Book Detail

Nightjohn

Publication Information
Author:  Paulsen, Gary Illustrator:  
Title:  Nightjohn Date:  1993
Publisher:  Delacorte City:  New York
ISBN, paperback:  0-385-30838-8 ISBN, hardback:  

Recommended audience:
ABE/ABLE:   Yes ESOL:  
Family:   Young Adult:   Yes
Picture:  

General Information:
Book Type(s):    fiction

HSE Descriptor(s):    social studies

Summary:
An escaped slave returns to the South to teach others how to read. This 92-page book is very bleak, and the violence is quite graphic.

Teaching Ideas:
Although the occasional use of dialect may confuse readers, this bleak portrayal of slavery and of the determination of slaves to learn to read may provide powerful reading. It may be used in a U.S. history unit (1830-1860) or in a unit on the African-American experience. As a follow up, students may want to discuss the symbolic versus real power of reading and the importance of literacy.

Keywords: select any link below for a list of resources which also have that keyword
bullet Ethnic Groups > African-American
bullet Education > literacy
bullet Emotions-Personal Issues > emotions > determination/perseverance
bullet Family > oral history
bullet Geography > locations > U.S. states/regions > Southern United States
bullet Hardships > adversity
bullet History > time period > 19th Century
bullet Social Studies > sociology > social issues > racism
bullet Social Studies > sociology > social issues > violence


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