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Raven Summer JLG Activity Guide By David Almond Available only from Delacorte Press, an imprint of Junior Library Guild Random House Children’s Publishing 7858 Industrial Parkway Copyright © 2008 by David Almond Plain City, OH 43064 ISBN: 978-0-385-73806-4 www.juniorlibraryguild.com ISBN: 978-1-93612-914-0

Junior Library Guild selects the best new hardcover children’s and YA books being published in the U.S. and makes them available to libraries and schools, often before the books are available from anyone else. Timeliness and value mark the mission of JLG: to be the librarian’s partner. But how can JLG help librarians be partners with classroom teachers? With JLG Guides. JLG Guides are activity and reading guides written by people with experience in both children’s and educational publishing—in fact, many of them are former librarians or teachers. The JLG Guides are made up of activity guides for younger readers (grades K–3) and reading guides for older readers (grades 4–12), with some overlap occurring in grades 3 and 4. All guides are written with national and state standards as guidelines. Activity guides focus on providing activities that support specific reading standards; reading guides support various standards (reading, language arts, social studies, science, etc.), depending on the genre and topic of the book itself. JLG Guides can be used both for whole class instruction and for individual students. Pages are reproducible for classroom use only, and a teacher’s edition accompanies most JLG Guides. Research indicates that using authentic literature in the classroom helps improve students’ interest level and reading skills. You can trust JLG to provide the very best in new-release books, and now to enhance those selections by giving your school the tools to use those books in the classroom. And in case you think we forgot the librarians, be sure to check out the Library Applications page, shown on the table of contents in each guide. From all of us at Junior Library Guild, we wish you and your students good reading and great learning . . . with JLG Selections and JG Guides.

Copyright © 2010 Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc. 2 Raven Summer by David Almond JLG Guide written by Sarah Ward Terrell and produced by School Street Media for Junior Library Guild Table of Contents

About the Book and the Author ...... 4 Prereading Activities ...... 5 Chapter by Chapter Book 1, Chapters 1–7 (pages 3–33) ...... 6

Book 1, Chapters 8–14 (pages 34–63) ...... 11

Book 2, Chapters 1–6 (pages 67–91) ...... 15

Book 2, Chapters 7–16 (pages 92–115) ...... 19

Book 3, Chapters 1–8 (pages 119–142) ...... 23

Book 3, Chapters 9–16 (pages 143–171) ...... 27

Book 3, Chapter 17; Book 4 Chapters 1–2 (pages 172–198) ...... 30 Wrap Up ...... 33 Library Applications ...... 35 Suggestions for Further Reading ...... 36 Correlations to National Standards ...... 37

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Raven Summer by David Almond

Summary: Playing outside, Liam and Max notice a raven. It “flies ahead, stops, flies ahead, stops”—as if it’s been tamed. Curious, the boys follow it past the pub, across the bridge, down toward the river, and into an ancient farmhouse. There, they find a baby and a note that reads, “PLESE LOOK AFTER HER RITE. THIS IS A CHILDE OF GOD.”

Fourteen-year-old Liam seems fated to meet two foster children who have experienced violence in very different ways as he struggles to understand war, family problems, and friends who grow apart.

JLG Reviewers Say:  A masterful exploration of human fragility and brutality. At the novel’s heart is the question: does everyone, given the right conditions, have the capacity to commit murder?  David Almond has created distinct and memorable characters.  The lyrical first-person prose catches the rhythm of daily life in rural northern England.  The novel buzzes with the possibility of magic and the unexplainable.

David Almond says he lives with his family “right inside the landscape of the book: in the north of England, beside the Roman Wall, in the beautiful and rather wild county of Northumberland. The garden at the beginning and end of the book is just like our own garden. The walk that the boys take following the raven is a walk through our village. Despite its beauty and its apparent peacefulness, the area has a troubled history. It was a place of savage border wars in the past, and there are remote areas where modern-day soldiers practice for distant conflicts.

“The story is fiction, but it deals with some very realistic subjects: the dramas of growing up, the nature of goodness, our potential for love and friendship, our potential for violence, the place of children in war. The characters, despite their history of desperate problems, seem to me to be people of virtue and courage.” www.davidalmond.com

Making Predictions Reread the summary for Raven Summer on page 4. Then answer the questions below to make predictions based on evidence from the text and/or from your prior knowledge or personal experience.

1. In literature, the raven is often a symbol for coming misfortune. Whose misfortune do you think the raven predicts? Answers will vary. I predict: Based on what evidence? Possible prediction: Students Whether the baby or the boys may be divided about who will will be misfortunate depends be misfortunate. on who the boys are.

2. What do you think Liam and Max will do with the baby? Answers will vary.

I predict: Based on what evidence? Possible prediction: The boys For most people, it would be will try to help the baby in unthinkable to see a baby some way. abandoned in the wilderness and not do something to help it, because babies have no chance of surviving on their own.

3. Set a purpose for reading based on your predictions above.

Possible purpose: I want to find out how the baby came to be abandoned and how Liam, Max,

and the baby will change each other’s lives.

Before You Read Northumberland Introducing Vocabulary: Dialect

Raven Summer takes place in Northumberland, a district in England that borders Scotland. Because of this, the author writes Liam’s narrative in an English dialect, or a version of English spoken in a particular region or by a specific group of people. Does the author’s use of dialect make Liam’s story more or less believable? Explain your answer. England Possible response: The author’s use of dialect makes Liam’s story more believable, because it makes Liam and others in his story sound the way someone from Northumberland really would and it make you feel as if you are listening to something that is really happening.

Below are some examples of words Liam uses in ways that are specific to his dialect. Match them by writing the letter of the correct definition on the line in front of each word. If you need help, find the word on the page number indicated and use context clues to determine its meaning.

__d_ 1. reivers (page 3) a. friends

__k_ 2. daft (page 4) b. bills, money

__g_ 3. plaster (page 5) c. maybe

__j_ 4. aye (page 5) d. raiders

__i_ 5. squirt (page 5) e. cup of tea

__l_ 6. nowt (page 8) f. television

__a_ 7. mates (page 9) g. bandage

__c_ 8. mebbe (page 10) h. diaper

__b_ 9. notes (page 15) i. young child

__h_ 10. nappy (page 19) j. always, or yes

__e_ 11. cuppa (page 20) k. foolish

__f_ 12. telly (page 27) l. nothing

Copyright © 2010 Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc. 6 After You Read Checking Predictions Before reading, you made a prediction about what Liam and Max would do with the baby they found. What have you read that supports or refutes your prediction?

Answers will vary. The reading supports predictions that Liam and Max would do something to help the baby. They immediately took her to Liam’s home and found help with getting her to people who could care for her.

Analyzing the Writing: Setting Setting is the time and place of a story. Answer the following questions by thinking about how Northumberland, the setting of Raven Summer, helps David Almond express themes about war and violence.

1. What about the setting is evidence that war and violence played a major role in defining Northumberland’s past?

Possible answer: The ruins of Hadrian’s Wall, from the ancient Roman Empire, and of castles

and fortified farmhouses, from the wars between England and Scotland, are evidence.

2. Though present-day Northumberland is considered a peaceful and beautiful place, what about the setting shows that war is still a part of life there?

Possible answer: Military jets that fly over Northumberland, and a military road that leads to a

nearby training camp show that war is still a part of life there.

3. At the beginning of the story, Liam is in his family’s garden with his friend, Max. Is a garden more likely to be the setting for war or peace? Explain your answer.

Possible answer: A garden is more likely to be the setting for peace, because it is a place of

beauty and growth.

History Connection Hadrian

Hadrian’s Wall On page 5, Liam describes military jets flying over Hadrian’s Wall, which was built more than 1800 years ago by the Romans. Find out more about why the wall was built, what it looks like, how far it extends, and what role it played in times of war and peace. Create a poster about your findings to share with your classmates.

Copyright © 2010 Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc. 7 4. Think about what Liam finds in the garden and the history he imagines for it. What idea about war and violence might his discovery symbolize, or help express?

Possible answer: Liam finds a pruning knife buried in the garden and imagines it as a relic of

Northumberland’s warring cultures. The fact that Liam makes a weapon of something he

found in a peaceful place may indicate humans’ natural inclination toward violence.

Getting to Know the Characters: Relationships and Effect on Plot Complete the chart below by telling how each of the characters is similar to and different from Liam.

Character Similar to Liam Different from Liam Max Possible response: Max is the same age Possible response: Unlike Liam, Max is as Liam, and he shares a childhood outgrowing his childhood war games with Liam, playing games about war and recklessness. He is practical and and survival. realistic, preferring to see life as it is rather than be fanciful about it.

Gordon Possible response: Gordon is also the Possible response: Unlike Liam, same age as Liam, and he used to be Gordon seems ready to commit actual one of Liam’s best friends. Like Liam, acts of violence. He takes his war Gordon enjoys playing war games. games to greater extremes than Liam does (as exemplified by the bloody bag he walks with after an afternoon of playing with friends). Mum Possible response: Like Liam, Mum can Possible response: Unlike Liam, Mum be reckless (as shown by her drinking is ambitious. She is focused on and driving), and she has a fascination promotion of her artwork, sometimes with violence (as shown in her to the exclusion of everything else. artwork). She also is immersed in her work, in much the same way that Liam is immersed in his fantasy life. Dad Possible response: Like Liam, Dad is Possible response: Unlike Liam, Dad is fanciful, and he craves adventure. He, cynical and reclusive. While Liam goes too, is immersed in his work, in much out to find adventure, Dad lives all his the same way that Liam is immersed in adventures in his head. his fantasy life.

Copyright © 2010 Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc. 8 Based on what you have read so far, which character in the chart above seems more likely to influence who Liam becomes in the rest of the story? Explain your answer.

Answers will vary. Liam and Max seem to be growing apart, and Liam’s parents are all but

absent from his life. Therefore, Gordon may be the most likely to influence Liam’s character.

Though Liam claims to heartily dislike Gordon, he acknowledges some kinship between them

(they became blood brothers as young kids), and they share an interest in dangerous games.

What is more, Gordon takes an interest in Liam.

Responding to the Story 1. At the beginning of the story, Liam injures himself while using Death Dealer to dig for treasure. What might this foreshadow, or predict, about Liam’s character?

Answers will vary. Possible answer: Liam lives in a fantasy world that is dangerous to him.

2. On their way to finding the baby, Liam and Max encounter an adder, which is a kind of snake. What do snakes often symbolize, or represent, in stories, and what do Max and Liam’s reactions to the snake reveal about their characters?

Possible answer: Snakes often symbolize temptation and danger in stories. Max reacts to the

snake by scaring it away; he deflects danger and temptation. However, Liam is struck by the

snake’s beauty, which reveals his fascination with dangerous things and an inability to resist

temptation.

3. When Liam and Max find the baby, they see she has a note that instructs whoever finds her to “PLESE LOOK AFTER HER RITE.” How could this note be interpreted in different ways?

Possible answer: The interpretation hinges on the word rite, which may or may not be

misspelled. If spelled incorrectly, the note could simply be a request that the baby be well

cared for. However, if spelled correctly, the note could be a request to see the baby through a

rite of passage, or a time in life that will determine the kind of person she becomes.

Answers will vary. The story of Liam, Max, and the baby seems magical, hopeful, and singular

among the other news stories about troubled celebrities, death, and destruction.

5. At the end of Chapter 7, Liam finishes telling about Thomas Fell by saying, “The story’s told, then fades away, like all the stories in the news.” Why do news stories seem to fade over time?

Possible answer: News stories are about whatever is happening in the moment; therefore, old

stories are quickly replaced by new ones. Also, the sameness or timelessness of stories about

death, scandal, and destruction may also cause one story to seem to fade into the next.

Copyright © 2010 Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc. 10 Book 1, Chapters 8–14: Baby Found pages 34–63 Before You Read Making Predictions Liam has helped ensure that the baby is placed with a family who cares for it. Do you think this is the last Liam will see of her, or will she continue to be a part of his life somehow?

Possible response: The baby seems to have an important role in the story; therefore, some students may predict that she and Liam will cross paths again. Others may think that even if Liam never sees the baby again, her story and his involvement in it may take on a life of its own, in a way that continues to affect him.

Literary Devices: Simile and Metaphor Both simile and metaphor are types of figurative language, or language writers use to evoke images in readers’ minds. Both similes and metaphors compare two unalike things that are alike in a specific way. Similes always include the word like or as. Metaphors make a direct comparison that something “is” something else.

Complete the chart below by telling whether each example of figurative language is simile or metaphor. Then find the example on the page indicated and use context clues to tell what two things the figurative language compares and what the figurative language means.

Figurative Language Simile or Metaphor? Comparison and Meaning

Sometimes I feel . . . like I’m spinning Simile Possible response: Liam compares away into outer space. (page 36) himself to something that spins into outer space. Liam feels disconnected and out of control. I want to be crazy as the moon, wild Simile Possible response: Liam compares as the wind, and still as the earth. himself to a crazy moon, a wild (page 37) wind, and still earth. Liam wants to feel excited, free, and centered. [Gordon] holds up a black scarf. Metaphor Possible response: Gordon “This’ll add a bit of spice,” he says. compares the scarf to spice. He starts wrapping the scarf over his Gordon thinks wearing the scarf eyes. (page 45) will add interest to the game. “Who is she?” says Mum. “She’s a Metaphor Possible response: Mum compares shining light in a dark dark world. the baby to a shining light. Mum That’s what she is.” (page 50) thinks the baby is something positive in a world that is very negative.

Copyright © 2010 Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc. 11 After You Read Checking Predictions Earlier you made a prediction about whether or not the baby would continue to be a part of Liam’s life. What evidence confirmed or refuted your prediction?

Possible answer: Liam’s Mum decided to become a foster parent to the baby. Now the baby lives with Liam and his family.

Analyzing the Writing: Juxtaposition and Tension Raven Summer is filled with juxtapositions, or the placements side by side of two ideas or events that are different but equally important. Authors use juxtaposition to create tension, or draw attention to characters or ideas that are in conflict with one another.

1. Reread the exchange between Liam and Max on pages 36–38. How do Liam and Max’s characters contrast with each other, and what questions do these contrasts raise about what it means to become an adult?

Possible answer: Liam is nostalgic for the sweetness of being younger and obsessed with the

violence and death he sees as part of his future, while Max is ready to let go his childhood and

embrace a conventional adult life. This contrast raises questions such as the following: Is Liam

wrong to miss his childhood, or is he actually more in touch with what it means to become an

adult than Max is? Is Max’s view of adulthood more mature than Liam’s or is it just safer? Is

either Liam or Max wrong about when and how to grow up, or can both of them be right?

2. Reread the exchanges between Mum and Dad about Alison at the top of page 50 and on pages 58–59. What is the debate between Mum and Dad, and what ideas about social responsibility could each character represent?

Possible answer: Mum wants to make Alison a part of the family, while Dad thinks that Alison

should be left “to live her own life.” Mum represents the idea that social responsibility means

embracing others and sharing advantages, while Dad represents the opposite idea, that being

responsible is understanding one’s limitations and not imposing on others’ lives.

Copyright © 2010 Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc. 12 3. Reread Chapter 12, pages 54–57. In this chapter, Liam meets Oliver and Crystal. How are Oliver and Crystal the opposite of Liam, and what lesson might they help teach him?

Possible answer: Oliver and Crystal have lived the lives that Liam fantasizes about. Oliver has

survived war, and Crystal has survived a fire. Liam may learn from them that he should not

take his safe life for granted and that adventure looks more like hardship in real life.

Getting to Know the Characters: Traits Complete the chart below by telling what each character does to show that he or she possesses the trait indicated.

Character Trait Evidence Mum Receptive When Dad suggests that Liam’s bruised and scraped skin looks like her artwork, Mum latches onto the idea.

Liam Compassionate Like Mum, Liam wants to take care of Alison.

Dad Encouraging Dad recognizes the makings of a true writer in Oliver and offers help and understanding.

Crystal Resilient Rather than focus on how the fire made her a victim, Crystal takes the phoenix as a symbol of her survival.

Oliver Conscientious Oliver works hard on the story of his life to make sure that it is truthful.

Max Rigid When Liam tries to tell Max his concerns about war coming, Max mocks Liam, rather than acknowledging that Liam’s concerns are based in the reality of having met an actual war survivor their age. Gordon Persistent Even after Liam attacks him, Gordon insists that he and Liam are blood brothers and tries to engage Liam in more fighting.

Possible answer: Gordon’s attitude is callous. He believes that Greg Armstrong is arrogant and

should not have gone to interfere in Iraq. Like isolationists, Gordon believes that people

should stay where they came from and take care of their own.

2. Why do you think Liam attacks Gordon during the snake pit games? Do you agree with Gordon, that it is because Liam is like Gordon? Explain your answer.

Answers will vary. On one hand, Liam is like Gordon—he is excitable, and he gives in to his

violent urges. On the other hand, Liam is compassionate—he goes to comfort Eddie Marks

after the fight and seems to have been motivated by Gordon’s treatment of Eddie and

enjoyment of bullying to start the fight to begin with.

3. At the end of Chapter 12, Crystal, Oliver, and Alison all have their eyes on Liam. Why do you think this is?

Answers will vary. It seems they all have their eyes on Liam, because they expect something

from him. It may also show that they see Liam for who he really is and feel a kinship with him.

(Crystal, in particular, seems to acknowledge Liam as a kindred spirit and someone she could

go to for help if she needed it.)

4. On page 63, Liam says, “We’re all like foundlings, then.” What did he mean by this?

Possible answer: He meant, as Mum responded, that we are all “little lost souls in a big

universe.” Like foundlings, we have to find our families, or the people we will go through life

depending on and caring for.

History Connection The Dark Ages On page 35, Gordon accuses Liam of thinking Gordon is a “throwback” to the Dark Ages. Find out when the Dark Ages took place and what inspired the name. Then discuss with a partner why you agree or disagree that Gordon’s views and interests are like those of people who lived in the Dark Ages.

Copyright © 2010 Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc. 14 Book 2, Chapters 1–6: Complications pages 67–91 Before You Read Making Predictions After Liam attacked Gordon, Gordon told Liam that something had been started between the two of them. What do you think Gordon will do to retaliate against Liam? Answers will vary. In the past, Gordon has used his war games to try to impress Liam and make a friend of him. Now, perhaps he will use his war games against Liam, either to humiliate or do real harm to him.

After You Read Checking Predictions Earlier you made a prediction about how Gordon would retaliate against Liam. What have you read that supports or refutes your prediction?

Answers will vary. So far, Gordon hasn’t done anything to harm Liam. In fact, he seems more as if he is still trying to impress Liam. He tries to convince Liam of how dark his imagination is and uses Liam’s dad’s words as fuel for his argument.

Introducing Vocabulary: Greek and Latin Roots A root word is a word part that has its own meaning. Each of the following vocabulary words contains a root word from the Greek or Latin language. Use a dictionary or a book of word origins to help you locate the root word in each vocabulary word below. Then write the root word and its meaning in the spaces provided.

Vocabulary Word Root Word Root Word’s Meaning sections sect cut photographs phot light unrecognizable cogn know circumstances circum around universal uni one paramedic para beside or near

Copyright © 2010 Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc. 15 Analyzing the Writing: Political and Philosophical Views A person’s political views are his or her ideas about social relationships involving authority or power. A person’s philosophical views are his or her beliefs about how people should live. In Raven Summer, David Almond uses characters to stand for differing ideas people have about why the world is troubled and what is the best way for people to coexist with each other.

1. Who does Dad think is to blame for terrorism and war?

Possible answer: He thinks that leaders, such as Blair and Bush, are as responsible for

violence in the world as terrorists and suicide bombers are.

2. What fears about savagery do Liam and Mum share?

Possible answer: Savagery is everywhere, and those who want war in the world are just waiting

for their chance.

3. What beliefs about humanity do the vicar and Mum have in common, and what do they think is the best way to make peace in the world?

Possible answer: They both believe that all humans are foundlings and part of one family, and

that all of us must try to overcome the savage within, or find ways to “shine in this world of

darkness.”

4. What does Max think of Oliver’s story, and what does Liam believe are Max’s reasons for feeling this way?

Possible answer: Max thinks that Oliver’s story must be made up. Liam believes this is either

because Max doesn’t believe the story or because he doesn’t want to know that the violence

Oliver describes really exists.

5. What beliefs about angels and monsters might Crystal and Dad share?

Possible answer: We all have the potential to be an angel or monster, and the difference in

what we become depends largely on who our caretakers are and what kinds of resources and

protection they can provide.

6. Why does Gordon automatically dislike Oliver?

Possible answer: Gordon doesn’t like outsiders. Also, he believes that anyone from Liberia

who is seeking asylum must be a war criminal and, therefore, a threat to him.

Answers will vary. Possible answer: Max has just called Liam “stupid,” and Liam has taken it to

heart. He wonders if what Max said was true.

2. How do the people who see “stupid” written on Liam’s chest react to it, and how are their reactions different from what you might expect? What effect might their reactions have on Liam?

Possible answer: Max reacts with disgust and says he fears Liam will do something stupid; Dad

barely registers seeing anything odd about Liam’s appearance; and Mum decides it is art. None

of them reacts with concern or a question about what it means. All of these reactions have the

effect of isolating Liam.

3. Mum insists that Alison should be christened, but she’s never troubled by the fact that Liam has not been christened. Should she be? Why or why not?

Answers will vary. The main problem is in that Mum has promised protection and guidance

for Alison that she doesn’t always give to Liam. Though Liam doesn’t seem resentful about

this, he also doesn’t feel his potential for goodness. Instead, he embraces “[staying] evil,”

without really knowing what evil is or where it leads.

Responding to the Story 1. What are the subjects of Mum’s art, and what ideas do you think she tries to communicate with them? Do you think people understand her art in the way she intends? Explain your answer.

Answers will vary. The subjects of Mum’s art are beautiful landscapes that also show how

humans and animals are vulnerable to death and violence. Earlier in the book, Liam said that

people like Mum’s art because of its violent edge. This suggests that they think her art reveres

violence in some way, when, in fact, it seems more likely her art is a lament about the savagery

she sees in the world.

2. For many people in the story, Alison symbolizes a link. What are some different ways that Alison links people together?

Possible answer: For some, Alison is a link to heavenly power or magic. For others she is a

link to goodness, innocence, and the positive forces that bring people together.

Possible answer: Crystal believes that she and Oliver were fated to meet Liam and that Alison

played a part in this fate.

4. Dad seems to like playing the role of the cynic. How is Dad’s cynicism ironic, and why do you think he chooses to view life cynically? (Does this point of view benefit him in some way? Explain your answer.)

Possible answer: Dad’s cynicism is ironic, because his books send such a positive message

about the potential for magic in people’s lives. It is unclear why Dad has chosen cynicism,

especially since people’s memories of him suggest he was once fanciful and optimistic. The

changes in him suggest he has been disappointed by life. He may choose to see the world as

devoid of magic and goodness as a way of protecting himself against further disillusionment.

5. What happened to Oliver in Liberia, and what future does he hope to escape?

Possible answer: Oliver’s family was slaughtered in Liberia. He managed to leave his country,

but it appears he will be sent back. He and Crystal plan to run away so that he will not have to

return to Liberia.

Social Studies Connection Liberia Oliver is a teenager seeking asylum from Liberia, a country in Africa. Find out more about Liberia: where it is, how the country was formed, and why it has a history of civil unrest. Write a brief report to share with your classmates.

Copyright © 2010 Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc. 18 Book 2, Chapters 7–16: The Gnat pages 92–115 Before You Read Making Predictions Crystal thinks fate has brought Liam to her and Oliver, because Liam will be able to help them. Do you think Liam can keep Oliver from being returned to Liberia? Why or why not?

Answers will vary. At this point in the story, anything seems possible. Liam is a willing adventurer, and he’s already had out-of-the-ordinary things happen to him. However, even the most extraordinary circumstances of the story have been governed by reality, so far, and it seems unlikely that Liam, a thirteen-year-old, could keep Crystal and Oliver safe on his own.

Introducing Vocabulary: Idiom An idiom is an expression, or figure of speech. It is a word or phrase that conveys meaning beyond its literal meaning. (An example of idiom is underlined in the following sentence: I had the time of my life on my last vacation. In this sentence, the time of my life means “a good time.”)

Complete the chart below by reading the sentence and telling what group of words forms the idiom. Then write the meaning of the sentence. Use context clues from the page number indicated, if you need help defining the sentence.

Sentence Idiom Meaning It was a piece of cake to find. piece of cake Possible answer: It was easy to (page 96) find.

“You think I’m a pain in the pain in the neck Possible answer: You think I’m neck.” (page 97) irritating.

“Your new mate, whatdeyecallim Possible answer: Your new mate whatdeyecallim, he’ll know all —what is his name?—he’ll about that.” (page 98) know all about that.

“All looks peaceful and lovey- lovey-dovey Possible answer: All looks dovey till . . .” (page 112) peaceful and full of love or romance

Copyright © 2010 Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc. 19 After You Read Checking Predictions Earlier you made a prediction about whether or not Liam would be able to help keep Oliver in England. What has happened so far that supports or refutes your prediction? Answers will vary.

Possible answer: Crystal and Oliver have run away together, and Liam is protecting them by not telling anyone what he knows about their situation.

Analyzing the Writing: Literary Allusions An allusion is a reference to a person, character, or event from history or a piece of literature. When an author makes an allusion, it is a way of helping readers to make connections. These connections help readers understand important ideas and events in the author’s writing.

The following chart contains literary allusions. Complete the chart by telling what the subject of the allusion is. Then tell the allusion’s purpose, or how it helps readers understand ideas or events in the story. Use the Internet or an encyclopedia if you need help.

Allusion Subject Purpose “Think about when you go to the James Bond Answers will vary. Possible answer: flicks, Liam. When you’re sitting in The allusion helps illustrate the the dark down at the Forum author’s theme that people are watching a movie. What happens naturally drawn to aggressive at the violent bits, eh? At the really behavior. James Bond movies are savage bits. Like the last James action films noted both for being Bond film . . .” (page 97) widely popular and depicting graphic violence.

He holds his pen over his William Wordsworth / Answers will vary. Possible answer: notebook, turns his eyes to the his poem, “I Wandered The allusion helps readers sky, pretends to write as if Lonely as a Cloud” understand how PC Ball envisions inspired. writers—as being like William “Ahem. I wandered lonely as Wordsworth, whose works about a… Sorry.” (page 113) beauty in nature are studied and memorized by many people at some point in their school careers.

Once there was a girl called Little The fairytales, “Red Answers will vary. Possible answer: Red Riding Hood… Riding Hood,” The allusions helps readers One day a pretty little girl called “Goldilocks and the understand the timelessness of Goldilocks set off walking through the Three Bears,” and stories like Oliver and Crystal’s, trees… “Hansel and Gretel.” about children leaving home, only to Hansel was the brother and Gretel have something horrible happen to was the sister and they lived with their them. mummy and their daddy beside a big dark scary wood . . . (page 115)

Copyright © 2010 Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc. 20 Social Studies Connection Peaceful Demonstrations In Chapter 11, Liam’s family and friends attend a demonstration in support of Greg Armstrong, a journalist who has been taken hostage by terrorists. People stage demonstrations such as this one as an alternative to using violence to get what they want. What are the effects of peaceful demonstrations, and what are other examples of ways they can be used? Discuss your ideas with a partner.

Responding to the Story 1. Gordon thinks there is no real difference between watching movie violence and actual violence. Do you agree or disagree with him? Explain your answer.

Answers will vary. There is a wide spectrum of beliefs on this issue. However, most students

will agree that the difference between watching real and made-up violence depends largely on

the person. Gordon watches both, because he desires violence as part of his life. However,

others watch for different reasons, such as grim curiosity or a need to laugh in the face of

death. Also, many would contend that movie violence is watchable only because no one is

really getting hurt. Still others can’t bear the idea of watching any kind of violence.

2. In literature, dreams often provide clues about the truth of a situation or they foreshadow coming events. What does Liam dream about in these chapters, and what do you think is the significance of his dream?

Answers will vary. Liam dreams about killing Gordon, and it seems possible this could actually

happen, if Gordon continues pushing Liam’s buttons. However, other reasons the dream

could be significant are as evidence that Liam has become capable of real violence—or the

opposite, that Liam wants to annihilate the savagery Gordon represents.

3. In Book 2, Chapter 10, Crystal says she was almost adopted by a couple she really liked, but she scared them off. Why might she have done this, and what does this show about her character?

Answers will vary. Perhaps she was afraid of having a family again, because her first family was

taken away. Or maybe becoming part of a new family felt like disloyalty to her first family.

Whatever the reason, it seems she’s unable to truly recover from her loss. This may be why she

identifies so much with Oliver.

Copyright © 2010 Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc. 21 4. Denotation is the actual meaning of a word or words. Connotation is meaning beyond what words state, or an implied meaning. Think about what the police officers have to say about Liam. How does the denotation of what they say differ from the connotation, and for whom do they intend the connoted meaning?

Possible answer: The denotation of what they say is that Liam is a good kid, but the

connotation is the opposite. They want Liam to know they aren’t fooled by his dishonesty.

Copyright © 2010 Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc. 22 Book 3, Chapters 1–8: Awaiting the Runaways pages 119–142 Before You Read Making Predictions Gordon says that he intends to make his gory videos into high art. Do you think he could have success in this endeavor? Why or why not?

Answers will vary. Earlier in the book, Liam says that his mother’s art is popular, because people like the edge of violence in it. So, it could be that people will be receptive to Gordon’s videos as a kind of art, even though it seems unlikely his videos would be appreciated in the same way that a painting or photograph is. After You Read Mastering Vocabulary Below are Greek and Latin root words from the Vocabulary lesson for Book 2, Chapters 1–6. For each root word, write its meaning and then two words in which the root word can be found. Do not use words given in the previous lesson. If you need help, use a word origins book or the Internet. Answers will vary; possible answers shown.

Root Word Meaning Word 1 Word 2 sect cut sectional dissect phot light photographed photosynthesis cogn know recognized cognizant circum around circumference circumnavigate uni one unit union para beside, near parameter parallel

Checking Predictions Earlier, you made a prediction about whether or not Gordon would find success as an artist. What have you read that supports or refutes your prediction?

Possible answer: As Gordon predicted, he has become a success for the very reasons he stated.

His videos have taken the place of some of Mum’s photos in the gallery where she sells.

Copyright © 2010 Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc. 23 Analyzing the Writing: Historical and Literary Allusions The following chart contains historical allusions. Complete the chart by telling what the subject of each allusion is. Then tell the allusion’s purpose, or how it helps readers understand ideas or events in the story. Use the Internet or an encyclopedia if you need help.

Allusion Subject(s) Purpose “Horrible,” says Dad. Jesus Christ Answers will vary. Possible answer: The allusions “But hypnotic, you have to help illustrate Dad’s interpretation of Gordon’s art. give it that.” Mum turns away. According to Christian faith, Jesus died on a cross “And it makes you and then was resurrected. Like Jesus, the person in think.” Gordon’s video dies and then comes to life again. “Think of what?” says Mum. Sisyphus According to Greek mythology, Sisyphus was a king “Of . . . Sisyphus,” put to death for taking pleasure in killing. He says Dad. “It makes you managed to cheat death twice through trickery; think of Christ on his however, he was finally captured and sentenced by cross.” the gods to continue rolling a boulder up a hill until he reaches the hilltop. For eternity, whenever he (page 124) nears the hilltop, the boulder rolls away from him, down the hill. The person in Gordon’s video is like Sisyphus, because his punishment never ends.

We’re in his bedroom. He’s Che Guevara Answers will vary. Possible answer: The allusions got his homework spread help readers understand Max’s character by showing on his desk in front of him. who his heroes are. Posters of Che Guevara, Wayne Rooney and a Che Guevara was a political figure known both as a Massey Ferguson tractor are killer and a freedom fighter. People are divided as to on his wall. how to view him; some revere him for his ideals, while others despise him for the deaths he caused (page 134) and the conflicts he inspired.

Wayne Rooney Wayne Rooney is a popular sports figure in England. He is noted for the young age at which his rise to fame as a footballer began.

Copyright © 2010 Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc. 24 Getting to Know the Characters: Internal and External Conflict An internal conflict is a problem a character experiences within him- or herself, such as indecision or grief about a loss. An external conflict is a problem caused by actions taken against a character by others in the story or forces in nature, such as weather or animals.

In the chart below are examples of conflict Liam experiences in Book 3, Chapters 1–8. Complete the chart by telling whether each conflict is internal or external and then explaining your answer. Note: Some conflicts can have both internal and external causes.

Conflict Internal, External, or Both? Explanation Liam dreams of “Farmer Internal Liam’s dreams are due to his fear of Flynn, Crystal and Oliver, the unknown and his struggle to Nattrass and knives and control his rage against Gordon. Spotlight and snakes.”

Max thinks Liam should be Internal Liam disagrees with Max but misses more like him. Max’s friendship.

Max and Liam get into a External and Internal External: Max uses physical force fight at Max’s house. against Liam. Internal: Liam is hurt when Max calls him a poser.

Liam can see that Max’s Internal Liam feels misunderstood. dad thinks Liam is a bad influence from a weird family.

Gordon tracks Liam down External and Internal External: Gordon’s watchfulness of and tells Liam he has spies Liam and his friends is intended as watching for Oliver and a threat against their plans to help Crystal. Oliver. Internal: Gordon’s threats are a mental irritation to Liam.

Copyright © 2010 Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc. 25 Responding to the Story 1. Liam believes Crystal and Oliver will come from the direction of St. Michael and All Angels rather than the military road. What might Crystal and Oliver’s route symbolize about their characters?

Possible answer: Their route by way of the church instead of the military road might

symbolize them as characters whose influence will be for peace rather than violence.

2. In Book 3, Chapters 1 and 2, Mum and Dad debate about what art is. Whose side in the debate would you take, and why?

Answers will vary. Students’ responses should reflect understanding that Mum believes art is

about beauty, and Dad thinks art is about ideas.

3. Do you think Dad is like Gordon? Explain your answer.

Answers will vary. Dad and Gordon definitely share ideas; Dad immediately understands and

defends what Gordon intends to say with his art. However, Dad does not live his life to

promote these ideas, the way Gordon does. Dad acknowledges they are interesting in the same

way he acknowledges other ideas, such as imprinting, are interesting.

4. What message do you think Gordon tries to send Liam by using Liam’s parents as inspiration for his art?

Possible answer: On one hand, he tears Liam’s family down by making a mockery of the way

they express themselves. On the other hand, he proves he is right about Liam being like him, if

he can show that he and Liam are inspired by the same people and ideas.

5. Reread Book 3, Chapter 8. What event in this chapter could foreshadow what Liam will become later in the story?

Possible answer: Alison and Mum paint Liam as a monster, and then Liam uses the paint to

make jagged marks on his face. This could foreshadow that Liam will become a monster, or

do something monstrous.

Copyright © 2010 Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc. 26 Book 3, Chapters 9–16: Past Lives pages 143–171 Before You Read Making Predictions Do you think Oliver and Crystal will come to Liam soon, or do you think they will be caught before they can arrive? Explain your answer.

Answers will vary. Both Liam and Gordon think Oliver and Crystal are on their way, so it seems likely they will arrive shortly—if Gordon doesn’t set up a trap for them. After You Read Checking Predictions Before reading you made a prediction about whether or not Oliver and Crystal would reach Liam. What happened that confirmed or refuted your prediction?

Possible answer: Liam dreamed that he could see them traveling toward him, and when he awoke, they were at his tent trying to wake him.

Mastering Vocabulary Complete the following chart by going to each page number indicated and finding a simile, a metaphor, or an idiom on the page, as directed. Then write the example of figurative language you find. Note: More than one example of the figurative language indicated may be found on the same page.

Location Type of Figurative Language Example

Page 143 Simile I throw more sticks on the fire and it flares and scatters sparks like dancing stars.

Page 146 Metaphor I see the gleam of Oliver’s face, the white bloom of Crystal’s.

Page 146 Idiom “The back of beyond,” says Crystal. “And beyond that.”

Page 167 Simile “…Those people are like ghosts, like scattered bits of memory, like things you miss, like dreams you carry round with you.”

Copyright © 2010 Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc. 27 Analyzing the Writing: Imagery Imagery is descriptive language that appeals to the senses. Complete the chart below by reading the page referenced and telling what imagery on it relates to the sense indicated.

Location Sense Imagery Page 144 Hearing …Feet moving through dry grass. …The click of the latch as they open the little gate… …The creak as they pull the gate open. …One word: Liam. I try to call out to them but have no voice.

Page 149 Sight …I lead Crystal and Oliver out of the garden and into the fields through the predawn light. The light intensifies… …A low mist blankets the river… The air’s…bright.

Page 153 Touch The water’s icy. We dive and let the current carry us… …We swim against the current… We…hug each other. Our skin is cold. Our hot hearts beat fiercely underneath.

Page 158 Taste …Tins of beans and Irish stew and hotdogs… …bags of boiled sweets… …packets of rice and spaghetti… …a chunk of Christmas cake wrapped in foil…

Page 169 Smell I light a fire. I put the sausages I brought from home into an aluminum pan. They start to sizzle and spit.

Possible answer: After killing a chicken for food, they bury its bones, thank it for being their

prey, and wish its spirit safe passage into the dark.

2. Reread page 150. How do Liam, Crystal, and Oliver’s ideas about the rock art differ, and what might this show about their characters?

Possible answer: Liam thinks the art is mysterious; this is in line with his fanciful leanings.

Crystal thinks the art is simply nice shapes and patterns; this shows her tendency to see people

and life for what they are. Oliver thinks the art stands for the people who made it, before they

were taken; this shows his preoccupation with death and desire to leave a legacy of his own.

Responding to the Story 1. What does Liam dream about in Book 3, Chapter 9, and how is his dream powerful?

Possible answer: Liam dreams that he can see Oliver and Crystal traveling toward him. When

he awakes, they are there with him, and he learns that he saw their travels accurately.

2. On page 157, Liam tells Crystal and Oliver about his childhood fantasies and then laughs “at the daftness of children’s dreams, at the beauty of them.” What makes the dreams both daft and beautiful?

Possible answer: The dreams are daft, because they are dramatic fantasies about the world

ending. But they are beautiful, because they are about how he and his best friend were going to

create their own better world together.

3. Reread page 163. Why does Crystal think Liam is naive?

Possible answer: Liam doesn’t understand that he only craves adventure, because he is safe and

cared for.

4. How has Death Dealer’s purpose changed, under the influence of Crystal and Oliver?

Possible answer: Death Dealer has become a tool for making art, rather than threats.

5. How is Oliver like Thomas Fell?

Possible answer: He is a victim of war who doesn’t want to return to his home.

Copyright © 2010 Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc. 29 Book 3, Chapter 17–Book 4, Chapter 2: The Knife pages 172–198 Before You Read Making Predictions What do you think Oliver’s story of his true past will reveal about his character?

Answers will vary. Oliver says his story will tell about “the darkness at the heart of the world.”

Also, it seems likely it will reveal truths about him that immigration officials know but he denies.

(Earlier in the story, we learned that officials believed Oliver was seventeen, though she believed he was thirteen.) Perhaps Oliver has done something he isn’t proud of. After You Read Checking Predictions Based on what you read, did you predict accurately about Oliver’s story? Explain your answer.

Answers will vary. Possible response: Yes; I was correct about Oliver’s story including truths about him that he is not proud of. After his family was killed, he became a child soldier who committed terrible acts against people, because that is what he was trained to do.

Mastering Vocabulary On the lines below, write a summary of events from Raven Summer that includes three words with Greek or Latin roots studied in this Reading Guide and one example of each of these types of figurative language: metaphor, simile, and idiom.

Answers will vary.

Copyright © 2010 Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc. 30 Analyzing the Writing: Juxtaposition and Tension 1. In these chapters, we learn that Oliver is two people at once: He is the person Crystal and Liam know, as well as seventeen-year-old Henry Meadows. Oliver always tries to tell the truth in his stories. If his real name is Henry Meadows, what might be the truth in his story about Oliver?

Answers will vary. Possible answer: Oliver is innocent of the war crimes Henry Meadows

committed. Oliver represents who Henry would have been, had he not been taken away from

his village to become a soldier.

2. Before Oliver lost his family, how was his life like Liam’s? Afterward, how did his life change?

Possible answer: Like Liam, Oliver once played, went to school, and anticipated the day when

war would come to his village. After his family was killed, Oliver’s life changed drastically. He

was forced to become the same kind of soldier that killed his family.

3. How was Gordon both right and wrong about Oliver?

Possible answer: Gordon predicted that Oliver was a war criminal who would become a danger

to him. However, Gordon did not see his own part in what would happen with Oliver; he

didn’t understand that Oliver would be peace loving until Gordon provoked him with hatred

and bullying. He also didn’t understand how terrorists are made.

4. How was Oliver both right and wrong about England?

Possible answer: Oliver believed England was a country with no war. While it is true that

England does not have the civil strife found in Liberia, the jets thundering and guns firing

from the training ground near Kane’s Cave show that England has not given up warring.

5. Why did Liam try to kill Gordon? Was it to protect Oliver, or was it simply because he hated Gordon?

Possible answer: Both motives were so closely entwined that Liam seems not to know which

made him snap. He only knows the shock and regret for having done what he did.

Possible answer: Henry’s dad believed Europe and America were peaceful countries where

Henry could go to become an educated man and then bring back what he learned to Liberia,

so that it could be a better place.

2. According to Henry’s story, how are Liberian children turned into soldiers?

Possible answer: The children’s families are killed, and then the children are fed drugs, given

guns, and taught that obedience in their new lives as warriors will earn them the love and

approval they naturally crave.

3. What does Henry find most appalling about the soldiers who killed his family and the soldier he became?

Possible answer: He found most appalling that their annihilation of families and villages was

an act they could do with complete calm, because it had become so ordinary. The child

soldiers used to play with each other between killing assignments, the way kids play together at

recess.

4. Think about the character archetype The Devil. Earlier in this guide, we said that Gordon was in league with The Devil; this means The Devil is actually something else in this story. What is it?

Possible answer: The Devil is the beast inside each of us that takes over and makes killing and

destruction easy.

5. What does Liam do with the knife at the end of the story, and what might his act symbolize?

Possible answer: Liam buries the knife and the money he stole from Alison’s jar in the garden,

where he first found the knife. This act may symbolize that Liam wants to bury his violent

urges, but he doesn’t want to bury them very deep. Like his time capsule at Kane’s Cave,

Liam’s knife and Alison’s money are where he can find them, if he needs them.

Reviewing Predictions Turn to page 5 of this guide to review your first predictions. How accurate were they?

Answers will vary.

Making Connections 1. On page 47, Liam says, “I’m growing and I don’t know how to grow. I’m living, but I haven’t started living yet.” Do you relate to what Liam says? Why or why not?

Answers will vary.

2. On page 57, Crystal says, “Maybe we’re all daft, and maybe we’re all normal, all at the same time.” How is this true of you and the people you know?

Answers will vary.

Thinking About Characters Raven Summer is about a character that comes to understand his violent tendencies and where they could lead him. What are other stories you know in which characters make a similar discovery about themselves? How do they deal with what they learn? Answers will vary.

Thinking About Theme 1. One could say that Liam’s story begins with the raven, but Liam says his story “starts and ends with the knife.” What story is Liam telling?

Possible answer: Liam is telling the story of why he decided to suppress his violent urges

rather than continue to glorify violence.

Copyright © 2010 Junior Library Guild/Media Source, Inc. 33 2. What parts of Liam’s story are like a fairytale, and what do they show about how fact relates to fantasy? Possible answer: The circumstances by which Liam, Alison, Oliver, and Crystal find each other

are what make Liam’s story seem like a fairytale. The circumstances feel fairytale-like, because

they are unexplained. (Was the raven trained by the hiker, or did the raven find Liam and Max

on its own? Was Alison the hiker’s baby or someone else’s?) The story shows that fact only

gets people so far in understanding what happens to them; at some point they must use their

imaginations to explain events.

3. Some people believe that fate is predetermined, while others believe we all make our own fate. Based on what you have read in Raven Summer, what do you think David Almond believes about fate? Explain your answer. Answers will vary. David Almond seems to believe that fate is determined both by mystery and

personal decision. (In his story, Liam, Crystal and Oliver find each other first by chance but

then again by choice.) However, Almond’s biggest idea about fate may be that it’s not as

important to understand fate as it is to appreciate the power of our connections to people.

4. Gordon mocks the idea that universal love will solve the world’s problems. What is right and wrong about his assessment?

Answers will vary. Gordon is probably right that violence won’t end because everyone learns to

love one another. However, he underestimates the power of one person deciding to love

everyone. People who come together under this decision derive strength from each other and

feel like they are doing something positive with their lives. They also protect themselves and

others by keeping the “savage within” at bay. This doesn’t solve the world’s problems, but it

makes the world a better place in which to live.

Foundlings in Literature In Raven Summer, the author makes allusions to other stories about foundlings, such as Goldilocks, Hansel and Gretel, and Red Riding Hood. Have students think of other foundling stories they know from pop culture, the news, ancient texts, and contemporary fiction. (Examples include Little Orphan Annie, Moses in the Bulrushes, Wuthering Heights, and many others.) Discuss what lessons the stories teach; what special abilities foundlings are thought to derive from their unusual circumstances; and why people seem always to have been drawn to stories about foundling children. Then have students write foundling stories of their own to share with their classmates.

Current Events The year in which Raven Summer takes place is never stated, but historical events the author references involve Tony Blair, George Bush, and Saddam Hussein, suggesting that Liam’s story takes place not long after 9/11. Have students use the Internet and periodicals to conduct research and take notes about why 9/11 happened, how world leaders responded, and what different groups around the world think of the events and how they were handled. Have them use their findings to discuss how themes in Raven Summer are reflected in recent history and how the events surrounding 9/11 continue to affect relationships among different political groups today.

The Roman Empire Hadrian’s Wall, a structure in England that dates back to the reign of the Roman Empire, is one of many archaeological sites that serve as evidence of how far-reaching the Roman Empire once was. Have students use reference books to find out more about famous ruins from the Roman Empire, where they are found, and what they show about the Roman culture and technology of that time. Have each create a poster about a different archaeological site that shows what site looks like and explains its historical significance. A section of Hadrian’s Wall near Greenhead, Northumberland

Other books by David Almond Clay. Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2008. Counting Stars. Laurel Leaf, 2003. The Fire Eaters. Yearling, 2005. Heaven Eyes. Laurel Leaf, 2002. Kit’s Wilderness. Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2009. The Savage. Candlewick, 2008. Secret Heart. Laurel Leaf, 2004. Skellig. Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2009.

Fiction books you may also like:

Marchetta, Melina. Jellicoe Road. HarperTeen, 2008. Chambers, Aidan. Postcards from No Man’s Land. Speak, 2007. Green, John. Looking for Alaska. Speak, 2008. Rosoff, Meg. How I Live Now. Wendy Lamb Books, 2006. Myers, Walter Dean. Monster. Amistad, 2001 Hesse, Karen. Witness. Scholastic Paperbacks, 2003.

Content Area Standard Number Standard Objective

Languages Arts: English NL–ENG.K–12.1 Reading for Perspective

Languages Arts: English NL–ENG.K–12.2 Reading for Understanding

Languages Arts: English NL–ENG.K–12.3 Evaluation Strategies

Languages Arts: English NL–ENG.K–12.4 Communication Skills

Languages Arts: English NL–ENG.K–12.5 Communication Strategies

Languages Arts: English NL–ENG.K–12.6 Applying Knowledge

Language Arts: English NL–ENG.K–12.7 Evaluating Data

Languages Arts: English NL–ENG.K–12.8 Developing Research Skills

Languages Arts: English NL–ENG.K–12.12 Applying Language Skills

Science NS.9–12.3 Life Science

Social Sciences NSS-C.9–12.1 Civic Life, Politics, and Government

Social Sciences NSS-C.9–12.4 Other Nations and World Affairs

Choosing and Evaluating a Range of Fine Arts NA–VA.9–12.3 Subject Matter, Symbols, and Ideas

Understanding the Visual Arts in Fine Arts NA–VA.9–12.4 Relation to History and Cultures