Pre-service teachers used blogs to discuss award-winning Newbery books using reading roles creativiely adapted from Harvey Daniel's 'Literature Circles: Voice and Choice in the Student-centered Classroom'. Contact Anne Davis at adavis@gsu.edu if you have questions.
These blogs were moved from Manila blogs to TypePad blogs. The author shows up on each post as Anne Davis as a result of the transfer. The original posts were made by students and the instructors Lynne Jordan & Anne Davis. The initials on the post title signify who did the actual blogging of the post.
One page 221, the scene is when Prudence read from the Bible for Dr. Buckley at Kit's hearing. Goodwife Cruff is denying that the child could read and it is withchraft. Then, Mr. Cruff speaks up and tells her to hold her tongue! I was so happy at that moment. Now maybe the litlle girl will be cared for and educated.
With an abrupt scrape of wood Matthew pushed back his chair. "Her allegiance is in no danger in this house," he announced angrily. "What are you implying, Gershom?"
"I meant nothing to offend you, Matthew," said the older man.
"Then watch your words. May I remind you I am a selectman in this town? I am no traitor!"
"I said no such thing, nor did I mean it. Mistaken, Matthew, I hold to that, but not a traitor-yet."
I definitely sensed some political hostility during this passage. I am very curious as to how this disagreement will play out during the rest of the book. I am also interested in finding out more background information on this time during colonial history. Does anyone have any insight on the political climate that might have pervaded Wethersfield? What were the opposing views at this time?
...a knock sounded at the door (Uh-Oh, not again!)
Kit went into the hallway, leaving the kitchen door open behind her, drew back the bolt, and opened the door. A gaunt, ragged figure stood on the step, and as she shrank back a man pushed his way through the door and haulted on the kitched threshold. Judith suddenly let fall a wooden bowl with a clatter.
Can it be? (Who?! Who?!)
The man did not even hear her. His eyes had gone straight to Mercy where she sat by the hearth, and her own eyes stared back, enormous in her white face. (Awwwwww)
Then with a hoarse, wordless sigh, John Holbrook stumbled across the room, and went down on his knees with his head in Mercy's lap.
I just felt like this scene needed revisited because it was such a life changing and conflict resolving event for this book. What did you think when you read this passage? Have you ever had a homecoming with parallel joy?
"There's a fellow here says he is an important witness for the case."
Every voice was suddenly stilled.
Nat! The wave of joy and relief was so unexpected that she almost lost her balance, but almost instantly it drained away and left a new fear. For she saw that beside him, clinging tightly to his hand, was Prudence Cruff.
Nat put his hands on the child's shoulders and gently urged her forward. With one trusting look up at his face, Prudence walked steadily toward the magistrate's table.
This passage was so exciting to me! I could just picture a court illustrator going crazy with his crayons and pencils, trying to capture the emotion in the room. Wouldn't it be fun to let the students illustrate this scene much like a courtroom illustrator would? Contents should include a shocked Kit, a confident Nat, a frail little Prudence, a batty Mrs. Cruff and a line of stiff judges. It would be a great lesson in visualizing.
"Judith! Her jubilant feet came suddenly to a halt. How could she have forgotten? Ought she to have said something to John, warned him somehow? No, she could hardly have done that..." p. 140.
Kit' s decision not to help may have caused John to marry Judith instead of Mercy, which is who he really wants. At the end of chapter 13, we see how certain pressure and obligations may affect the lives of others. Could Kit have done something to prevent this confusion? Do you think John will ever speak up or do you think he will marry Judith out of pressure and obligation? If so, do you think Mercy will ever forgive him and marry him instead?
Do you remember being Kit's age and beginning to develop a style in your dress? I do. I wasn't able to have all the nice clothes that I wanted, and it was fun to raid my older sister's closet to try on some of her good dresses. It was a pre-teen dress up party for one. I was reliving that again when I read the passage describing Judith and Mercy wearing gloves, dresses, scarves, and hats from Kit's trunks. How incredible it must have felt to change from the itchy, wool, drab dresses Judith and Mercy wore into the silky, soft, elegant gowns Kit had worn.
You can reread that passage on pages 40 and 41.
pg. 31
'Remember', he said softly. 'Only the guilty ones stay afloat.' And then he was gone.
What a way to say good-bye! I think Nat was trying to warn Kit to keep her unusual ways on the down low. Maybe he is telling her that if she publicizes herself too much people are bound to say she's a witch just because she is different. Their proof would be the fact that she is able to swim and stay afloat.
What do you think? Was it a simple good-bye or was it a warning? Help me out you guys!
Found on pg.18, paragraph 2, the following reads:
"When that moment came, Kit made sure that his eyes, blinking half blindly from his book, would focus oh her gay, silk-clad figure nearby."
Ohhhhhhh, I think Kit has a crush! or does she? She is referring to John, the son of the town tanner. Do you see any more details in the chapter that would also lend us to think that romance is in the air?Are the feelings mutual?Am I just being a girl hoping that our book won the Newberry Award metal because it is a little spicy? I am interested to keep reading to find out.
