Dead End in Norvelt
By: Jack Gantos
Published by Farrar Straus Giroux
Copyright 2011
2012 Newbery Medal Winner
Dead End in Norvelt is about a boy, Jack, who is grounded for "life" by both of his parents. But what he thought would be a boring summer turned into a very exciting and interesting one. His neighbor, Mrs. Volker, asked him to help her out because with her arthritic hands she was unable to write the obituaries for the town anymore. Soon after he started he noticed that the old people of Norvelt were dropping like flies and they could not figure out why, until the suspicions grew stronger and people of the town wanted to get to the bottom of it.
Suspenseful, Historic, Funny, Descriptive, Different
Reading Level/Lexile
6th Grade, 3rd month/920L
Suggested Delivery
Independent Read
Electronic Resources
http://www.jackgantos.com/
This is the authors website which provides information on the book, Dead End in Norvelt, other books he has written and also information about the author himself. This website is very user friendly and will allow the students to research more about Jack Gantos and his other work.
http://www.biography.com/people/eleanor-roosevelt-9463366
This is a website that focuses on Eleanor Roosevelt, who was a main focus in the book. This website will allow the students to learn more about Eleanor and her accomplishments in history. This way they will be familiar with her as a person and they will be able to relate to the story a little more.
Teaching Suggestions
1. A teacher can use this book as an introduction to a history lesson on Eleanor Roosevelt.
2. A teacher can use this book for a book report.
3. A teacher can use this book as the last book of the year to talk about the summer.
Vocabulary
1. sinister
2. carnage
3. barter
4. feral
5. tirade
6. restorative
Before Reading
The students will have to research Eleanor Roosevelt and create their own biography on her life. They will use books at the library and some reliable internet resources. Their final project will have a hand drawn portrait of Mrs. Roosevelt, information about her life, and a works cited. This will allow the students to become familiar with Eleanor Roosevelt, because throughout the book she is referenced.
During Reading
The students will keep a vocabulary journal while they are reading the book. They will write down words that are unfamiliar, words that they have seen but aren't sure of the definition and other words they would like to learn the correct definition of. After reading the chapter they will use a dictionary and write down the definition in their own journal and write a sentence using the word.
After Reading
After the students read this book they will discuss it within small groups. They will be given a few prompt questions but are expected to branch off those questions and create a discussion regarding the conflict in the book, character relationships and other topics.
Writing Activity
The students will write about their own summer adventure. It can either be fictional or nonfictional and discuss an adventure they would have if they were grounded for the whole entire summer.
By: Jack Gantos
Published by Farrar Straus Giroux
Copyright 2011
2012 Newbery Medal Winner
Dead End in Norvelt is about a boy, Jack, who is grounded for "life" by both of his parents. But what he thought would be a boring summer turned into a very exciting and interesting one. His neighbor, Mrs. Volker, asked him to help her out because with her arthritic hands she was unable to write the obituaries for the town anymore. Soon after he started he noticed that the old people of Norvelt were dropping like flies and they could not figure out why, until the suspicions grew stronger and people of the town wanted to get to the bottom of it.
Suspenseful, Historic, Funny, Descriptive, Different
Reading Level/Lexile
6th Grade, 3rd month/920L
Suggested Delivery
Independent Read
Electronic Resources
http://www.jackgantos.com/
This is the authors website which provides information on the book, Dead End in Norvelt, other books he has written and also information about the author himself. This website is very user friendly and will allow the students to research more about Jack Gantos and his other work.
http://www.biography.com/people/eleanor-roosevelt-9463366
This is a website that focuses on Eleanor Roosevelt, who was a main focus in the book. This website will allow the students to learn more about Eleanor and her accomplishments in history. This way they will be familiar with her as a person and they will be able to relate to the story a little more.
Teaching Suggestions
1. A teacher can use this book as an introduction to a history lesson on Eleanor Roosevelt.
2. A teacher can use this book for a book report.
3. A teacher can use this book as the last book of the year to talk about the summer.
Vocabulary
1. sinister
2. carnage
3. barter
4. feral
5. tirade
6. restorative
Before Reading
The students will have to research Eleanor Roosevelt and create their own biography on her life. They will use books at the library and some reliable internet resources. Their final project will have a hand drawn portrait of Mrs. Roosevelt, information about her life, and a works cited. This will allow the students to become familiar with Eleanor Roosevelt, because throughout the book she is referenced.
During Reading
The students will keep a vocabulary journal while they are reading the book. They will write down words that are unfamiliar, words that they have seen but aren't sure of the definition and other words they would like to learn the correct definition of. After reading the chapter they will use a dictionary and write down the definition in their own journal and write a sentence using the word.
After Reading
After the students read this book they will discuss it within small groups. They will be given a few prompt questions but are expected to branch off those questions and create a discussion regarding the conflict in the book, character relationships and other topics.
Writing Activity
The students will write about their own summer adventure. It can either be fictional or nonfictional and discuss an adventure they would have if they were grounded for the whole entire summer.
Gantos, J. (2011). Dead End in Norvelt. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux.
