The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg - Tanya Beers

Tanya Beers

IST571: Children's Literature Lit Kit

Book: The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick

Lesson Plan and Selling Tool:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/10xZVbV2j9RzQtRvBA-Hx-xW-fywydZwsiDVxMJT61lI/edit 

Tanya Beers

IST571: The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick –Lit Kit

Lesson Plan and Selling Tool: Book Review

Title: The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P.

Author:  Rodman Philbrick

Lexile Level: 950L

Grade Level:  3rd – 7th grade

Age Range: 8 to 12 years

ISBN #: 0439668212

Homer P. Figg is an orphan boy who runs away from his uncle’s farm to find his brother. 
The story takes place during the civil war and Homer is in danger by setting out on his quest
but his love for his brother keeps him going. This book is about the love of a brother, the 
search for a place to call home, and forming a family in an atmosphere of tragedy.

Lesson for 5th  graders:

A. Students will read The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick.

B. Students will be given a definition of “character study”:  

“Noun:

1:         Analysis or portrayal in literature of the traits of character of an individual.

2:         a: a brief narrative or sketch devoted primarily to character study.

b: a realistic portrait in one of the plastic arts or in photography typically 
of an anonymous sitter whose face or figure reveals strong personality or 
character traits.” (Merriam-Webster)

C. I will display the following article about how to write a character study and read it to 
the class so they have an understanding of what it expected of them in the assignment:

“What Is Included in a Character Study?” by Candice Mancini,

https://penandthepad.com/included-character-study-21171.html.

D. Students will be asked to write a 2-page character study of one of the main characters in 
the book. They will also describe what it feel like to be that person and if they have anything 
in common with that person or not and how.

Choices:      Homer P. Figg, Squinton Leach, Henry Figg (Homer and Harold’s Father), 
Mr. Jebediah Brewster (Quaker), Cornelius Witham, Mr. J.T. Marston, Harold Figg or 
Abigail Figg (Homer and Harold’s mother).

Learning Standards:

Common Core Writing Standards K-5 (Grade 5).

5.3. Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective 
technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.

a. Orient the reader by establishing a situation and introducing a narrator and/or characters; 
organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.

b. Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, description, and pacing, to develop experiences 
and events or show the responses of characters to situations.

c. Use a variety of transitional words, phrases, and clauses to manage the sequence of events.

d. Use concrete words and phrases and sensory details to convey experiences and events 
precisely.

e. Provide a conclusion that follows from the narrated experiences or events

5.4. Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development and organization are 
appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. (Grade-specific expectations for writing types 
are defined in standards 1–3 above.)

a. Produce text (print or non-print) that explores a variety of cultures and perspectives.

Learning Goal:

Students will integrate themselves with history through writing a character study about a 
character who experienced real-life issues in life and during the Civil War.

Learning Objectives:

1. Students will imagine what history was like and identifying with a main character 
through writing a character study about a main character in the assigned reading who lived 
during and experienced the Civil War. (Cognitive and Psychomotor)

2. Students will describe how they feel to be the main character and state whether they have 
anything in common with their chosen character or not and how through their written character 
study. (Affective)

Learning Outcome:

Students will discover history through the assigned reading and assignment and use their creative 
writing skills to integrate their knowledge of the main characters with writing a character study.

Works Cited:

Mancini, Candice. “What Is Included in a Character Study?”, Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group 

Education, https://penandthepad.com/included-character-study-21171.html.  Accessed on December 15, 

2017.

Merriam-Webster. (2017). “Character Study”. Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/
dictionary/character%20study.

New York State Department of Education. (2011). New York State P-12 Common Core Learning 
Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy. Retrieved from  
https://www.engageny.org/resource/new-york-state-p-12-common-core-learning-standards-for-
english-language-arts-and-literacy.

Philbrick, Rodman. The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg. Scholastic, 2009.

Selling Tool: Book Review of The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg:

The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg takes place during the Civil War. Homer 
leaves his uncle’s farm to look for his brother, Harold, who was sold into service in the 
Civil War. This is a dangerous time for Homer, his is alone in a world of cutthroats, 
back-stabbers, and people who want to manipulate him for their own gain. Homer is such 
a realistic character in terms of his flaws and keen judge of human character. Readers will 
come to love his bravery, loyalty, love, and determination concerning his brother.

The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg is a good example of integrating historical 
facts with a fictional protagonist and suspense. This book was a fun adventure to read with 
humor at times and relatable emotions that Homer felt throughout the book. It is easy to 
cheer for Homer and Harold throughout the book and grow to care about them as they 
experience extreme struggles and setbacks throughout the book. I think that some of the 
bad people in the book are also realistic in their views on slavery, selfishness, and treatment 
of others. It is easy to dislike these characters, but they do add more realism to the book 
and flesh out the story. This book highlights the fact that despite there being so many bad 
people in the country and the country being in a terrible situation (war, slavery, evilness) 
there were still genuinely good, kind, loving people as well; I think that is something that 
still holds true today. This book has many moral issues going on that students could 
benefit from reading about considering moral issues are something that will always be 
part of life no matter what time period people have lived in or will live in. This book is 
an action-packed, exciting adventure that children will love to read and they will also 
discover meaning in the book that will assist them with a better understanding of their 
lives while extending their perceptions of others lives.

Other works by Rodman Philbrick:

1. Series: a. Freak the Mighty, b. Max the Mighty

2. The Big Dark

3. Zane and the Hurricane: A Story of Katrina

4. The Last Book in the Universe

5. Who Killed Darius Drake?: A Mystery