Melissa
After reading the books “Melissa” (previously known as George) by Alex Gino.
Be sure to include specific examples in your response.
1) In what ways does the main character in your book feel different from other kids? To what extent is the character treated as different by others? How is the character affected by their difference? Is the character seeking a form of acceptance or inclusion in the story, and do they find it? How? (If there are specific themes related to the idea of difference and acceptance that your book explores, you’re welcome to discuss those here as well.Be sure to include specific examples in your response.)
2) What does the author of your book do to invite readers to empathize with the central character even if the reader has never personally shared the character’s experiences? How is the character established as a complete and complex person who is more than
just their difference? At what points in the book did you feel most connected to the main character, and what did the author do to achieve that?
3) In most of the books you read, characters spend time in school. Discuss your character’s educational experience: Is it positive, negative, or mixed? What “best practices” are evident to you in the way their education is carried out (this includes decisions that teachers make as well as principals, nurses, or other school officials)? For those of you who are current or future educators, does the book provide any insights about working with children with differences?
4) If you were teaching this book in a classroom, what kind of learning activities might you pair with the book? (The activities you choose don’t have to relate specifically to the topic of difference, though they can if you’d like.) —You’re welcome to be creative in
your response to this prompt! Think of one or two activities, explain how they relate to your book, describe your learning objectives (what you want the students to learn from the activities), and provide some details or instructions to give us a sense of what the
activities would look like in the classroom.