Before+Reading

Before Reading

Why did you choose this novel? I chose this novel because I had a recommendation from Alice and Max. They both told me it was one of their favourite books if not their favourite and I thought it would be fantastic. I then also looked up the blurb online and it sounded exciting, emotional and engaging.

Have you read other books from this author? No I have actually never read any other books by Laurie Halse Anderson, but everyone in the class who had read her books were very impressed.

Look at the cover illustrations. What do you see? Why? I see a young girl with dark skin wearing a blue dress which seems a bit old or worn out. She is wearing a white shirt underneath that seems to be a bit small and a yellow headband. The girl seems to be staring out somewhere into the distance looking lonely. She is surrounded by chains and around the chains is a pattern of flowers and it is red and bright. I think this is meant to mean that she is on her own and needs to find someone to care for her. I think the bright happy colours are there to say that she is trapped in the chains while the wonderful world outside beckons to her, but there is no way out.

What kind of story do you think this will tell?

Judging from the blurb and the front cover I think it will be about a young black girl who is trying to escape some sort of torture and find her real place in the world other than being a slave. I think it will be a thrilling adventure and might be very emotional.

What are any questions that came to your mind while reading the first chapter? How did Miss Mary die? How did Ruth react to her mothers death? Would Isabel ever see ghosts? Did Mr Robert believe in ghosts?

I think that Isabel might see something that she thinks is a ghost or dream of one and think it is an important message. I also think that Ruth didn't totally understand why or where her mother is because she is so young.

My character I choose is Isabel. She is the main character and she seems to be very brave and strong.

I sat in the carriage the wind blowing my brown thick hair around and flicking me in the face. I looked down at the coffin at Mrs Mary. I would miss her, but we were free; me and Ruth could live like normal people. Suddenly we approached the graveyards. I swallowed slowly and started to shake as flashbacks of mummy slapped me in the face. "Sir" I asked him slowly. "May I... see her?" He paused for a second as I waited paitently. He nodded softly and i bowed my head extremely low so that he could see i was grateful. I jumped over the edge of the carriage and landed on the hard ground cutting my leg and watched as blood oozed out of it. I closed my eyes and beared the pain. I ran ahead to the graves until i found mummy. I bowed down and prayed for her and for her ghost to be safe. Mummy believed in ghosts and i do too. I wanted to see her ghost and i asked softly; pleaded for me to see it. I looked up and around. No ghost. I talked to her though and told her how i was and how Ruth was. Until suddenly Mr Robert shouted "Get back here you stupid slave." I sighed and remembered we were almost free. I walked back to the carriage when he grabbed my arm firmly and breathed on my face heavily. "I told you to be quick" he growled. I shivered and closed my eyes waiting to be hit. I opened my eyes feeling no pain. Why didn't he hit me? I looked up into his blue eyes that twinkled like blue shimmering lakes. Suddenly he frowned and slapped me hard across the face. Pain struck and i fell to the ground squeezing my eyes shut. I slowly got up and looked at his face. He was sitting up tall with a guiltless face and a grim smile spread across his mouth like nothing had happened. "Evil" I muttered softly so that nobody could hear. "Pure evil."