Monday, May 17, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Author Post
Ellen Raskin
1. The title Ellen Raskin had originally decided was Eight Imperfect Pairs of Heirs. She later changed it to The Westing Game. (Raskin)
2. She recieved a Newberry Medal and Banta Award for the Westing Game. (Raskin, Ellen Biography - S9.com)
1. The title Ellen Raskin had originally decided was Eight Imperfect Pairs of Heirs. She later changed it to The Westing Game. (Raskin)
2. She recieved a Newberry Medal and Banta Award for the Westing Game. (Raskin, Ellen Biography - S9.com)
3. In 1979 The Westing Game won a Newberry Award for distinguished writing for children. (The Westing Game)
4. Raskin always designed the title page for each of her books (The Westing Game)
5. She was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on March 13, 1928 (The Westing Game)
6. Raskin described herself as self-critical, running scared, and compulsive perfectionist. (The Westing Game)
7. She entered the University of Wisconsin-Madison at the age of seventeen. (The Westing Game)
8. Ellen Raskin had one daughter named Susan (The Westing Game)
9. When Raskin and her sister were little, they would act out the lives of many different characters. (The Westing Game)
10. She has designed and illustrated more than 1000 book jackets. (The Westing Game)
To find out more information on Ellen Raskin click here.
Works Cited
Raskin, Ellen. The Westing Game. New York: Penguin USA, 2000. Print.
"Raskin, Ellen Biography - S9.com." Biographical Dictionary - S9.com. Web. 21 Apr. 2010.
"The Westing Game." UW-Madison School of Education. Web. 22 Apr. 2010.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Clues
Group 1:
Madame Sun Lin Hoo
-She was the burglar. She stole all those things to get money to go back to China. Later in the story, she changes her name to Sunny, and finally makes her trip to China. Sunny comes back to America to carry on the business started by Mr. Hoo.
Jake Wexler
- Gave up both of his private practices. He had been appointed consultant to the governor's inquiry panel for a state lottery
Clues:
OF
AMERICA
AND
GOD
ABOVE
Goup 2:
Turtle Wexler
-Had a master's degree in business administration, an advanced degree in corporate law, and had served two years as legal counsel to the Westing Paper Products corporation. She had made one million dollars in the stock market, lost it all, then had made five million more. She won the Westing Game, because she found Julian R. Eastman who was really Samuel Westing. She never told anyone that she knew about Julian R. Eastman. Was there when he died. Got married to Theo Theodorakis
Flora Baumbach
-Made the wedding gown for Violet Westing. Turtle was like a daughter to her.
Clues:
SEA
MOUNTAIN
AM
O
Group 3:
Christos Theodorakis-
-Saw Dr. Sikes walking out of the Westing Mantion on halloween night. Judge Ford paid for his education just like Samuel had paid for hers. Got married to Shirley Staver. Him and his wife teach ornithology at the university, both are professors. Discovered a new subspecies in South America.
D. Denton Deere
- Said that Sandy McSouthers did not have plastic surgery, this helped prove that Sandy was Samuel Westing in disguise. Also said that the bruise Sandy had on his shin was from Turtle, which also proves that Sandy was Barney Northrup. Got married to Angela Wexler, they have a daughter named Alice.
Clues:
FOR
PLAIN
GRAIN
SEED
Group 4:
Alexander (Sandy) McSouthers
-The doorman at Sunset Towers. Was really Samuel Westing in disguise. Was paired with J.J. Ford because he knew that the judge would not have him investigated. Turtle found him as Julian R. Eastman. She was also there when he died.
J.J. Ford
-Samuel Westing had paid for her education. She did not have Sandy McSouthers investigated. She had signed for two ten-thousand dollar checks to be given to Sandy. At the last meeting Samuel Westing had a note for Judge Ford saying that her debt was repaid. She paid for Chris Theodorakis' education. She later became a judge on the United States Circuit Court of Appeals.
Clues:
SKIES
OF
SHINING
BROTHER
Group 5:
Grace Windsor Wexler
- Related to Windy Windkloppel, who was really Samuel Westing. Owns a chain restaurant of chinese food. Her restaurant became popular because a lot of sports figures ate there.
James Shin Hoo
-Sued Sara Westing for the invention of the disposable paper diaper. Samuel Westing gave him the idea for paper innersoles. Became an inventor. His wife Sunny took over the business after he died.
Clues:
FRUITED
PURPLE
WAVES
FOR
SEA
Group 6:
Berthe Erica Crow
-Former wife of Samuel Westing. Was the answer to the Westing Game. Got married to Otis Amber.
Otis Amber
-Private Investigator. Was asked by Samuel Westing to keep an eye on Crow. Convinced Crow to play the Westing Game. Got married to Berthe Erica Crow.
Clues:
BEAUTIFUL
MAJESTIES
SHED
Group 7:
Theo Theodorakis
- His Dad and Violet Westing were childhood sweethearts. His family ran the coffee shop that was bombed. Became a journalist. Got married to Turtle Wexler.
Doug Hoo
-Followed Otis Amber all over town. Olympic gold medalist.
Clues:
HIS
N
ON
TO
THEE
FOR
Group 8:
Sydelle Pulaski
-A victim of the bombing incident. Took shorthand notes in Polish. Figured out that the clues went to the song America the Beautiful. Gets married to the President of Shultz Sausages.
Angela Wexler
-The bomber. Her sister takes the blame for the bombs. She gets a tiny scar on her face from pulling the bomb away from Turtle. Goes to medical school. Marries Denton Deere. Has one child named Alice
Clues:
GOOD
GRACE
FROM
HOOD
SPACIOUS
The Queen's Sacrifice:
Samuel Westing's signature move when playing chess. Was also used in the Westing Game with Berthe Erica Crow as the Queen.
Windy Windkloppel- (Samuel Westing, Barney Northrup, Sandy McSouthers, Julian R. Eastman)
Windy Windkloppel: poor, son of immigrants
Samuel Westing: rich, head of a huge paper company
Sandy McSouthers: Doorman at Sunset Towers, disguised as one of the heirs
Barney Northrup: real estate agent for Sunset Towers
In the beginning of The Westing Game. The Samuel Westing in the coffin was a wax figurine made to look like Sam before the accident. Samuel Westing was scarred and would need plastic surgery to look like he did before. Without plastic surgery, Samuel Westing would be able to disguise himself and remain unrecognizable from anyone who knew him before. This let him play Sandy McSouthers and Barney Northrup.
America The Beautiful
All of the clues have the words to America The Beautiful. When they put all the clues together, the missing words spelt out Berthe Erica Crow.
The Fourth
In Samuel Westing's will it says that the one who finds the windfall will be the one who finds the... fourth. Turtle saw this in the will and this is how she came to discover Julian R. Eastman. North (Northrup), East (Eastman), South (McSouthers), West (Westing).
Birthday Candle
Sandy McSouthers had asked if he could buy one of turtle's candles as a birthday present for his wife. The day that the heirs discovered who Samuel Westing really was it was Crow's birthday. This is why the will said Happy Fourth of July, because fireworks went off and Sandy needed the candle to time everything correctly.
Works Cited:
"Raskin, Ellen Biography - S9.com." Biographical Dictionary - S9.com. Web. 21 Apr. 2010..
Madame Sun Lin Hoo
-She was the burglar. She stole all those things to get money to go back to China. Later in the story, she changes her name to Sunny, and finally makes her trip to China. Sunny comes back to America to carry on the business started by Mr. Hoo.
Jake Wexler
- Gave up both of his private practices. He had been appointed consultant to the governor's inquiry panel for a state lottery
Clues:
OF
AMERICA
AND
GOD
ABOVE
Goup 2:
Turtle Wexler
-Had a master's degree in business administration, an advanced degree in corporate law, and had served two years as legal counsel to the Westing Paper Products corporation. She had made one million dollars in the stock market, lost it all, then had made five million more. She won the Westing Game, because she found Julian R. Eastman who was really Samuel Westing. She never told anyone that she knew about Julian R. Eastman. Was there when he died. Got married to Theo Theodorakis
Flora Baumbach
-Made the wedding gown for Violet Westing. Turtle was like a daughter to her.
Clues:
SEA
MOUNTAIN
AM
O
Group 3:
Christos Theodorakis-
-Saw Dr. Sikes walking out of the Westing Mantion on halloween night. Judge Ford paid for his education just like Samuel had paid for hers. Got married to Shirley Staver. Him and his wife teach ornithology at the university, both are professors. Discovered a new subspecies in South America.
D. Denton Deere
- Said that Sandy McSouthers did not have plastic surgery, this helped prove that Sandy was Samuel Westing in disguise. Also said that the bruise Sandy had on his shin was from Turtle, which also proves that Sandy was Barney Northrup. Got married to Angela Wexler, they have a daughter named Alice.
Clues:
FOR
PLAIN
GRAIN
SEED
Group 4:
Alexander (Sandy) McSouthers
-The doorman at Sunset Towers. Was really Samuel Westing in disguise. Was paired with J.J. Ford because he knew that the judge would not have him investigated. Turtle found him as Julian R. Eastman. She was also there when he died.
J.J. Ford
-Samuel Westing had paid for her education. She did not have Sandy McSouthers investigated. She had signed for two ten-thousand dollar checks to be given to Sandy. At the last meeting Samuel Westing had a note for Judge Ford saying that her debt was repaid. She paid for Chris Theodorakis' education. She later became a judge on the United States Circuit Court of Appeals.
Clues:
SKIES
OF
SHINING
BROTHER
Group 5:
Grace Windsor Wexler
- Related to Windy Windkloppel, who was really Samuel Westing. Owns a chain restaurant of chinese food. Her restaurant became popular because a lot of sports figures ate there.
James Shin Hoo
-Sued Sara Westing for the invention of the disposable paper diaper. Samuel Westing gave him the idea for paper innersoles. Became an inventor. His wife Sunny took over the business after he died.
Clues:
FRUITED
PURPLE
WAVES
FOR
SEA
Group 6:
Berthe Erica Crow
-Former wife of Samuel Westing. Was the answer to the Westing Game. Got married to Otis Amber.
Otis Amber
-Private Investigator. Was asked by Samuel Westing to keep an eye on Crow. Convinced Crow to play the Westing Game. Got married to Berthe Erica Crow.
Clues:
BEAUTIFUL
MAJESTIES
SHED
Group 7:
Theo Theodorakis
- His Dad and Violet Westing were childhood sweethearts. His family ran the coffee shop that was bombed. Became a journalist. Got married to Turtle Wexler.
Doug Hoo
-Followed Otis Amber all over town. Olympic gold medalist.
Clues:
HIS
N
ON
TO
THEE
FOR
Group 8:
Sydelle Pulaski
-A victim of the bombing incident. Took shorthand notes in Polish. Figured out that the clues went to the song America the Beautiful. Gets married to the President of Shultz Sausages.
Angela Wexler
-The bomber. Her sister takes the blame for the bombs. She gets a tiny scar on her face from pulling the bomb away from Turtle. Goes to medical school. Marries Denton Deere. Has one child named Alice
Clues:
GOOD
GRACE
FROM
HOOD
SPACIOUS
The Queen's Sacrifice:
Samuel Westing's signature move when playing chess. Was also used in the Westing Game with Berthe Erica Crow as the Queen.
Windy Windkloppel- (Samuel Westing, Barney Northrup, Sandy McSouthers, Julian R. Eastman)
Windy Windkloppel: poor, son of immigrants
Samuel Westing: rich, head of a huge paper company
Sandy McSouthers: Doorman at Sunset Towers, disguised as one of the heirs
Barney Northrup: real estate agent for Sunset Towers
In the beginning of The Westing Game. The Samuel Westing in the coffin was a wax figurine made to look like Sam before the accident. Samuel Westing was scarred and would need plastic surgery to look like he did before. Without plastic surgery, Samuel Westing would be able to disguise himself and remain unrecognizable from anyone who knew him before. This let him play Sandy McSouthers and Barney Northrup.
America The Beautiful
All of the clues have the words to America The Beautiful. When they put all the clues together, the missing words spelt out Berthe Erica Crow.
The Fourth
In Samuel Westing's will it says that the one who finds the windfall will be the one who finds the... fourth. Turtle saw this in the will and this is how she came to discover Julian R. Eastman. North (Northrup), East (Eastman), South (McSouthers), West (Westing).
Birthday Candle
Sandy McSouthers had asked if he could buy one of turtle's candles as a birthday present for his wife. The day that the heirs discovered who Samuel Westing really was it was Crow's birthday. This is why the will said Happy Fourth of July, because fireworks went off and Sandy needed the candle to time everything correctly.
Works Cited:
"Raskin, Ellen Biography - S9.com." Biographical Dictionary - S9.com. Web. 21 Apr. 2010.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Book Review
Click here for audio
Spinelli, Jerry.Maniac Magee. Park Avenue: Little, Brown and Company, 1990. Print.
Spinelli, Jerry.Maniac Magee. Park Avenue: Little, Brown and Company, 1990. Print.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
audio "Responses to Literature"
8. What came as a surprise in the book? Why?
Spinelli, Jerry.Maniac Magee. Park Avenue: Little, Brown and Company, 1990. Print.
Spinelli, Jerry.Maniac Magee. Park Avenue: Little, Brown and Company, 1990. Print.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Character Post III
Grayson was first introduced to the story when he saw Maniac lying outside the buffalo pen. Grayson loves baseball, he had been in the Minors and played as pitcher. His job now is taking care of the baseball field. Grayson originally lives at the Y, but moves in with Maniac at the band shell. Maniac loves it when Grayson tells him stories because he had so many stories about baseball. When Grayson tells Maniac he can't read, Maniac teaches Grayson how to read and is so proud of him when he read his first book. Grayson and Maniac have a wonderful Christmas. They have decorations all over the place and cut down two trees. Grayson died five days after Christmas.
Spinelli, Jerry.Maniac Magee. Park Avenue: Little, Brown and Company, 1990. Print.
Spinelli, Jerry.Maniac Magee. Park Avenue: Little, Brown and Company, 1990. Print.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Theme Post II
I think that another theme for Maiac Magee is racism. The town is seperated into two parts, the east side and the west side. Maniac lived on the east side with the Beales. He was completely unaware of why people treated blacks and whites differently. To Maniac he wasn't white, he was at least 7 different shades; and Mrs. Beale was more like a chocolate color, not black. Maniac treats both blacks and whites equally. When he met Grayson on the west side, Maniac told him all about the Beales. Grayson seemed amazed that Maniac would actually eat what they ate, sleep in the same house, and drink from the same cup. I think Spinelli is trying to give a clear message that racism is still a huge issue in the world and should not be taken lightly.
Spinelli, Jerry.Maniac Magee. Park Avenue: Little, Brown and Company, 1990. Print.
Spinelli, Jerry.Maniac Magee. Park Avenue: Little, Brown and Company, 1990. Print.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Character Post II
Amanda Beale
Amanda Beale was first introduced in the story when she met Maniac. She let him borrow one of her books called The Children's Crusade. When Maniac came to return her book he met Amanda's family, and when he told Mr. Beale his story, he was brought to their home and accepted into their family. Amanda likes to read books. She has two siblings Hester and Lester, and a dog. Amanda lives on twenty-eight sycamore street, on the West side of town. She carries her books around with her in a suitcase because her siblings would draw all over them, and her dog would rip them up with it's teeth. Amanda used to take baths with her brother and sister but decided she was too old for it. She also enjoys sleeping with Hester and Lester. When Maniac lives with the Beales Amanda lets him sleep in her room.
Spinelli, Jerry. Maniac Magee. Park Avenue: Little, Brown and Company, 1990. Print.
Amanda Beale was first introduced in the story when she met Maniac. She let him borrow one of her books called The Children's Crusade. When Maniac came to return her book he met Amanda's family, and when he told Mr. Beale his story, he was brought to their home and accepted into their family. Amanda likes to read books. She has two siblings Hester and Lester, and a dog. Amanda lives on twenty-eight sycamore street, on the West side of town. She carries her books around with her in a suitcase because her siblings would draw all over them, and her dog would rip them up with it's teeth. Amanda used to take baths with her brother and sister but decided she was too old for it. She also enjoys sleeping with Hester and Lester. When Maniac lives with the Beales Amanda lets him sleep in her room.
Spinelli, Jerry. Maniac Magee. Park Avenue: Little, Brown and Company, 1990. Print.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Theme Post 1
I think that one of the themes for Maniac Magee is kindness. Maniac shows kindness because he doesn't treat black people any different from white. Maniac is also nice to everyone he meets and doesn't care about the west side or the east side. I think the theme is also kindness because the Beale's let Maniac become part of their family and are very kind to him,even though he is white.
Spinelli, Jerry.Maniac Magee. Park Avenue: Little, Brown and Company, 1990. Print.
Spinelli, Jerry.Maniac Magee. Park Avenue: Little, Brown and Company, 1990. Print.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Character Post 1
Maniac Magee
Maniac Magee's parents died when he was a baby. After that he was an orphan and was sent to live with his Aunt Dot and Uncle Dan. When Maniac was eleven he ran away becasue he hated his home with Aunt Dot and Uncle Dan. Jeffrey Lionel Magee was Maniac Magee's real name, he got his nickname because people started to call him a maniac. He met a girl named Amanda Beal who let him borrow one of her books called The Children's Crusade. Maniac also did amazing things like hit John McNab's baseballs. John McNab and his friends came to beat up Maniac, but instead Maniac got chased onto the west side of town. This is where he met Mars Bars Thompson who ripped a page from the book Amanda had had given Maniac. Maniac got away from Mars Bars but then met up with him again where Amanda came to rescue him. Another amazing thing he did was catch Hands Down's football with one hand.
Spinelli, Jerry. Maniac Magee. Park Avenue: Little, Brown and Company, 1990. Print.
Maniac Magee's parents died when he was a baby. After that he was an orphan and was sent to live with his Aunt Dot and Uncle Dan. When Maniac was eleven he ran away becasue he hated his home with Aunt Dot and Uncle Dan. Jeffrey Lionel Magee was Maniac Magee's real name, he got his nickname because people started to call him a maniac. He met a girl named Amanda Beal who let him borrow one of her books called The Children's Crusade. Maniac also did amazing things like hit John McNab's baseballs. John McNab and his friends came to beat up Maniac, but instead Maniac got chased onto the west side of town. This is where he met Mars Bars Thompson who ripped a page from the book Amanda had had given Maniac. Maniac got away from Mars Bars but then met up with him again where Amanda came to rescue him. Another amazing thing he did was catch Hands Down's football with one hand.
Spinelli, Jerry. Maniac Magee. Park Avenue: Little, Brown and Company, 1990. Print.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Author Post
10 Facts about Jerry Spinelli
- He was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania.
- He has written 23 books, but only 19 have been published.
- He got the name "Maniac" from a newspaper column.
- He has one younger brother named Bill.
- When he was sixteen he decided to be a writer.
- He served in the United States Army Reserve.
- When he was little he wanted to be a cowboy.
- He currently lives in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
- Is married to Eileen Spinelli, who is a writer too.
- The book, Maniac Magee has won over fifteen state children's book awards in addition to the Newberry Medal.
Works Cited
"Jerry Spinelli."The Author's Corner N.p.,n.d. Web. 3 Feb. 2010. http://www.carr.org/authco/spinelli-j.htm
"Jerry Spinelli Biography." Jerry Spinelli Infosite N.p.,n.d. Web. 3 Feb. 2010. http://jerryspinelli.net/
"Jerry Spinelli." Scholastic N.p.,n.d. Web.3 Feb.2010. http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/contributor.jsp?id=3649
"Jerry Spinelli." KidsReads.com N.p.,n.d. Web. 3 Feb. 2010 http://www.kidsreads.com/authors/au-spinelli-jerry.asp
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
