Book Detail

47

Publication Information
Author:  Mosley, Walter Illustrator:  
Title:  47 Date:  2005
Publisher:  Little, Brown, and Co. City:  New York
ISBN, paperback:  0-316-11035-3 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:
In this part fictional slave narrative and part science fiction story, 47, a young slave without a name, learns from mysterious Tall John how to "neither a master nor a nigger be".

Teaching Ideas:
Use the book in a text set on slavery. Readers will want to discuss the use of fantasy/myth with realistic descriptions of slavery: Is it effective? What does it contribute? Since the author calls attention to language use, readers will want to note examples of word choices, the juxtaposition of formal and colloquial language, and the comments of 47 on the use of words. Couple the reading of this novel with Virginia Hamilton's The People Could Fly to bring out the mythological dimension of the book. The symbolism of flight, which is used in both books, would make an interesting discussion. To read additional slave narratives, students can log onto http://xroads.virginia.edu/%7EHYPER/wpa/wpahome.html. Local libraries may have the CD audio recording with Ossie Davis as 47.

Teaching Strategies:
bullet Bleich's Heuristic for Responding to Reading
   http://literacy.kent.edu/eureka/strategies/bleichs_heuristic.pdf
bullet Discussion Webs
   http://literacy.kent.edu/eureka/strategies/discussion_webs.pdf
bullet DR-TA: Directed Reading Thinking Activity
   http://literacy.kent.edu/eureka/strategies/dr_ta.pdf
bullet Reader's Theater
   http://literacy.kent.edu/eureka/strategies/readers_theater.pdf
bullet Sketch to Stretch
   http://literacy.kent.edu/eureka/strategies/sketch_stretch.pdf

Keywords: select any link below for a list of resources which also have that keyword
bullet Ethnic Groups > African-American
bullet Emotions-Personal Issues > personal issues > individual > endurance
bullet Emotions-Personal Issues > personal issues > individual > freedom
bullet Emotions-Personal Issues > personal issues > group > values > inhumanity
bullet History > topic > war > Civil War > plantation life
bullet Literature and Language > storytelling
bullet Social Studies > sociology > social issues > racism
bullet Heroes and Heroines > mythological characters
bullet Work > slave labor


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