English 4B Spring 2021

  Upon completion of reading your novel, what have you learned about a different culture?  What shocked you?  What seemed strange to you?  What couldn't you believe?  Take time to give specific examples from your novel that share what you learned about history and a different culture.  Share your feelings about what you read.

  Imagery is key to capturing the reader's imagination and taking him/her on the adventure within the book.  All 4 authors use several different techniques to paint a picture in your mind of the scenes within the plot of the book.  Share two or three images that have been captured in your mind through the author's word choice.  Why are these images so vivid, and how did the author manage to accomplish this task?  Be sure to include  specific details  of what you envisioned through the author's words.

  In all five novels, the main character or characters face adversity in one way or another.  Choose on of the main characters in your book.  Describe how you view the character's challenges in your book, and talk about how your character handles the hardships and struggles.  If you were in your main character's situation, how would you handle yourself? What would you do?

  With the introduction of the new novel, share in your blog what attracted you to this novel.  What is the primary focus in your novel, and how are the main character or characters handling this situation? After reading the first few chapters, what are your initial thoughts about the book?  Slow start?  Jumps right in?  Share your first impressions.

    The endings of  Chinese Handcuffs, Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, Running Loose,  and  Stotan!  leave the reader with some unanswered questions. Chris Crutcher assumes the reader knows the ending, but he doesn't come out and say it.  You take control and write the overview of one more chapter to these books.  If there was one last chapter, what would it be about.  How would you tie up loose ends, if you were the author?