Sarney
Publication Information
Author:  Paulsen, Gary	Illustrator:
Title:  Sarney	Date:  1997
Publisher:  Delacorte	City:  New York
ISBN, paperback:  0-385-32195-3	ISBN, hardback:
Recommended audience:
ABE/ABLE:   Yes	ESOL:
Family:	Young Adult:   Yes
Picture:
General Information:
Book Type(s):    biography and autobiography, historical fiction
HSE Descriptor(s):    social studies
Summary:
A sequel to Nightjohn, the book follows the life of Sarny, the slave girl that Nightjohn taught to read, as she travels to New Orleans in the aftermath of the Civil War to find her children who had been sold into slavery.
Teaching Ideas:
The book could be included in several text sets (see keywords). Students could keep reader response journals. The role of both formal and experiential education in Sarny's life is worth exploring. Use a Venn diagram to chart the comparison and contrast of life in New Orleans with life on the plantation. Other classroom teaching strategies that would work well are DR-TA, character sketches, and Readers' Theater (for interesting excerpts).
Teaching Strategies:
DR-TA: Directed Reading Thinking Activity    http://literacy.kent.edu/eureka/strategies/dr_ta.pdf
Venn Diagrams    http://literacy.kent.edu/eureka/strategies/venn_diagrams.pdf
Keywords: select any link below for a list of resources which also have that keyword
Ethnic Groups > African-American Education > literacy Emotions-Personal Issues > emotions > death Emotions-Personal Issues > emotions > determination/perseverance Emotions-Personal Issues > personal issues > individual > freedom Family > mothers > mother-child relationships Communities > urban > urban living History > topic > war > reconstruction

We welcome your comments