A Summer to Die

by Lois Lowry

Part I

Lowry, L. (2012). A summer to die. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin.

 

Genre: Young Adult

Grade Level: 6-8

 

 

Part II

 

The title, A Summer to Die, alone sounds sad. Summer is happy and fun, death is the complete opposite. When I read the title I instantly thought, this is going   to be a sad book, and that makes perfect sense to me as to why it is a young adult novel. As I finished the book, I was pleased to find a happy ending. I wasn't sure because the young adult novels tend to end with questions and tears. I was really fascinated to find this novel having a circle of life theme and it will go my bookshelf in the future.

 

 Part III

This novel was a first person point of view, which personally is one of my favorites. For a young adult novel, I feel it is important to grab the reader because at the young adult age it is hard. The novel also discusses death, circle of life, personal growth, and many more issues that young adults faces more tragically then children and adults.



Part IV

Grade 8
Objective:

• Students will identify with the characters, theme, and point of view
• Students will respond to 2 of 3 essay questions
• Students will reflect their personal response to novel

 Discussion questions/Essay questions:

1. Personal identity was a main theme in this book. Where does this theme appear and how does its inclusion in the novel shape the course of the plot? Provide examples from the book.

2. Meg and Molly are two very similar people, yet they have some very notable and important differences. Write a compare/contrast essay about these two characters and use the text to cite examples to support your argument.

3. Why does the family move to the country and what changes occur in their lives because of this move? Provide specific examples from the book to support your essay.

Lesson Sketch:

1. Students will individually read A Summer to Die
2. Students will select 2 of 3 essay questions and respond to each
3. Students will personally respond to novel as a whole

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.8.2
Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to the characters, setting, and plot; provide an objective summary of the text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.8.3
Analyze how particular lines of dialogue or incidents in a story or drama propel the action, reveal aspects of a character, or provoke a decision.

Outside Sources:
http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/comparing-and-contrasting/ -How to write a compare/contrast essay
http://www.loislowry.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=67&Itemid=196 -Lois Lowry's personal website for learning more about the author
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/A-Summer-to-Die-Lesson-Plans-850157 -Teachers helping teachers create lesson plans- sign up is free