Texts:
Whale Talk- Chris Crutcher
Samurai's Garden- Gail Tsukiyama
Tuck Everlasting- Natalie Babbitt
Statement:
The poetry interspersed sheds valuable light onto the relationship between Zazoo and Grand-Pierre, especially because some of the poems were written only by G-P, some together, and some only by Z. We see through the poetry how Z has grown up and become separate, although obviously still attached, from G-P.
Question:
What is the significance of the Duchess (the wife of the Doubtful Duke) having, like Zazoo, a cat that decided not to roam? Zazoo's sad grey cat provides her with solace, but what is the purpose of introducing another cat? Does this personally affect Zazoo? Especially when it comes from someone so unexpected?
Monday, May 12, 2008
Zazoo
The Sound of Music by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse
Night by Elie Wiesel
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
Statement:
I loved the style of writing that this book was written with. The imagery that Mr. Mosher uses keeps the book stimulating and highly visual.
Question:
Throughout the novel we deal with the theme of openness and truth. However I find that the taboos or what is kept hidden is switched from what people normally open up about. For example, Zazoo is comfortable and open expressing her thoughts on her "doudones" and sex with the male figures in her life, yet is hesitant to hear the stories of their past. Why would Mr. Mosher do this?
Ashley Haugen
Night by Elie Wiesel
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
Statement:
I loved the style of writing that this book was written with. The imagery that Mr. Mosher uses keeps the book stimulating and highly visual.
Question:
Throughout the novel we deal with the theme of openness and truth. However I find that the taboos or what is kept hidden is switched from what people normally open up about. For example, Zazoo is comfortable and open expressing her thoughts on her "doudones" and sex with the male figures in her life, yet is hesitant to hear the stories of their past. Why would Mr. Mosher do this?
Ashley Haugen
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Zazoo
Mrs. Dalloway, by Virginia Woolf
The Castle of Crossed Destinies, by Italo Calvino
A House Like a Lotus, by Madeline L'Engle
I liked the variety of methods we are given to learn about Zazoo's life. Rather than feeling as though Zazoo was reciting her story to me in a linear fashion, different bits of her history were revealed as they came to mind. Readers learn about her life through her poetry, her thoughts, and her conversations with Marius, Uncle Felix, Grand-Pierre, and Juliette.
I have recently become critical of first-person narratives (wondering why this story is being told), and when I first started reading Zazoo, I didn't expect to like it for that reason. However, the story-telling felt natural. Did the variety of story-telling methods work for others? Would it have been stronger with a third-person limited or omniscient narrator? (I'm undecided.)
Becky Andert
The Castle of Crossed Destinies, by Italo Calvino
A House Like a Lotus, by Madeline L'Engle
I liked the variety of methods we are given to learn about Zazoo's life. Rather than feeling as though Zazoo was reciting her story to me in a linear fashion, different bits of her history were revealed as they came to mind. Readers learn about her life through her poetry, her thoughts, and her conversations with Marius, Uncle Felix, Grand-Pierre, and Juliette.
I have recently become critical of first-person narratives (wondering why this story is being told), and when I first started reading Zazoo, I didn't expect to like it for that reason. However, the story-telling felt natural. Did the variety of story-telling methods work for others? Would it have been stronger with a third-person limited or omniscient narrator? (I'm undecided.)
Becky Andert
Zazoo
Books:
Speak by L.H. Anderson
Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery
Samurai's Garden by Gail Tsukiyama
Question:
Is it strange at all that no person in the town takes special note of Zazoo's situation? I feel like with Grande Pierre's failing health, and she being only thirteen years old, that special precautions would be in line for her well being. I was surprised that not even Monsieur Klien did not even think of special arrangements for if Grande Pierre were to die.
Comment:
I really love that Zazoo is not extremely caught up in the drama most thirteen year olds are caught up in. She is still dealing with boys, fights with best friends, school and a grandfather with wavering health, but she is so very mature about it all. She still is more concerned with the beauty and poetry that surrounds her. She does not dwell on these things nearly as much as I did at that age and I admire her.
Speak by L.H. Anderson
Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery
Samurai's Garden by Gail Tsukiyama
Question:
Is it strange at all that no person in the town takes special note of Zazoo's situation? I feel like with Grande Pierre's failing health, and she being only thirteen years old, that special precautions would be in line for her well being. I was surprised that not even Monsieur Klien did not even think of special arrangements for if Grande Pierre were to die.
Comment:
I really love that Zazoo is not extremely caught up in the drama most thirteen year olds are caught up in. She is still dealing with boys, fights with best friends, school and a grandfather with wavering health, but she is so very mature about it all. She still is more concerned with the beauty and poetry that surrounds her. She does not dwell on these things nearly as much as I did at that age and I admire her.
Zazoo
Books:
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia Maclachlan
Statement:
The weaving of poetic verse and history is alluring. It's fun to see historical fiction written for someone other than elementary school and adult audiences. Many teen fiction pieces are fantasy/science fiction or 'normal' drama in set in stereotypical high schools-Mosher's book is refreshing.
Question(s):
How far does Grand Pierre decline? What effect does Grand Pierre's declining condition have on Zazoo? She seems to cope well, but is there something she's hiding from the reader? Do Zazoo and Marius repair/continue/develop their relationship?
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia Maclachlan
Statement:
The weaving of poetic verse and history is alluring. It's fun to see historical fiction written for someone other than elementary school and adult audiences. Many teen fiction pieces are fantasy/science fiction or 'normal' drama in set in stereotypical high schools-Mosher's book is refreshing.
Question(s):
How far does Grand Pierre decline? What effect does Grand Pierre's declining condition have on Zazoo? She seems to cope well, but is there something she's hiding from the reader? Do Zazoo and Marius repair/continue/develop their relationship?
Zazoo
Related Texts:
The Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Star Girl by Jerri Spinelli
Comment:
I felt like Mosher did an excellent job of re-telling history. I'm not that big of a history fan. When I read historical things, I usually don't comprehend anything I read. Zazoo kept my interest throughout the whole book. I actually enjoyed learning from this book. I think this book would be an excellent book to use in the classroom.
Question:
I really liked how Mosher arranged the chapters. Why did Mosher feel the need to arrange the book and chapters like this? Also, I had a hard time figuring out if the book was Zazoo's journal? At times it seemed like the book could be a journal, but at other times it feels like it is being narrated.
Holly Bohlen
The Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Star Girl by Jerri Spinelli
Comment:
I felt like Mosher did an excellent job of re-telling history. I'm not that big of a history fan. When I read historical things, I usually don't comprehend anything I read. Zazoo kept my interest throughout the whole book. I actually enjoyed learning from this book. I think this book would be an excellent book to use in the classroom.
Question:
I really liked how Mosher arranged the chapters. Why did Mosher feel the need to arrange the book and chapters like this? Also, I had a hard time figuring out if the book was Zazoo's journal? At times it seemed like the book could be a journal, but at other times it feels like it is being narrated.
Holly Bohlen
Zazoo
The Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan
Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter
The poetry and history in the story make it a really good addition to any classroom. The history is well researched and the inclusion of poetry makes the book very well rounded.
I really love how Mosher titled and formatted the chapters. The titles were all very mysterious and starting chapters in the middle of pages was definitely an original idea. Why did he choose to do it that way?
Paige
Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan
Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter
The poetry and history in the story make it a really good addition to any classroom. The history is well researched and the inclusion of poetry makes the book very well rounded.
I really love how Mosher titled and formatted the chapters. The titles were all very mysterious and starting chapters in the middle of pages was definitely an original idea. Why did he choose to do it that way?
Paige
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