((Courtesy of amazon.com)
Title: The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg.
Author: Rodman Philbrick
Lexile: 950L
Genre: Historical Fiction,
Awards: Newbery Honor Book
Summary:
Homer P. Figg doesn’t live a great life but at least he has his big brother to protect him, but when his uncle drafts his brother to the army Homer must cross the landscape of the civil war to find him and bring him back home.
Selling Tool:
A critical review of language in the Novel, Rodman Philbrick makes a conscious effort to create an authentic reality, complete with accurate dialect. Phrases like “privy” and “prodigious” in common parlance show the time as much as the setting. Furthermore, the end of the book incorporates a glossary of terms that would be unfamiliar, further edifying the effort of the writer to be accurate. Though the book has expansive dialect in the form of rural Maine, there is also an effort in the way that others speak too, such as the Kate “Nibbly” saying “Poor boy you have the attitude of a ruffian,” this line and the use of “ruffian” feels very haute and aristocratic. Another example is the character of Chamberlain, “Gentlemen! Those willing to fight will get a good word from me,” this line has a tinge of heroism and honor while also being correct and educated through proper grammar, “will get a good word from me.” But, there are some exceptions to the authenticity I think, though I am not wholly sure, the slave trader Stink, I would assume would be more derogatory, similar to how slaves have been represented in other novels of the south. In regards to the south, he may have played it more stereotype than authentic with the adamant use of “Suh.” I can’t say for certain that this is not something people would have said only that I’ve never heard Suh outside of films which isn’t a good sign for credible voice in my opinion.
Activity:
Homer Figg accidently plays an important role in some of the most memorable events of the civil war, if you were in a moment in history, what would that be like? Students will research a specific point in history and create a fictional first person narrative around the event.
Learning Standard:
CC.4.R.L.2 Key Ideas and Details: Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text; summarize the text.
Learning Goal:
Students will understand the significance of a historical event through first person narrative writing.
Learning Objective:
Students will present a first person narrative text of a historical event.
Learning Outcome:
Students will understand the significance of a historical event.
