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

Title: The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg  

Author: Rodman Philbrick

Lexile Level: 950L

Recommended for

 Age: 8 -12 years old

 Grades: Third Grade to Seventh Grade

Summary/Text Analysis

While reading the book titled The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick, discusses how Homer’s brother was sold illegally into slavery. Although this text covers a serious topic, I believe that it has a bit of humor and its writing style to  allow readers to be engaged in the story. However, one emotion that I experienced was shock, which led to a negative experience.  Some of the text possesses graphic details relating to starvation and war.

In Chapter 19, it describes starvation and cruelty. In the text it states, “My head aches from where it crashed into the pipe, and my belly hurts from not eating, and I’m thirsty and exhausted but fearful of failing asleep.”(Philbrick 109). This quotation demonstrates the detrimental effects of being starved through weakness. In addition, it mentions Homer's fear of falling asleep. This quotation is present in the page that follows the mention of Silas Wiggin. Silas was eaten by pigs, which occurred when he experienced was in drunken stupor after passing out in the pig sty. Therefore, Homer's fear is valid.

In Chapter 31, the texts focuses on the injuries the soldiers experience and how it rebel surgeons are busy with work. The text states, “A good surgeon is like a good butcher—he knows his cut of meat…. Then I don’t hear no more of what he’s got to say because I’m covering my ears to muffle the screaming and the terrible we noise of the saw.” (Philbrick 179). This quotation allows the reader to imagine graphic details of the sawing of a man’s leg as well as the sounds associated with this scene, which is explained by the newspaperman.

I believe that some parts of this book, which includes the two quotations discussed above, would be more geared towards an older audience. This is due to the details of war is seen in Chapter 32 when it states, “In nightmares the noise of war is not louder than a thousand thunderstorms, or as blinding as a thousand bolts of lightning. In nightmares it never smelled so bad. In nightmares I do not hear the cry of wounded horses and think that it is worse than crying of wounded men” (Philbrick 185). This quotation demonstrates the lasting effects of war. In this chapter discusses how vivid memories can be, which is seen through Homer's experience in the battle of Gettysburg and his surprise of surviving it. 

This text is a good representation of the Civil War era, which received a Newberry Honor Award.

Learning Standard

“3. Describe the relationship between a series of historical events, scientific ideas or concepts, or steps in technical procedures in a text, using language that pertains to time, sequence, and cause/effect.” (Reading Standards for Literature K–5)

Learning Goal

Students will gather information to create a script after reading the text titled 

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

Learning Objectives

Students will conduct research about the Civil War by utilizing at least 3 credible sources of information in order to create a script that will focus on an aspect of the war that they believe is important. (Cognitive and Affective)

Students will create a script based on what they believe is the most important aspect to focus on about what they have learned from the Civil War. (Psychomotor and Affective)

Learning Activity

Students will create their script and perform in teams to demonstrate their own portrayal of the Civil War. Students will discuss what they have learned throughout their research and through the viewing of the performances. Students will be assessed with a rubric based on their ability to identify and evaluate credible sources of information, their performance as a team as well as their individual participation

Learning Outcome

Students will create a script and perform in teams, to demonstrate their portrayal of life during the Civil War, after reading the text titled The mostly true adventures of Homer P. Figg  by: Rodman  Philbrick.

Selling Tool:  Poster 

References

Mid-Hudson Library System -- The mostly true adventures of Homer P. Figg / by Rodman  Philbrick. (n.d.). Retrieved November 6, 2017, from http://search.midhudsonlibraries.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb1860992__Shomer%20p.%20figg__Orightresult__U__X6?lang=eng&suite=cobalt

Philbrick, W. R. (2009). The mostly true adventures of Homer P. Figg. New York: Blue Sky Press.