Toxic Mud

I've made great progress this week on my book challenge.  My daughter has been reading Fuzzy Mud by the award-winning author Louis Sachar (most well known for writing Holes).  She keeps telling me it's the BEST BOOK EVER, so I picked it up yesterday and read about 75% of the book.  She's just ecstatic that I am discussing the plot along with her. "What part are you at?"  "What predictions do you have?"  "Oh, you are going to LOVE the next part!"

The power of sharing a book with a child is such a wonderful gift (and I'm thankful we are now into reading books with more complex themes). Move over Junie B.!

Yes, this book is about Fuzzy Mud, and by that I mean, mud that is fuzzy-- and toxic.  Two kids taking a shortcut home from school (Tamaya and Marshall) in an attempt to avoid getting beat up by the bully (Chad) and in the process, get exposed to fuzzy mud.  

They got lost.
The world got scared.
And the mud got fuzzy.


The second storyline in the book is what appears to be the court case on a toxin that was exposed into the air and polluted the forest. This toxin has contaminated the three kids.  The toxin has the reader (a.k.a. me!) worried about the lives of the children.  

What I'm loving the most about this book is the characters and relationship building that is unveiled from this unfortunate, suspenseful experience.  We learn about the bully and his homelife (don't all bullies "bully" because they have low self-esteem?).  We learn about one misunderstanding which leads to a downward spiral, which has affected the victim (Marshall)--in this case- for years--causing him to hate school every.single.day.

Did I mention yet that I don't want my daughter to leave the safety of her elementary building for the vast and scary world of middle school with hormonal adolescents?!?!? Ha!  Really, I'm only half kidding.  

What I predict from the remaining chapters of this book is the answer to the scientific mishap and the outcome this mishap has given for the children and the community.  

My daughter asked me tonight what genre I would classify this book.  At first, I hesitated to say realistic fiction due to the toxic spores causing the community to get infected, but then I replied, "gosh, this really could be realistic fiction."  I'm unfortunately thinking it's likely more of a reality than a fantasy in our global, often toxic, world.  

What do you think?  

Until next week!

A Long Walk to Water

 

I am nearly finished reading A Long Walk to Water and expect to have it completed this week.  I keep thinking about the terror this 11-year old boy who has been separated from his family must feel.  I connect to my 10-year-old daughter and can't even imagine.  

One way this author provides context to Salva’s (the 11-year old boy) thinking is by placing his thoughts in italics. 

Where are we going?

Where is my family?

When will I see them again?

For Salva, it’s one problem after another.  He befriends another young refugee, Marial, and begins to value a new friendship.  However, this friendship ends tragically. 

As I was reading this section out loud to my daughter, I immediately turned on my teacher hat thinking…. Oh this would be a great passage to teach inference!  Yes, I can’t get away from that inner teacher voice that always appreciates a good opportunity for learning!

But as good readers, we have to read between the lines when the author frontloads this event by writing about the proximity of lions on their journey, “Every day they saw lions, usually resting in the shade of small trees.”

Then, after needing to rest and falling asleep two steps off the path, Salva is woken up suddenly by his Uncle.  Salva hears wailing & crying and the uncle’s face was very solemn. 

“I’m so sorry Salva,” Uncle said quietly, “Your friend….”

“A cold fist seemed to grip Salva’s heart”

The author again places Salva's thoughts in italics, He (Marial) should be somewhere nearby…I don’t remember if he slept near me—I was so tired—perhaps he has gone to find something to eat-

As readers, we piece together the puzzle—we know the tragic narrative without needing to hear the words. 

This is sad.  But, it opens the door to examine this author's craft and use of inference.  How to make an inference and model our writing in the way this author unfolds the narrative of this story. 

As I near the end of this book, I’m looking forward to uncovering the connection between the two narratives of the story, which in Nya’s four-hour journey to water in 2008 (2x a day) and Salva’s journey as a lost boy of Sudan seeking safety in 1985.  As this is based on a true story, I’m also looking forward to hearing more about the background of this novel.

Happy to begin this semester’s book challenge with all of you!