the finish first wins. I think games are a good way to reiterate for students what happened in the book. Most people enjoy board games. I think the kids would have a lot of fun with this activity, because it puts them in Joey’s shoes. They experience what Joey goes through in the book.
Activity 2:
Another follow-up activity the students could do would be to make a postcard. The students would pretend that they are Joey writing a postcard home to Joey’s mother. The students would write in the postcard some of the things that they (Joey) had done with their father. It should be a highlight of Joey’s favorite moments of his trip with his dad. Students can be as creative as possible. I also think that the students should have the front side of the postcard be a picture of somewhere or something that Joey did while in Pennsylvania. I think having the students write a postcard is a good way for them to show their creativity. Most children write postcards to either family or friends while they are on vacation. It is an activity that most students can relate to, and probably have done on their own time.
Activity 3:
Another activity the students could participate in is to do a reader’s theater scene from Joey Pigza Loses Control. The students could be divided into small groups. Each group would pick their favorite scene from the book and act it out in front of the whole class or a small group. There are so many memorable characters in this book I really think that children would have a lot of fun portraying them. Also, there are so many hilarious scenes in this story the students have a lot of options. I think acting scenes out is a great way for students to show their imagination. The students could also use the characters from the book, but make up a scene that wasn’t in the book.
Activity 4:
Another activity the students could partake in would be to make baseball cards. Baseball is a big part of the story. The students could make a baseball card for Joey stating his record. They could also make up baseball cards for the whole team, including themselves in the team. I think this is a fun way for the students to again show their creativity. They can make up characters that would be on the team, or even make baseball cards for the teams that Joey played against.
Activity 5:
Another activity, the kids could do after reading this book would be to have the kids find someone they know with Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) and interview that person. Beforehand, the children should think of ten to twenty questions they have about ADHD. After, interviewing the person with ADHD, the children should write a paper about the similarities and differences between the person they interviewed and Joey Pigza. I think this activity is good, because it shows the students that even though many people can have the same disorder they aren’t all affected the same way. It illustrates that a disorder can affect people in different ways. Also, the activity makes the students more aware of the struggles ADHD people go through everyday. Hopefully, the children become more accepting of the disorder.
Possible interview questions:
• When were you diagnosed with Attention Deficit/ Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) or Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)?
• What was your initial reaction when you found out that you had ADHD or ADD?
• Do you take any medications for your disorder?
• Do you believe that medication is beneficial for a person diagnosed with ADHD or ADD?
• What are some challenges that a person with ADHD or ADD faces in a regular day?
• What personally has been your biggest challenge to overcome since being diagnosed with ADD or ADHD?
• How has ADHD or ADD changed your life?
• Do people treat you differently when they learn that you have ADHD or ADD?
• Do you have any advice for other people that are struggling with their ADHD or ADD?
Questions? Contact Ms. Kiefer at kieferja@uwec.edu
Discussion Questions
Joey Pigza Loses Control by Jack Gantos
Summary
When Joey Pigza meets his dad, Carter, for the first time in years, he meets a grownup version of his old hyperactive self - the way he was before his stint in special ed, the way he was before he got his new meds. During their summer visit together, Carter is eager to make up to his son for past wrongs. He wants to teach Joey how to be a winner. He wants to show Joey how to take control of his own life. And Joey is willing to do whatever his dad says, even though he fears it will do him more harm than good.
196 pages, 4th grade and up
Discussion questions
Spoiler alert! Some of the questions contain key elements of the plot. Do not read if you don't want to know what happens!
As the book opens we learn that Joey is on his way to visit his father. What is he expecting the trip will be like?
Joey says about his dad "I just want him to love me as much as I already love him" (pg. 10). Do you think this is possible? Why or why not?
There are several funny scenes in the book. Pick out your favorite and read it aloud to the group.
What is Joey's dad like? What problems does he face?
How does Joey feel about his grandma? What kind of person is she? How did she raise Joey's father?
Why do you think Joey's father wants him to stop using the patches?
What happens after the patches are flushed down the toilet?
What is Joey's experience on the baseball team like? What motivates Joey's dad to be a coach?
When does Joey realize he is losing control? How does he take that control back?
What does Joey learn about himself and his family during his trip?
What do you predict is the future for each of the characters in the novel?
Snacks: Joey has a hard time with food that has a lot of sugar. Try fruit, pretzels, or granola bars.
Created in part with funds granted by the Oregon State Library under the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the Oregon State Library. Send feedback to Katie O'Dell, School-age Services Manager
Summary
When Joey Pigza meets his dad, Carter, for the first time in years, he meets a grownup version of his old hyperactive self - the way he was before his stint in special ed, the way he was before he got his new meds. During their summer visit together, Carter is eager to make up to his son for past wrongs. He wants to teach Joey how to be a winner. He wants to show Joey how to take control of his own life. And Joey is willing to do whatever his dad says, even though he fears it will do him more harm than good.
196 pages, 4th grade and up
Discussion questions
Spoiler alert! Some of the questions contain key elements of the plot. Do not read if you don't want to know what happens!
As the book opens we learn that Joey is on his way to visit his father. What is he expecting the trip will be like?
Joey says about his dad "I just want him to love me as much as I already love him" (pg. 10). Do you think this is possible? Why or why not?
There are several funny scenes in the book. Pick out your favorite and read it aloud to the group.
What is Joey's dad like? What problems does he face?
How does Joey feel about his grandma? What kind of person is she? How did she raise Joey's father?
Why do you think Joey's father wants him to stop using the patches?
What happens after the patches are flushed down the toilet?
What is Joey's experience on the baseball team like? What motivates Joey's dad to be a coach?
When does Joey realize he is losing control? How does he take that control back?
What does Joey learn about himself and his family during his trip?
What do you predict is the future for each of the characters in the novel?
Snacks: Joey has a hard time with food that has a lot of sugar. Try fruit, pretzels, or granola bars.
Created in part with funds granted by the Oregon State Library under the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the Oregon State Library. Send feedback to Katie O'Dell, School-age Services Manager
April's Book of the Month
Lesson Plan for "Joey Pigza Loses Control"
Subject Area : Language Arts
Reading Level : 5.2
Book Summary
Joey Pigza is about to meet his match — in the form of his estranged father, Carter Pigza. After being separated from his dad for many years, Joey now has the opportunity to spend an adventurous summer with him and his crazy grandma. Obviously, Joey has mixed feelings about the trip. He's heard plenty of less-than-glorious stories about his dad — particularly from his mom, who calls his father "wired" and "like you, only bigger." And Joey knows exactly what his mom means: Before Joey started taking his new medication for hyperactivity and attention-deficit disorder, he used to be "wired" like a light bulb, too. But Joey still clings to the hope that his dad can change, and he dreams of a day when his family will be reunited again. Can people ever really change? This is the powerful life lesson Joey (and the reader) learns after a wild and woolly summer with Dad.
Objective
Students will understand and explore a major conflict in the novel through personal reflection, class discussion, and poetry writing.
Standard: Understands specific devices an author uses to accomplish his or her purpose (e.g., establishing a conflict)
Warm-up Activity
Read students the passage on page 52 in which Joey talks about "becoming two Joeys" — "one Joey for Mom and a different Joey for Dad."
As a class, discuss what Joey means in the above quote. Ask students: Have you ever felt this way? When? Why? They may wish to share their personal stories of feeling like two different people; for example, a student may feel like one person with their friends and a different person with their parents or teachers. What problems does this cause for you? What problems does this cause for Joey?
Teaching Plan
Once students know that "becoming two Joeys" is a big problem for the main character, explain that it is one of the main conflicts in the novel. If needed, define the term conflict — a central problem in a story, often an internal or external struggle for the main character that is resolved by the end. Brainstorm examples of other conflicts Joey faces (e.g., Joey's hope that his father can change vs. his realization that his dad is still the same difficult person) to further explain this concept.
Ask students to imagine the "two Joeys" having a dialogue or conversation. What would they say to each other? What is on the mind of "Mom's Joey"? What is on the mind of "Dad's Joey"? Make a list of the different thoughts, concerns, and opinions of the two Joeys.
Tell the class they are going to write a "Poem for Two Voices" for the two Joeys. Read and show them examples of this poetic form so they better understand the model. (See Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices by Paul Fleischman.) Explain that their poems will resemble a dialogue or conversation between the two Joeys, in which they speak and respond to each other. For instance, Dad's Joey might ask a question, and Mom's Joey would answer. During the writing process, students will draft, revise, edit, and publish their work.
Follow-up Activity
Organize a class Poetry Reading in which students share their "Poems for Two Voices." After the reading, discuss how the individual poems illustrate and express Joey's internal conflict in the book.
Other Books About Family Issues
Jack
by A. M. Holmes
The humorous, heartwarming story of a boy who finds out his father is gay, and how he grapples with his desire to be a "normal" teenager.
Tangerine
by Edward Bloom
When Paul's family relocates to Tangerine, Florida, his life is anything but normal. As he adapts to his surroundings, Paul soon uncovers a terrible secret that leads directly to his brother.
Other Books by Jack Gantos
Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key
The Rotten Ralph Series
Teaching plan written by Lauren Gold
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
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