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All students will read the book The Revealers by Doug Wilhelm. Students will complete:

(1) Reading Response Question (1) Body Map

The Revealers by Doug Wilhelm GENRE: Realistic Fiction, Humor, Social/ Issues LEXILE: 580 INTEREST LEVEL: Grades 6-8

Parkland Middle School is a place the students call Darkland, because no one in it does much to stop the daily harassment of kids by other kids. Three bullied seventh graders use their smarts to get the better of their tormentors by starting an unofficial e-mail forum at school in which they publicize their experiences. Unexpectedly, lots of other kids come forward to confess their similar troubles, and it becomes clear that the problem at their school is bigger than anyone knew. The school principal wants to clamp down on the operation, which she does when the trio, in their zealousness for revenge, libel a fellow student in what turns out to have been a setup. Now a new plan of attack is needed . . . This suspenseful story of computer-era underground rebellion offers fresh perspectives on some of the most enduring themes in fiction for young readers. Summary from : http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/revealers

Students are expected to read the book and complete the two portions of the assignment before school starts. We will begin the year by working with the book, The Revealers and the two assignments will be used as the foundation for in class assignments during the first few weeks of the 2013-2014 school year. We hope you enjoy this book and we look forward to talking about it when the school year starts! Reading Response Question Students should choose one of the questions provided to answer after reading The Revealers. Two questions are considered “Challenge Questions” as they are slightly more difficult than the other four. Also, some questions have a “Challenge” portion which is optional, and students are not required to answer the challenge portion (but we encourage you to consider taking the challenge if you are up to it). Responses should be six to ten sentences long, and students should make sure that they have answered all portions of the question (“Challenge” optional). Responses can be typed or neatly handwritten on notebook paper. If you type your answer, please use a plain font such as Arial or Times New Roman. Please follow the format included in the detailed directions on the next page. Body Map Students will use the directions and the character outline of the next two pages to complete a visual diagram of one of the main characters in The Revealers. Students will explore this character’s thoughts, feelings, and actions. This portion of the summer reading assignment allows students to be creative. Make sure that you include all the information required in directions on your diagram and that it is clear and easy to read. Once that is done, feel free to decorate your chosen character in any way you see fit! If you choose to draw your own body (instead of using the one provided), please make sure that it is done on an 8½’’ x 11’’ sheet of paper.

Reading Response Question

Choose one of the following questions and respond to it in a well written 6-10 sentence paragraph. Use specific examples from the story to support your answers. A sample response (from a different book) is included below. The Revealers Summer Reading Questions

1. Several characters in the book change from the beginning to the end of the story. Pick one of these characters and describe three specific ways that he or she changes from the beginning to the end of the story. Be sure to make it clear to the which character you are writing about! (Challenge: How do other characters’ actions cause the character you chose to change?)

2. Throughout the book, characters tell their stories. Which character’s story surprised you the most? What did you think about that character at first? Why were you surprised by his or her story? How did your opinion of the character change after reading his/her story?

3. The Revealers is told from Russell’s point of view, but stories can change when they are told from

different perspectives. Describe how the story might have been different if it had been told from another character’s point of view (Elliot, Catalina, Richie Tucker, Big Chris, etc.). (Challenge: Pick an event from the book that the other character might have perceived differently and explain how they would have described the event.)

4. Pick a scene from the book that caused you to have strong feelings or emotions. Describe that

scene. Explain what it made you feel (surprise, anger, sadness, joy, hatred, pride, etc.). Explain why you felt that way after reading the scene.

Challenge Questions

5. After Russell is beat up, his mom calls the principal and he is afraid that that will make his situation worse, but Elliot says, “Don’t worry. Principal won’t do anything…She never does…” (Ch. 6). In your life, do you think that grown-ups understand problems that kids face? What do you think the principal should have done when she learned that Russell was being bullied?

6. Several characters in The Revealers are bullied throughout the book. Pick one character in the book

and explain how he or she is bullied. It is important for victims of bullying to have an ally or someone who stands up for them. Who is an ally for the character you chose (he or she may have more than one). Why is it important to be an ally?

Sample Answer

Sally Student Question #: 1

In the book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry changes from the beginning to the end of the story. At the beginning of the book, he does not think he is very special or important. He is living with his Aunt Petunia, his Uncle Vernon, and Cousin Dudley and all of them bully Harry constantly. For example, they make him sleep in a broom closet and make him do all the chores around the house. This makes Harry think that he is not very special at all. When Harry learns that he is a wizard he starts to realize that being different is not bad. He starts to make friends with people like Ron and Hermonione and he becomes more confident than he was at the beginning. Even though Harry never would have talked back to his Aunt or Uncle, at the end of the book he stands up to bullies like Draco Malfoy who picks on him and his friends and he even defeats the evil Lord Voldemordt and saves the world (for a little while, at least). At the beginning of the book I felt sorry for Harry but he was not very interesting. However, by the end of the book, he had become brave and heroic and I wanted him to beat everyone who was trying to stop him!

Body Map Instructions Purpose: The body map helps you think about and understand the character’s thoughts,

feelings, and actions. You will create a body map for Russell, Elliot, or Catalina in The Revealers by Doug

Wilhelm. Directions: 1. As you are reading, imagine how it feels to be the character you chose. Pretend you are him and imagine what it would be like to be in his situation. 2. Look at the chart and fill in the appropriate information in the right spots.

• Be sure to write the character’s name at the top of the body map! 3. Think about possible reasons why the character behaves the way he does and says the things he does.

• Feel free to decorate or “dress” your character in any way you want to as long as you include the information required! If you would like to create your own body outline, make sure that it is 8½’’ x 11’’ (a normal sized piece of paper).

• See sample Body Map below.

struggles

sees

says

thinks

hears

smells

does does

loves

emotions

strengths weaknesses

goes goes

support

Name Body Map Outline

Character