| THE WAR IN GEORGIA |
| About the Book As World War IT comes to an end, 13-year-old Shanta finds herself fighting her own personal battles at home in Georgia. Shanta's troubles begin when her Aunt Louray decides to move out of the house, taking with her Honey, Shanta.'s cousin and closest friend. Devastated by the loss of these two important people in her life, Shanta is left to live alone with her grandmother and invalid Uncle Louie. She doubts the three of them will be to survive on their own. However, when the Wallings move in across the street, Shanta sees in them the family she has always wanted. Shanta feels that the Wallings are a "real" family, complete with a mother, father, and four children. She soon discovers that the Wallings, as perfect as they appear, are in fact a troubled family hiding some very ugly secrets. Shanta comes to realize that family is not something easily defined. | |
| In the Classroom Strong characterizations and a. vivid sense of place will draw readers into this emotional story of a young adolescent trying to discover her true self. Shanta is a strong, appealing young woman with whom readers will be able to relate and identify.. Her stubborn nature and sense of survival will have particular appeal. Oughton manages to balance the drama of the story with wit and humor. The result, is a novel that not only explores many important themes but entertains. The historical this novel a particularly good choice to use in a social studies class. In addition, this guide also offers connections to drama, geography, language arts, mathematics, and science. By reading this novel, students will explore themes of family, survival, abuse, and coping with loss. Pre-Reading Activity Although, not specifically about. World War II, references to many key events and figures in the conflict are mentioned throughout the novel. In order to gauge their knowledge, ask. students to brainstorm what they know about World War II. List the facts and discuss those that particularly relate to the story. Highlight the major events that transpired during the closing months of the war. Thematic Connections Family .and Relationships— When the Wallings move across the street, Shanta them as the kind of family she has always wanted, only to discover how troubled the Wallings really are. Ask students to define "family." Have them list the people in their lives that they consider family. Discuss different, kinds of families—e.g. extended, immediate, nuclear, etc. Survival— Shanta survives the death other parents and losing her Aunt Louray and Cousin Honey. What is it about Shanta' s character that enables her to be a survivor? Have students discuss what people do to survive painful emotional moments in their lives. Cooping with Loss — Shanta already feels a void in her life because her parents were killed, in an automobile accident. She is then devastated w^when her aunt and cousin move away. How does Shanta deal with this loss? How do Grandmorgan and Uncle Louie with the loss? Ask students to write a diary entry that Shanta may have written on the day Aunt Louray and Honey leave. Abuse— The Walling children suffer from emotional, physical, and psychological abuse from their father and uncle. How does Shanta react when she finds out that. the Writings children are being abused? What were some of the signs that caused Shanta to question whether her friends are being abused? Ask students to find out agencies and organizations in their community that help abused children and adults. Interdisciplinary Connections Language Arts —Ask students to brainstorm questions that they might ask someone who lived during World War II. Have the students interview someone in their family or neighborhood who was Shanta's age or older during the war. Ask them to use the results of their interview to write a brief article for a edition of the newspaper entitled "Life in the 1940's," Jerrie Oughton prefaces her story with an excerpt from Robert. Frost's poem "The Bonfire." Read the entire poem together in class and discuss why the author chose the poem as a. preface and how it relates to the story. As a follow-up activity, ask students to find one more poem about World War II that they can share with the class. Social Studies — In several parts of the novel (pp. 96 & 130) Uncle Louie, and Shanta discuss the dropping of the atomic bomb on Japan. Uncle Louie also mentions the bombing of Dresden. Using internet and library resources, ask students to research events and write a. brief summary of each. Then discuss with the class the fear that people living in the United States during the war had of being bombed. How was this fear exemplified in the novel? There are several scenes in which Shanta and her uncle sit around the radio listening to news broadcasts and entertainment programs. Discuss with students how the radio was as significant a. medium to people in Shanta's time as the television and the Internet are for people today, As an added pleasure, find recordings of hit songs from the 1940s and play them for the class. Geography— Shanta lives in Atlanta, Georgia. Many other cities, important to World War II. were mentioned in the novel, such as Dresden, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki. Using the Internet and library resources, have students find maps to locate these cities. Then discuss the country in which each city is found and its allegiance during the war. Drama— Many important personalities and political figures of the time are mentioned in the story. Some of the names included are Charles Atlas, Wins-ton Churchill, Joe DiMaggio, Dwdght Elsenhower, Dale Evans, Betty Grable, Rita Hayworth, Adolf Hitler, Chang Kai-shek, Bemto Mussolini, Roy Rogers, and Harry Truman. Using the Internet and library resources, have students research one of these persons. Stage a talk show and have the host interview each of the above personalities. Health— Uncle Louie suffers from arthritis. Ask students to find out about different, types of arthritis. Which type is most crippling? What medical treatment is available for arthritis patients today? Vocabulary/Use of Language | |
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| Reviews * "This story makes you believe in the love and laughter and friendship gives you hope in the worst of times." — Starred, Booklist
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