Findings from Fletcher

SynopsisWhen the substitute for Mr. "Fab" Fabiano never shows up and his sixth-grade students are on their own, they set out to prove that they can run the class by themselves. With a little ingenuity and some careful planning, they might just succeed. But when a fight breaks out between Bastian Fauvell and Rachel White over a classmate, Tommy Feathers, who died six months earlier, everything begins to fall apart. Can Rachel deal with the anxieties that plunged her into silence the day Tommy died? Inventive and uniquely constructed, Flying Solo follows Mr. Fab's students hour by hour as they tackle the challenges of an unusual school day. Ralph Fletcher has written many well-received books for children. He lives with his family in Birmingham, Alabama.

Madison T.Madison T.

“ “The instant Bastian opened his eyes The instant Bastian opened his eyes he saw Barkley, curled up at the edge of he saw Barkley, curled up at the edge of his bed, staring up with eyes the color of his bed, staring up with eyes the color of gold coins.” gold coins.”

Pg. 7Pg. 7 I used to not like writing because I I used to not like writing because I

thought it was boring but now I think it is thought it was boring but now I think it is okay because after I read okay because after I read Flying SoloFlying Solo I I realize words can come alive when you realize words can come alive when you are having fun and being creative.are having fun and being creative.

Brooke GatesBrooke Gates

““I can’t change that. But over the weekend I said to I can’t change that. But over the weekend I said to myself: “I can live with what I did. I’m not a terrible myself: “I can live with what I did. I’m not a terrible person.” And now I can say it aloud.person.” And now I can say it aloud.

138138 I used to like writing not love it, but now I love it so much I used to like writing not love it, but now I love it so much

because because Flying SoloFlying Solo has inspired/taught me to share my has inspired/taught me to share my thoughts in my writing, you can put great messages and thoughts in my writing, you can put great messages and lessons in your writing, and that even if your writing a lessons in your writing, and that even if your writing a false story that you can still put in some parts that may false story that you can still put in some parts that may have happened to you, a family member, or a friend that have happened to you, a family member, or a friend that other people may learn from that experience of that other people may learn from that experience of that person or you, and that may teach the reader a very person or you, and that may teach the reader a very valuable lesson.valuable lesson.

Student NameStudent Name

““,Ho he does speak!”,Ho he does speak!” 4040 This shows us to use words that aren’t This shows us to use words that aren’t

normal to show how they say it. normal to show how they say it.


Quote from the textQuote from the text PagePage Your thoughts about writingYour thoughts about writing





SynopsisTake it from Cliff, being the oldest of six kids is not easy under the best of circumstances. Who can be Mr. Reliable all the time? How do you deal with a brother who enjoys sitting under the kitchen table for punishment? Or explain to your sister that she can't divorce herself from the family just because they eat meat? Or figure out what your baby brother wants for Christmas when he asks for a yidda yadda? Told in the first person, each lively, humorous episode from Cliff's fifth-grade year focuses on one of the kids. Together they create a strong, satisfying story of a large, closely knit family.













SynopsisBobby loves spiders and is called "Spider Boy from Illinois" by a bully at his new school. At first Bobby's content with writing in his journal and caring for Thelma, his pet tarantula, but now he's stuck working on a school project with Lucky, another student. Bobby finds that Lucky's not bad for a girl, and things look even better when he sees a chance to get revenge on Chick Hall, the school bully. But Bobby's not ready for Chick's retaliation.













SynopsisThose six poisonous words suddenly turn the world of twelve-year-old Fletch upside down. In two weeks, he will say good-bye to his friends and leave behind that pretty girl with the dark dark eyes. Longing fills the time before moving day as Fletch yearns to keep life just the way it is. Even defrosting the freezer is hard; a "thick white layer of sadness" covers everything. Hetch worries that when he moves he Won't be from anywhere. He'll be "just a tumbleweed blowing across a dusty road." Ralph Fletcher's heartfelt, autobiographical poems are beautifully illustrated by Jennifer Emery and speak to anyone who has ever moved far away.

Gabriella NoreenGabriella Noreen ““Everything coated with a thick white layer of Everything coated with a thick white layer of

sadness.”sadness.” Page #23Page #23 This metaphor made realize that it is easy to This metaphor made realize that it is easy to

construct a simple metaphor. Before I thought construct a simple metaphor. Before I thought that you had to come up with this whole special that you had to come up with this whole special metaphor that is very advanced, now I know you metaphor that is very advanced, now I know you don’t have to make your metaphor sound all don’t have to make your metaphor sound all advanced for it to be good. You can just make it advanced for it to be good. You can just make it short, sweet and simple to be great.short, sweet and simple to be great.

In this book Ralph puts a collection of poems into one book to tell the

story of what his experience was like moving to Ohio. I enjoy reading

Ralph’s writing because he has a fun and interesting way of doing it. He often explodes the moment which

makes you just want to read more.

Gabriella Noreen











SynopsisIt’s the summer of 1973 and fourteen year old Matt spends his days working on a boat as a clam digger to earn extra money. His nights are another story—he spends time with his free-spirited cousin Jazzy who is visiting from Hawaii (and just happens to be beautiful). Matt can’t deny that his affection for Jazzy moves beyond a crush, and everyone knows you can’t fall in love with your cousin. Just when Matt decides to act on his feelings, Jazzy does something that changes everything between them.Like the one o’clock chop—the strong breeze that blows across the Long Island Sound—Matt’s summer proves to be as inevitable as a force of nature. Told with pitch-perfect angst and realism, Ralph Fletcher tells a gripping story of a teenager’s life-altering summer.

Mrs. ArzbergerMrs. Arzberger

“But it was Jasmine McKenzie who made the biggest headline in my life, a girl who happened to be my first cousin. I never dreamed I’d fall in love with her when she visited us from Hawaii, but that’s what happened.” –page 1

Ralph uses the metaphor “made the biggest headline in my life” to describe the importance of Jasmine’s friendship during the summer of 1973.

In this chapter, Ralph uses events that happened during 1973 to hook readers’

attention.

Livi MoodyLivi Moody

He handed mw a push broom and plastic He handed mw a push broom and plastic bucket.bucket.

Page – 20 Page – 20 When Ralph Fletcher said this quote it When Ralph Fletcher said this quote it

really made me think that as reader really made me think that as reader automatically I thought that the person automatically I thought that the person handing him a push broom and a plastic handing him a push broom and a plastic bucket he wanted him to clean because he bucket he wanted him to clean because he used descriptive words.used descriptive words.

When I read Ralph Fletcher’s writing it really is like no other because everybody’s writing is different, and because when Ralph Fletcher writes he is unique with writing and uses descriptive words. So really anyone can be a famous writer like Ralph Fletcher but all you do is you need to believe and USE DESCRIPTIVE WORDS!

Allie PadgettAllie Padgett

““They follow the spirit of the music, They follow the spirit of the music, letting letting it carry them to a new place every timeit carry them to a new place every time.” .”

-Page 2-Page 2 ““Letting it carry them to a new place every Letting it carry them to a new place every

time.” is a personification. Music cannot time.” is a personification. Music cannot carry you anywhere truly. Maybe music carry you anywhere truly. Maybe music makes you happy so it carries you to a makes you happy so it carries you to a “happy place.” I learned that you can “happy place.” I learned that you can connect a personification to your feelings. connect a personification to your feelings.

Ralph Fletcher uses many different tools and hooks to get you to keep

reading. I love how he uses his own life experiences and puts it into his own writing. Such as he probably had dug clams so he puts that into his writing!

Ryan Padgett Ryan Padgett

““I had tried all the usual suspects- I had tried all the usual suspects- McDonalds, Dunkin’ Donuts, and the local McDonalds, Dunkin’ Donuts, and the local hardware store, plus a greasy spoon hardware store, plus a greasy spoon called the Golden Egg that was famous for called the Golden Egg that was famous for outrageous omelets- outrageous omelets- but I struck outbut I struck out.” .”

Page 6Page 6 Ralph used the expression of Ralph used the expression of I struck outI struck out

to say that he had no luck in getting a job, to say that he had no luck in getting a job, because they had no openings. because they had no openings.

Ralph uses phrases like I struck out and she was the biggest headline of my life to hook onto the reader and make them want to keep reading and he wants to make them so they don’t want to put the book down and that is how I felt.

Anna Zeek 5-WAnna Zeek 5-W

Quote from the text “Mom says music’s in Quote from the text “Mom says music’s in my blood’ my blood’

Page 55Page 55 Your thoughts about writing Your thoughts about writing

Maybe if Ralph likes music it could be Maybe if Ralph likes music it could be something his mom would say, so maybe something his mom would say, so maybe he put some of his characteristics into the he put some of his characteristics into the characters. characters.

By: Anna Zeek 5-W

I Wonder…What will Jazzy do to make

things change between them? Will he ever get enough money to pay for the Boston Whaler?

Katie SeitzKatie Seitz

Quote: “How do you Quote: “How do you know know all this stuff?”all this stuff?” Page #: 4Page #: 4 My thoughts about writing: My thoughts My thoughts about writing: My thoughts

about writing are that when somebody is a about writing are that when somebody is a whiz at something you should tell them whiz at something you should tell them because your praise that you give the because your praise that you give the person tells them to keep on doing it and person tells them to keep on doing it and to get even better!to get even better!

I think that when somebody is a whiz at something, you should praise them so they keep on trying and that they

feel great!!!!

Lou SugoLou Sugo

Quote: “They kept talking like that, words Quote: “They kept talking like that, words bouncing back and fourth”bouncing back and fourth”

Page #: 40Page #: 40 Ralph taught me that even a simple Ralph taught me that even a simple

sentence like this one can become the sentence like this one can become the center piece of the page because of your center piece of the page because of your word choice. You can tell Ralph put a lot of word choice. You can tell Ralph put a lot of effort into this sentence to make it stand effort into this sentence to make it stand out like it dose. out like it dose.

Ralph dose not only do this type of writing throughout his whole book . Ralph makes his book interesting with his writing abilities and his spectacular word chioce.

- Lou Sugo

Katie SeitzKatie Seitz

Quote from the text= “I could feel my arms, Quote from the text= “I could feel my arms, chest, neck, and back all screaming, NOT THIS chest, neck, and back all screaming, NOT THIS AGAIN!” AGAIN!”

Page= 27Page= 27 Your thoughts about writing= My thoughts about Your thoughts about writing= My thoughts about

writing are that Ralph is using figurative writing are that Ralph is using figurative language. He is saying that Matt’s arms, chest, language. He is saying that Matt’s arms, chest, neck, and back can talk. We all know that your neck, and back can talk. We all know that your body parts can’t talk!body parts can’t talk!

In the last sentence on page 27, Ralph uses figurative language because we all know that our

body parts can’t talk!

Quote from text: “ Dan’s silence plus the thick Quote from text: “ Dan’s silence plus the thick fog made me feel even more alone, but that was fog made me feel even more alone, but that was fine with me.”fine with me.”

Page number: 75Page number: 75Your thoughts about writing: When I read this Your thoughts about writing: When I read this

quote in Ralphs writing it really taught me a quote in Ralphs writing it really taught me a lesson that maybe one day that actually lesson that maybe one day that actually happened to him. So it taught me that you can happened to him. So it taught me that you can actually put things that actually happened to you actually put things that actually happened to you in your writing. in your writing.

By: Olivia MoodyBy: Olivia Moody

Olivia Moody

When I saw the quote in Ralphs writing it really made me think that I should start to using it in my actual writing!

SynopsisDoes Rivers have room in his life for two very different fathers?

"The truth is Uncle Daddy isn't either my father or my uncle. He's actually Mom's uncle. I was three years old when he came to live with us."

Since Rivers's real father left him and his mom six years ago, Uncle Daddy has been taking care of Rivers in all the ways a dad cares for a son -- even teaching him how to play baseball. Then his real father returns. Rivers is confused and angry. He had always thought that he'd express his anger at his father by socking him in the stomach. Now, face to face with him, Rivers' feelings are more complicated than he'd imagined. Will the reappearance of his dad affect his relationship with Uncle Daddy? This heart-felt story, told from the point of view of a nine-and-a-half-year-old boy, is filled with insight and touches of humor.













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Findings from Fletcher