Wreck of the Zanzibar, The
Publication Information
Author:  Morpurgo, Michael	Illustrator:  Place, Francois
Title:  Wreck of the Zanzibar, The	Date:  1995
Publisher:  Viking	City:  New York, NY
ISBN, paperback:  0-670-86360-2	ISBN, hardback:
Recommended audience:
ABE/ABLE:   Yes	ESOL:
Family:   Yes	Young Adult:   Yes
Picture:
General Information:
Book Type(s):    diaries and journals, fiction
HSE Descriptor(s):
Summary:
When Laura Perryman dies, her great-nephew Michael gets her diary. The diary reveals remarkable stories about a time when people lived off the bounty (and at the mercy) of the ocean. This story "of a family bound by respect for nature seamlessly blends the past with the present, giving us an affecting tale of timeless wisdom" (book jacket).
Teaching Ideas:
Reading group members found this an engaging and endearing story. Students will find numerous response possibilities for either discussion or writing: Billy's need to roam, Granny Mae and Laura's relationship, how communities survive/help each other, multigenerational family dynamics and relationships, and gender issues. The book could also be used in a text set with other diaries/journals (e.g., Capturing Nature (Roop), I Columbus (Roop), Stranded at Plimoth (Bowen)) or with other family stories (e.g., Pink and Say (Polacco), Her Stories (Hamilton), Having Their Say (Delany & Delany)). Some geography ties are possible as well. Literary aspects, such as plot, characters, and setting, could provide focus for discussion, as could the technique of framing a story within a story.
Keywords: select any link below for a list of resources which also have that keyword
Emotions-Personal Issues > personal issues > individual > physical issues > gender Emotions-Personal Issues > personal issues > group > relationships > intergenerational Hardships > survival Geography > environment > ocean Family > extended family

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