B PROJECT

Presented by:Justin Mandia

Books:

Deathwatch by Robb White

The Interrogation of Gabriel James by Charlie Price

Vanished by Sheela Chari

Cash & Carry by Tim Broderick

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

DEATHWATCH By Robb White

Ben (a geologist) and Madec (a hunter) take to the desert to hunt bighorn. Very early on in the story, Madec kills a park ranger “accidentally.” Madec realizes

that Ben is going to take this issue to the police, so he decides to hunt him so that

his secret isn’t revealed.

DeathwatchThemes: Survival Power vs. Determination Suspense Adventure

Lesson Ideas: If you were in Ben’s situation, what are 5 things that

you would ABSOLUTELY need? What moral dilemma does Ben face when Madec

shoots the old man? What is the right thing to do in this situation?

The Interrogation of Gabriel James by Charlie Price

The Interrogation of Gabriel James is about a young man who is an eyewitness to two

killings. His story is told through a combination of the interrogation that the

police are performing, as well as flashbacks explaining the information he is giving the detectives during the interrogation. The reader finds out step by step how these

murders were linked to a quiet classmate’s home life and an outbreak of hate crimes going on in this once quiet Montana town.

The Interrogation of Gabriel James

Themes: Detective/Interrogation Suspense Flashback AdventureLesson Ideas: What are the advantages of the way the story

is told (through interrogation and flashback)? How is this book similar to other books you’ve

read?

Vanished by Sheela Chari

Vanished is a book about an 11 year old Indian girl who dreams of becoming a

famous musician while playing her veena (a traditional Indian string instrument). When her veena disappears from a local church, Neela starts an investigation as

to why her instrument could have possible been stolen. As she searches for

it, she finds out that her veena has a strange history of escaping its owner, and

that she’ll have to travel far to find it.

Vanished

Themes: Human nature Follow the clues Deceit SuspenseLesson Ideas: Have you ever lost something/had

something taken from you? What did you do to look for it?

Cash and Carry by Tim Broderick

David Diangelo has been hired to deliver a case to a lawyers firm in Las Vegas, but

runs into a few snags along the way. When he starts being followed, he

wonders what’s in the case, and why he is being targeted.

Cash and Carry

Themes: Suspense Action Deceit PerserveranceLesson Ideas: (Post reading): Draw a map of the places

where David travels, mentioning what happened at each location. (story map).

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Clay Jensen comes home from school to find a box of cassette tapes on his door step. Upon listening to the first tape, he finds out that it is Hannah Baker, a girl in

his class that has recently committed suicide. According to her message in the first tape, the rest of the tapes will reveal

the thirteen people who caused it to happen.

Thirteen Reasons Why

Themes: Suicide Bullying Teen Issues SuspenseLessons Ideas: How could Hannah’s situation have been

avoided? Talk about the effects that your words

could have on others.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is a collection of twelve “episodes” written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, in the voice of Dr.

John Watson. In the episodes, Holmes helps people with many cases including a runaway bride, a “murderous” son, and 10 other very unique cases. Through

clever observation and accurate detective work, Holmes and Watson solve

each of the cases, with a few surprise twists throughout.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

Themes: Detective Inquiry ObservationLesson Ideas: Solve the mystery using clues from the

paragraphs. (Give each group a separate small mystery).

Other Mystery Texts

The Alex Rider Series by Anthony Horowitz

The Da Vinci Code by Robert Langdon

Encyclopedia Brown by Donald J. Sobol

The Hardy Boys by Franklin W. Dixon

Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene

Mystery Movies and TV Shows

Movies: Citizen Kane The Departed To Kill a Mockingbird PsychoTV Shows: Psych Law and Order CSI: Crime Scene Investigators

Activities!

For Deathwatch: With a small group, list 5 items that you would

want to have if you were stranded in the desert. REMEMBER, you can only have 5 items, and you need to get out of the desert alive!

Write an alternate ending for Deathwatch, and explain why you chose to end the book in that way.

For The Interrogation of Gabriel James and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: “Interrogate” one of your classmates about what

they did this weekend. Ask detailed questions, and ask for anything out of the ordinary.

Activities! (cont.)

For Vanished: (During reading): After reading the chapter in which

Neela loses her veena, discuss with the class who might have taken it and why they might have done so.

(Post reading): Write a short essay on a favorite object of your own, and talk about what you would do if you were to lose it.

For Thirteen Reasons Why: Have a class discussion on the topic of bullying. How do your actions and words have an effect on

other people? Cite examples from the book. Does the style of the story (written in “tapes”) add to

the effect of the story?