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Penguin Random HouseTEACHERS’ RESOURCE KIT

From the Cutting Room of Barney KettleBy Kate De Goldi

Barney Kettle knew he would be a very famousfilmdirectoroneday,hejustdidn’tknowwhenthatdaywouldarrive.Hewasalreadyanactualdirector–he’dmadefourfifteen-minutefilms–butsofaronlyhisschoolmatesandtheresidentsoftheHighStreethadviewedthem.Globalfamewasalittlewayoff.Itwouldcome,though.Barneywascertainaboutthat...

RESOURCE KIT CONTAINS:

• BeforeReading

• Themes

• Setting

• Languagefeatures,structureand narrative

• Characters

• Comprehension/Close ReadingQuestions:

• Creativeresponses

Price(GSTinclusive)andauthordetailsarecorrectatthetimeofwritingbutaresubjecttochangewithoutnotice.Visitwww.randomhouse.co.nzforup-to-dateinformation.

SPECIFICATIONS:Publication:September2015ISBN:9781775535768RRP:$30.00Format:TradePaperbackExtent:336pagesReadership:12+

The Author: KateDeGoldiisoneofNewZealand’smostlovedauthors,whoseshortfiction,novelsandpicturebooksengagechildren,teenagersandadultsalike.TheauthorofthephenomenalThe10PMQuestion,whichhasbeenpublishedextensivelyoverseas,sheisatwo-timewinneroftheNewZealandPostChildren’sBookoftheYearAward.The10PMQuestionwonBookoftheYearandBestYoungAdultFictioninthe2009NewZealandPostChildren’sandYoungAdults’BookAwards,wasarunner-upinthe2009MontanaNZBookAwards,andwontheReaders’ChoiceAward.ItwasafinalistintheLIANZAChildren’sBookAwardsfortheEstherGlenAward,wasshortlistedfortheNielsenBookDataNZBooksellers’ChoiceAward,andwasselectedforthe2009editionoftheprestigiousinternationalcatalogueTheWhiteRavens.In2010DeGoldiwasawardedtheCreativeNewZealandMichaelKingWriters’Fellowshiptoresearchandwriteabookonchildren’sbookcollector,SusanPrice.Shehasaregularspotreviewingchildren’sbooksonSaturdayMorningswithKimHillonNationalRadio.

Before Reading

1. Whatdoesthecoverpictureindicateaboutthebook’scontent?

2. Whenandwheremightthestorybeset?

3. Whatdoesthetitlesuggesttoyou?

4. Readtheauthor’sdedication(p.3).Ifyouwroteabook,towhomwouldyoudedicateitandwhatwouldthededicationsay?

Themes 1.Discussthefollowingthemesandfindexamplesfromthebookwhichillustrateeach:

5. a.creativity,inspirationandart b.community,friendshipsandfamily relationships c.history,timeandchange d.childhoodandgrowingup e.collaborationandlove f.mysteries,secretsandintrigue g.survival h.humourandhumanity i.thesearchforpersonalidentityandone’s placeintheworld j.naturaldisasters k.death,griefandloss

2.Whatdoyouthinkisthemaintheme ofthenovel?Writeanessayonyourchoice.

Setting: ThebookissetinHighStreetinChristchurch,NewZealand,pre-andposttheFebruary2011earthquake.

Language features, structure and narrative:

1. Whatdoyouthinkthegenreofthisbookis?Listtheaspectsthatareindicativeofthisgenre.

2. Thebookhasanarrativestructureof‘storieswithinstorieswithinstories’(p.123).Findsomeexamplesofwhenthishappensinthebook.

3. Withinthebook,therearereferencestoliterarytechniques,suchassyllogism(p.137),MacGuffin(p.289),recurringmotif(p.292),coda(p.319)andepilogue(p.323).Findoutthedefinitionsoftheseterms.

4. Thestoryistoldinthefirstandthirdperson.

Whydoyouthinktheauthorchosetodothis?Isiteffective?Whyorwhynot?

5. Figurativelanguageisusedtoconveyideasthatmightotherwisebedifficulttoexpress,suchassimileandmetaphor.Examplesoftheseare:‘hisquestionscamelikeasprayofenemyarrows’(p.97)and‘hermulti-taskingbatterieswereflat’(p.144).Findmoreexamplesfromthebook.

6. Theauthorusesfoodimageryinsomesimiles,forexample,‘morelikeabigagingtomato,allredandcreasedandlookinglikeshemightburst’(p.42)and‘heflickedasideherobjectionslikemiserabletoastcrumbs’(p.219).Findotherexamplesfromthebook.

7. Theauthorusesanimalimageryinsomesimiles,forexample,‘thenhewasofflikeawildcatafterprey’(p.127).Thinkoftenotheranimalsandcreateasimileforeach.

8. Theauthorusesnatureimageryinsomesimiles,forexample,‘shejustdisappeared...likeapuffofdandelion’(p.158)and‘somethingwascoming,somethingatthebackofhishead,pushingitswaytothefront,likeanewshootmusclingupthroughthesoil.’(p.209).Writeapoemaboutaforceofnatureusingthreesimiles.

9. Thefollowingareexamplesofwhatfigureofspeech:‘thebellsangabrieffarewell’(p.132)and‘theboardedwindowsweremyriadsightlesseyesseekingthemout.’(p.198)?

10.Whatfigureofspeechdothefollowingexamplesillustrate:‘achokingcough,aharshyelp’(p.41)and‘pouredforthrumble,yelpandpurr’(p.153).Findanotherexamplefromthebook.Writeapoemordescriptiveparagraphwhichincludesthewordsfromyourexample.

11. Thefollowingareexamplesofwhatfigureofspeechare‘curledandcontent’(p.54)and‘troublesometraits’(p.55)?Thinkofthisfigureofspeechfortenotherlettersofthealphabet.

12. Theauthoroftenrunswordstogetherinthebodyofthetext,suchas‘thethrillingalchemyofthecreativeprocess’(p.48)and‘justthesameasalltheotherinterviews’(p.216).Whydoyouthinkhasshechosentodothis?Whateffectdoesithaveonthepaceandmeaningofthetext?

13. BarneymakesapunaboutimaginingSuitasa‘suitor’(p.120).Thinkofthreeexamplesofpunsandacontextinwhichtheycouldbeused.

14. Theauthorusessymbolismandidiomsinthebook.Whatarethephrasesbelowtypicallysymbolicof?Whatistheoriginofthesephrases?Researchtheirorigin.Chooseten

phrasesanddrawcartooninterpretationsofthem. a. writer’sblock(p.35) b. spunherwheels(p.40) c. thisdisappointingtendencyisyourfuneral (p.57) d. avoidedthoseliketheplague(p.58) e. amereblinkoftheeye(p.76) f. keepanythingonthedown-low(p.97) g. actionsspeaklouderthanwords(p.102) h. onaroll(p.103) i. theirpearlsofwisdom(p.103) j. catgotyourtongue(p.107) k. speakofthedevil(p.111) l. doesn’tliketobefleeced(p.126) m. goneintoawholenewgear(p.135) n. burningthemidnightoil(p.200) o. hehadbeenhidinghislight(p.201) p. steppedout(p.224) q. knockyourselfout(p.227) r. justalwaysbouncesback(p.245) s. anemotionalrollercoaster(p.265) t. inanutshell(p.275) u. abitterpill(p.285) v. allhandstotheplough(p.290) w. topushapen(p.291)

15. Finddefinitionsofthewordsfromthenovelbelow.Writeasentenceforeachorusethemtocreateaglossaryforthenovel.Youmayliketo add any words from the novel that are new toyou. a. excrescence(p.48 b. benevolence(p.50) c. proprietorial(p.54) d. macabre(p.55) e. melodious(p.73) f. feckless(p.90) g. banal(p.94) h. belligerent(p.96) i. mollified(p.98) j. elusive(p.107) k. insouciance(p.111) l. indefatigable(p.115) m. malevolent(p.117) n. basilisk(p.122) o. rueful(p.128) p. impudent(p.129) q. fallacious(p.138) r. fastidiously(p.148) s. garrulous(p.195) t. paean(p.202) u. precarious(p.256) v. astute(p.256) w. obdurate(p.264) x. oeuvre(p.288) y. cacophony(p.305) z. abeyance(p.306)

Characters:

1. DoyoulikeBarneyandRenascharacters?Doyouthinktheyarerealisticcharacters?Whyorwhynot?Compareandcontrasttheirpersonalities,opinionsandactions,andanalysehowtheyareinfluencedbyoneanother.Usequotesfromthenoveltosupportyourpoints,forexample,‘Barneystudiedhissister.Shewassodifferenttohim.Itwasquiteamazingtheywererelated’(p.36).

2. DoyouthinkBarneyandRenhavearealisticbrother-sisterrelationship?Doyoubelievethattheirrelationship,aswellastheirrelationshipwiththeirfriendsandfamily,developsandchangesthoughthebook?Ifso,listwhatarethesechangesareandthemaineventswhichcontributetothedevelopment?

3. AtthestartofthebookBarney’smotherdescribeshimasa‘megalomaniac’and‘abuddingdictatorwithdelusionalfantasiesofomnipotence’(p.15).Findexamplesofwhenhedisplayseachofthesequalities.

4. InthebookDadisdescribedas‘atotaldinosaurand...atotalmiser’(p.167)andMsBloodworthas‘abenignsorceress’(p.174).Thinkofthreeadjectivestodescribethefollowingcharacters:Barney,Ren,Suit,AlbertAnderson,OrangeBoyandCrimsonGirl.

5. ChooseanimportanteventfromthenovelanddescribeBarneyandRen’sreactionstoit?WhatarethedifferentpressuresonBarneyandRenthroughoutthenovel?Whatfactorsleadtothedecisionstheymakeandhowdotheycopewiththevarioussituationstheyfindthemselvesin?

6. Whatdoesthenovelsayaboutfriendshipsand/orfamilyandtheirimportanceduringdifficulttimes?Listexamplesofepisodeswhenfriendsand/orfamilyareeitherahelporahindrancetoBarneyandRen.

7. Drawapictureofoneofthecharactersbasedontheirphysicaldescriptions,forexample,MsBloodworth(p.150)andOrangeboy(p.177&p.180).

8. Chooseacharacterfromthebook,otherthanBarneyandRen,towriteacharacterstudyon.

9. Whichcharacterdoyouparticularlylikeordislike?Why?

10.Whichcharacterdoyoumostidentifywith?Why?

Comprehension/Close Reading Questions:

1. WhathelpsBarney’sbadmoodpop‘likeaballoonunderapin’andwhatdoesthistellusaboutoneaspectofhispersonality(p.19)?

2. Whatisthereasonbehindtheauthor’s‘unorthodox’decisiontowriteasecondbeginning(p.22)?

3. Whatarethethingsthat‘spin’Ren’swheels(p.40)?

4. WhatdoesBarneymeanbyhisstatementthattheStreetisjusta‘biggerversionofaschoolclassroom’(p.95)?

5. WhatwouldBarneyratherbedoingthan‘actualschool’andwhy(p.118)?

6. WhydoesGenewinkatBarneyandBarneyyawpbackwhentheyarefilmingSuitinMontgomery’s(p.201)?

7. WhatdoBarneyandRenfeelabout,andconsequentlydo,afterWilly’smeaningfullookastheyleavehisoffice(p.235)?

8. How,andwhy,doBarneyandReneachreacttothenewsthatOrangeBoyandCrimsonGirlareleaving(p.258)?

9. WhatdoesNick’sobsessionwithmathsteachBarneyabouthimselfandothers(p.268)?

10.WhatcommentdidSallymakeattheopeningoftheLivingHistoryMuseumthatgreatlyimpressedBarney(p.273)?

11. WhatnameshadBarneyandRentriedoutfortheirsecretenvelopelife(p.292)?

12.WhatwasitthathelpedBarneyfeel‘gloriouslyincharge’andwhydidhefeelthisway(p.294)?

13.WhatdidBarneydoduringtheearthquake(p.300)?

Whosays‘thereisnothinglikethebalmofstory’andwhodoesheworkonthestorieswithasatypeoftherapy(p.322)?

Comprehension/Close Reading Questions:

1. Thebookisastoryabouttheheadlongexcitementofthecreativeprocess.Barneylovesitwhenhehasa‘popofanidea’(p.45)andoftenextollshisloveof‘thethrillingalchemyofthecreativeprocess’(p.32).Eitherchooseyourfavouritescenefromthebook,orsomethingfromthebooklistedbelow,tocreateyourownartisticinterpretationofit.Use,forexample,adiorama,painting,model,poem,cartoonstrip,moviestoryboard,video,

etc. - thesketchoftheR&Rmeeting(p.116) - theAmbulatorix(p.145) - themenagerieofcarvedanimals(p.156) - theCrazopolygame(pp.189-190) - thebadgesstolenfromtheEmporium (pp.190-191) - amapfromtheMapShop(p.203) - theLonelyheartsDatingAgencySock Installation(p.240) - theUnpublishedPoet’smissingcat posterpoem(p.110),haikuaboutpawns (p.241)orvillanelleentitled‘Rook’(p.326) - CrimsonGirl’scaricaturesoftheStreet inhabitantswiththeirexaggerated features(p.263) - Barney’sdailylogasdemandedbyMs Bloodworth(p.266)

2. BarneyconsidersRen’slistsofnounsinherexercisebookas‘awordsketchoftheStreet,itssoundsandshapesandsmells,itsactivitiesandhabits’(p.46).Createawordsketchofyourschool,streetoraplaceofsignificanceinyourlocalarea,usingnounsandadjectives.

3. Thebookheavilyfeatures‘zines’,includingthoseBarneyandRen’sclasshavemadeatschool(p.55-57)andtheseriesofOrangeBoyPartsI-VIzines.Createeitheroneofthezineslistedaboveorazineaboutasubjectofyourownchoice.Asaclass,displayandreadthezinesyouhavecreated.

4. BarneyandRenfilmallovertheStreetbuttheyparticularlyenjoyfilmingatthehairsalonas‘somuchjusthappens’andsomeeventsthereare‘liketheatresports’(p.109).Asaclassplayatheatresportsgameofcharades.Ingroups,actoutacharacterdoingsomethingfromthebookwithoutspeaking.Seehowquicklyyourgroupcanguesswhoyouareandwhatyouaredoing.

5. Sallyworksatthe‘LivingHistoryMuseum’whichisallaboutcommunityhistory(p.74)includingthepeopleinthestreetwho‘hadcomefromelsewhere’(p.153).Researchandinterviewanimmigrantoranotherinhabitantfromyourownlocalcommunity.Presentyourfindingsinthestyleofabiographicalentryinanencyclopaedia.Includeaphotographofyoursubject.

6. Theauthorincludesdescriptionsoftheexteriorandinteriorofthepostoffice.Findotherexamplesofdescriptionsofexteriorandinteriorspacesinthebook.Drawoneofthesebasedonthedescriptions.Next,inpairs,writeadescriptionofanexteriororinteriorspaceofyourchoice.Readyourdescriptionaloudtoyourpartnerandgetthemtodrawthespacebasedonyourdescription.

7. BarneyandRendiscoveredthattheyenjoyedtheattentionofOrangeBoyandCrimsonGirlastheysharedtheirlifestoriesandinturnhadwantedtopresenttheirlife‘storyasagift:theonceuponatimeoftheKettlefamily,ofBusby’sEmporium,ontheHighStreetoftown’(p.187).Writedownyourlifestoryandpresentitasanillustratedpublishedchildren’sgiftbook.

8. BarneyandRenplayTwentyQuestionswithOrangeBoyandCrimsonGirl(p.181-188).Divideintosmallgroups,getonepersontochooseacharacterfromthebooktobe,andplayTwentyQuestions.Answerthequestionsasyourchosencharacterwouldandplayuntilyourgroupsuccessfullyguesseswhichcharacteryouhaveadopted.

9. WhentheyhelpOrangeBoyandCrimsonGirl,‘RenandBarneyhadbecomeanexclusiveaidorganisation,helpingjusttwopeopleinneed.’(p.212).Inpairs,createacharitytohelp.Designamarketingcampaigntoraiseawarenessofyourcharity.Thinkofthetypeoflanguageyouwoulduseinyourcampaign,suchaspersuasivewritingforradioandtelevisionadvertisementsorinformativeandbusinesswritingforpamphletstodistribute,etc.

10. BarneyandRendiscusswhattheyseeandthinkotherpeopleseewhentheylookatthemselvesinthemirror,aseitherapast,presentorfutureself(p.222).Writethreeshortdescriptiveparagraphsabouthowyouviewthosethreeversionsofyourselfinthemirror.

11. Usethesequotesfromthebookaseitheratopicforaclassdebateorasanessaystarter:‘Evenperfectlydecentadultscouldbestrangeaboutchildren’srights’(p.113)and‘Everyoneneedsrepresentation...nomatterwhattheymayhavedone.That’sacornerstoneofourdemocracy’(p.229).

12. BarneywatchesthecreativeprocessofOrangeBoyandCrimsonGirlastheymakeazine(p.261).Studyanartistcreating,eitherinpersonorviainternet,andwriteadetailedwrittendescriptionoftheircreativeprocess.

13. Barneyisobsessedby,andloves,thefilmmakingprocess(p.288)butfindsithardtounderstandhowotherscanbepassionateaboutdifferentinterests,suchasmaths,sports,knittingandmarinebiology(p.267).However,hesoonrealisesthat‘everywhere...perhapseverystreetintheircityhummedalonginanoutwardlyordinaryway,butinfactharbouredinnumerablecitizenswithmadpassionsandhabits’(p.274).Choosesomethingthatyou,orsomeoneyouknow,arepassionateabouttowriteadescription

and/oranillustratedinstructionalpamphletabout.

14. Barneymentionslinearstorytelling(p.242).Ingroups,createanillustratedlineartimelineforBarneyandRenthatshowsthemaineventsofthenovelandwheretheytookplace.

15. ImagineyouareoneoftheotherinhabitantsofHighStreet,suchasSallyorAlbertAnderson.Chooseaneventfromthebookandwriteapersonaldiaryentryormonologueaboutitfromyourpointofview.Thinkabouthowyouwoulddescribethephysicalscene,anyothercharacterswhowereinvolvedandyourfeelingsabouttheincident.

16. Doyouthinkthenovelcouldbesuccessfullyadaptedintoadramaticfilm?Writealetterinsupportofthefilmforpossibleinvestorsandincludewhichactorsyouwouldliketostarinthefilmandthereasonsbehindyourchoices.Lookatsomemovieposters.Noticethepicturesandthewords.Designamoviepostertoadvertisethefilm.Or,imaginethenovelisgoingtobeturnedintoastageplay.Designasuitableset,programmenotesandadvertisingposterfortheplay.

17.Whichisyourfavouritechapterinthebook?Why?Writeaplotsummaryofit.

18. ThecoverillustrationandchapteropeningsarebyartistGregoryO’Brien.Whatdoyoulike/dislikeaboutthem?Designyourownillustrationsfortwoofthechapters,aswellasanewcover.

19. KatedeGoldiisanaward-winningauthor.Researchandwriteashortbiographyaboutherandherotherbooks,suchasThe10PmQuestion,TheACBofHonoraLee,Club:ALollyLeopoldStoryandSanctuary.

20. Visitthewebsitehttp://www.highstreetstories.co.nztolistentosomestoriesthatmayhaveinspiredKatedeGoldiwhenwritingthebook.

21.Writeareviewofthebook,aimingitatthereadershipofyourfavouritemagazine,newspaper,websiteorblog.Giveitarating,suchasstarsoranumberoutoften.Considerthefollowingquestions: ● Whichcharactersappealedtoyouthe most?Theleast? ● Howdidthestorymakeyoufeelasit unfolded? ● Whatideasinthebookawakenedyour interest? ● Whatdidyoudislike,orfindboring? ● Doyouthinkthisisasignificantbook? ● Whyisthisbookimportantfortoday’s readers?